Page 16 of In the Dust

Brad returns, a wobble in his step from the alcohol. “Ready to get out of here?” He jangles his keys.

Colton’s demeanor shifts into something angry. “You’re not driving.”

Brad looks at him incredulously. “What? There’s probably like one cop in this town.” He laughs, taking a jab at my small town.

“That’s not my fucking point.” Colton sneers. “I don’t give a shit if you go to jail, but you’re not putting Dixie in a car with you if you’re drunk.”

Brad stupidly steps towards him. “I’ll put Dixie wherever I want too.”

The men are standing in front of each other like statues, ready to tear each other apart. But next to Colton, Brad looks like an angry toddler. Colton’s got over a foot of height on him, and his broad shoulders and sculpted muscles showcase the power that would follow his punch.

“Dixie!” A voice breaks me from my trance, a sweep of curly blonde hair dancing in front of me. It’s Anabelle, Willow Creek’s pride and joy, a ball of energy and fake smiles. “Dixie May, what in the world are you doin’ here?”

Her thick accent bleeds through my ears, and I look past her for a moment to check on the guys. Their attention is turned to us, thankfully. “Came to help on the farm for the summer,” I reply with a drunk grin.

“Oh, but you’re a city girl now.” She laughs. I’ll show you city girl you stupid, evil— “Do you even know how to work on a farm anymore?”

Like she does? Anabelle Lee Henderson has never in her life had to lift her manicured nails for anything. Her father is the mayor, and her mother owns one of my favorite diners. I don’t know how she came from her parents because she’s nothing like them. They’re sweet, good people, and the longer I look at her the more I remember how cruel she is.

“I’ll get by just fine, sweetheart,” I chide.

Brad notices the disdain between us. “Working on a farm can’t be hard.” He grins.

I nearly slap my palm to my forehead. Why would he say that?

“Well, at least you have Colty here to help you out.” Her squeaky voice makes my teeth hurt. It’s not that I hate her, but Anabelle is reminding me now of the nightmare doll more than the girl who used to push me down at recess just because she could.

She turns to Colton, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her lips to his cheek. She’s sinking her teeth into him, and I don’t like it. He looks uncomfortable, but he gives her that beautifully perfect grin he always gave me. I dig my nails into my palms.

I take it back. I do hate her.

Colton crosses his muscled arms against his chest, sizing Brad up for the hundredth time tonight. “Not too hard, huh?” he asks Brad. “Meet me at the pasture in the morning. I’ll show you what farm work is really like.”

Brad nods, unfazed. “Bet.”

“I’m going to smoke,” Colton decides, pulling a pack of reds from his pocket. No one offers to go with him, but I need a moment to breathe.

Anabelle releases him from her grip, looking up at him with a dramatic pout. “You know I hate that, Colty. It stinks!”

But he just shrugs and turns to the door. “Who wants to play?” Harper tries to break the awkwardness.

The moment everyone is distracted and Brad’s attempting to hold the pool stick straight, I slip outside.

Colton’s back is leaned against the brick wall, with one foot pressed against it. He’s looking up at the stars, exhaling a plume of gray smoke. “Hey, Colty,” I sing.

“Shut it, Peaches.”

“I don’t think it stinks, you know.” I don’t know why I offer this information, but I do.

A crooked smile lightens his features. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”

I want to ask him, how did it come to this? How does us not being together feel like some cosmic wrongdoing? But I don’t, I’m drunk, and this isn't a conversation we ever need to have.

Then why can’t you stop thinking about him after all this time? I ask myself.

But his arms look so strong, and I feel so weak that I just want to sink myself into his embrace and stay there. Against my better judgement, that’s exactly what I do.

He doesn't respond at first, but it takes only a few seconds for his body to relax and his arms to wrap around me the way they always used to. He gives the best hugs, and I haven't experienced one of them in years.

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