Page 30 of Stormy Ride

“Yeah, pretty sure. I think I just got crazy for a minute and I’m nearly over it.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t look like you’re over it.” Jack zipped into the kitchen and got my food order. He set a plate of pork chops, mashed potatoes, and carrots in front of me along with a couple of dinner rolls, cutlery rolled in a napkin and a condiment caddy. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”

“Thanks.”

“You talk to Billy about his recovery plan?”

“Yeah. He’s going to stay with his mother for a day or two and then he’s coming home. I’m working on getting Tammy’s room ready for him on the main floor. He can’t go up the stairs to his own room.”

“That’s true. You might need help.”

“I’m working on that angle.”

“I saw Marilyn come in. She might cheer you up.”

“I saw her. Do I want to get into a deeper mess than I’m already in?”

Jack laughed. “I don’t know. Do you?”

By the time the band set up and started to play, I’d consumed two pitchers of Miller and half a bottle of tequila. I hadn’t informed Jack about the switch to Coors.

I wandered over to where Marilyn was sitting by herself and sat down. “Hey, pretty girl. Buy you a drink?”

“Sure. One more and I’ll be ready to dance.”

“One more round and I won’t be able to stand up.”

She laughed. “I’m so glad you’re back, Travis. I missed you so much when you went back to Texas.”

“I’m not sure if I’m glad or not. I love Texas.”

The band played a couple of warmup songs and the next one was a slow one.

“You ready?” she asked.

I looked into Marilyn’s dark eyes. She was so beautiful, and I was pretty sure she wasn’t screwing around with the fuckin bank manager. He wasn’t her type. Was I?

I got to my feet and reached my hand out to her. She stood up smiling at me and I led her onto the crowded dance floor. Saturday night in Coyote Creek and the roadhouse was the place to be—the only place there was.

Pulling Marilyn close to my body, I kind of leaned on her a bit so I wouldn’t fall down. She was wearing gorgeous perfume, and I didn’t plan it, but I was hard for her in the middle of the dance floor.

Almost over Olivia.

Sadly, the next song was fast, and I had to escort Marilyn back to our table. That’s when things went to hell for me.

Glenda saw Marilyn sit down and she came to our table and asked me to dance.

“No, thanks, Glenda. Marilyn and I are having a private conversation and I’m too drunk to dance.”

“You are a mess, Travis,” snapped Glenda. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you.”

I grinned. “Me neither.”

Marilyn giggled. “Somebody has a crush on you.”

“One sided. Lately, she’s stalking me, and I can’t shake her.”

“You’ve got problems with the opposite sex, Travis.”

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