Page 6 of Wild and Unruly
Bottle Grounds wasloud for a Tuesday night, and I was forever grateful for it. It helps block out every thought that seemed to be on a constant spiral inside of my head.
Mostly, being alone for the summer, being alone for the holidays, you know, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Taco Tuesdays, etc.
Okay, maybe that was the loneliness talking.
I nod at my sister-in-law, Thea, smiling when my brother Logan walks up to her and wraps her in a hug, even though they only saw each other hours ago. Last year, they went through hell and back trying to keep themselves together, so the happiness they were finally experiencing was well deserved.
Didn’t mean I wasn’t jealous. My gaze skips over to Annmarie, Thea’s sister, and I drop the smile. For the last couple of years, I’ve made it no secret that I was infatuated with her, and I’d let her know over time the truth of that.
The issue is, she has no return on those feelings. Nothing.
I knew the truth of it. I knew that she didn’t want to be with me or even try, but one last shot doesn’t hurt, right?
A brief flash of chestnut-colored hair and hazel eyes hits me, and my feet falter on their way to Annmarie, just for a second, before I shake my head and continue.
Bonnie was beautiful. Stunning, actually. But I’d seen the way she shut down the moment I mentioned horses.
I know girls like that. Training horses is either a turn-on or a major turn-off, and apparently, for her, it was the latter.
CT, a childhood friend and now cousin by marriage, yells across the bar from where he and the other members of our dart league are setting up. Tuesdays were always dart night. What started as just me, Logan, and CT, has blossomed into a full-on league of friends who get together to play.
Thea, prior to marrying my brother, had made a deal to get us more dartboards. Now that they are married, the area we use for the league has expanded into something way more. We had several dart stations set up for the four teams that were in the league, with high-top bars just outside of it to hold our drinks and a row of bench seats along the wall for people to sit. Then there was a glowing neon sign announcing the area, pulling it all together.
I wave him off and make my way to the bar, a new determination following me. Annmarie, a very aware of her surroundings kind of girl, glances over at me. She doesn’t hide that she’s exasperated to see me.
I hold my ground and wait for her to stomp over. Her dark hair is tied up in a high ponytail, her eyeliner thick with black charcoal, her lips covered in flaming red lipstick, and her clothes consist of black on black all the way down to her boots.
“What do you want, Cash?” She pretends not to care that I’m here, other than being annoyed, using my last name to distance herself.
At least, I think so.
“You know what I want. A date. With you.” I try really hard to keep my voice steady and calm, but I’m pretty sure it shakes for a second, making me wish I didn’t speak at all. But I hold my ground.
Annmarie’s eyes bug out slightly, and she shakes her head, pursing her lips before saying, “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope.”
Her head swings around, motioning to Thea and their other sister, Juniper, who was serving behind the bar, that she’s stepping out.
Grabbing me by the wrist, she hauls me out of the bar and into the night, the road illuminated by the shops and businesses still open at this time of day on Main Street.
She spins on me, crossing her arms and glaring at me before opening her mouth. “Look, you need to know that no matter how cute and charming or nice you are, I’m never going to go out with you.”
“So, you think I’m cute?” I throw the question out there, hoping to save my own skin.
Annmarie looks at me like she doesn’t quite know how to handle what I’m saying. She looks toward the door and back to me, crossing her arms and sighing loudly before she says, “Stetson, you’re not my type.”
Ouch. “Ouch,” I say aloud, rubbing my chest as if she struck me. I’m kidding…mostly. “You haven’t tried.”
“I don’t need to try. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
I let my hands fall to my sides from where they were restingon my belt loops and let out a sigh. Something in me knew that this wasn’t going to happen, that she was very not interested, but this was the Hail Mary, last-ditch effort ask.
“Well.” I twist my neck, scratching at the beard that grows in about three hours after I shave it off. “What is your type?”
She lifts a brow, like I should already know the answer to my own question. “What’syourtype?”
I frown. “What? I don’t know. Brown hair, pretty eyes, someone I can dance and talk with.”
