Page 66 of Rough
“I’d offer help, but it’s kinda funny watchin’ you try to lug that all by yourself.”
Letting the burn barrel go, I turn at the sudden noise and smile. “Wild, my friend. You’re a big strappin’ man. Wanna help me?”
Chuckling, he pulls his gloves from his back pocket and slips them over his hands. “Pap got you burnin’ today?”
“Yeah. Been awhile, so he told me I could go muck stalls, or burn. I picked burnin’. Obviously.” Breathing heavily, I jog back to the pile and start dragging the second barrel out. “If you could just help get these out to the pit, I’d be much appreciative.”
With a wink, he tilts the first barrel on its side and starts pulling. “Sucks, but burnin’s always fun. You piss him off to have you up this early?”
“No. I don’t think so. Hey, why areyouhere at this time of the day? Sun’s barely up.”
Shrugging, he continues to tug the barrel, dragging it through dirt like it’s easy as pie. “I wanted to take Baron out this mornin’. Daddy Donny isn’t up yet, so figured I’d take a ride before he starts workin’.”
I raise my brows, remembering that Wilder had a date last night. “Thought you went out with what’s her face? You’re up awfully early after a big date night.”
“I did. It was… well, it was kinda anticlimactic, if I’m being honest. She didn’t do it for me.”
I shoved the lighter fluid and lighter into my pockets before I started dragging shit out here, so once we’ve got it near the pit, I pull it out and grab paper from the top of the barrels to wad under the wood already laid out. “What happened?”
Wilder starts shoving papers between the logs, deep in thought before he answers. “I dunno. She was boring is all. Didn’t have anything in common with her, if I’m being honest.” Looking at me sideways, he grins as he adds, “She doesn’t know how to play outside like you do, Bets.”
It’s been tough the past few years watching him take random girls out on dates. Every single one of them seems more concerned with what they’re wearing and who sees them while they’re out. He’s always told me when he’s been interested in someone new, and part of me wants to scream each time that they aren’t good enough for him.
Squatting down, I light a drenched piece of newspaper and toss it in the center of the pile. Once everything goes up in flames, I stand and flip the lighter in my hands, fidgeting while I debate what I want to say.
“You know they ain’t good enough for you. You need to find yourself a girl who’s not afraid to get dirty and doesn’t cry when she gets a splatter of mud on her.”
“I know,” he breathes out, squatting down next to me to watch the fire spread quickly through the pile. “I wish they’d be more like you. Every time I take one of ‘em out, they expect me to take ‘em to these fancy restaurants with flowers in hand. Not that I mind that so much, but—”
“But why drive forty-five minutes, wastin’ gas when you know it’s not gonna work out?” I ask, interrupting him. “Plus, there ain’t nothin’ good enough to eat that far out worth ten bucks in gas.”
“Exactly.” Looking over his shoulder, he stands and starts grabbing garbage and tossing it on top of the pile. “They’re expectin’ so much, but whenever I try, I seem to only disappoint ‘em.”
“Then they’re vapid idiots who don’t know what they got in front of ‘em.” I scowl at the ground, hating that they even had the opportunity to go out with Wilder. Ever since he got his driver’s license, he’s been taking girls out on dates and to the movies, only to be disappointed by the end of the night. Every single time.
When he drops his hand on my shoulder, I jerk in surprise, falling forward toward the pit. I wasn’t expecting him to touch me. “Fuck, Bets!” he shouts, wrapping his arm around my waist and tugging me back. I was inches away from face planting into the coals, the side of my face only inches from them. We both fall to the ground, him pinning me to his body and my ass planted right in his lap.
Spinning around, I smack him on the chest. “GoodLord, Wild! Why the hell did you scare me like that?” I keep laying into him, not paying any mind to his look of shock and fear, keeping him silent. “You could have made me burn my face and then I’d never catch a good-lookin’ guy to marry! You would have had to take care of me for months on end while I recuperated from my burns and then—”
Wild grabs my chin and jerks it up to look up at him, cutting me off. His breathing is fast and shallow, face drained of all color. When I meet his eyes, they fly all over my face. I assume to make sure I’m okay, before he slams his mouth over mine, driving his tongue deep when I gasp from the shock.
My head is spinning, not prepared for this, but he doesn’t let up, dipping his tongue into my mouth over and over again, dragging his hands to cup my face to keep me from leaning back while he kisses me hard and deep.
Wrenching his lips from mine, he’s panting heavily as he stares down at my face. “You… You…You could have hurt yourself, Bets!” His shout startles me out of whatever spell he’s wrapped me in, and I try to scramble off his lap.
“Fuck right off, Wild! You shouldn’t have grabbed me so close to the fire!” I yell back, not sure if I’m on the verge of tears because of his yelling at me afterthator the fear of getting hurt. I’m barely on my hands and knees before he’s hauling me back to his body and wrapping his arms around me.
His arms are tight, cutting off my air, squeezing me into his chest and groaning. “Fuck fuck fuck…” When his voice trails off, I realize he’s also on the verge of tears and so I wrap my arms around him and hug him tightly back.
I’m sure he’ll have something to say about our kiss in a moment, but for now, we’re just pretending it didn’t happen. He rocks me side to side, hands gliding over and over my hair, stroking it in a soothing gesture as he whispers words of reassurance that I’m alright.
“Wild,” I whisper after a bit, the side of my head pressed up against his thundering heart. “Wild,” I say again when he doesn’t answer.
Finally, he pulls back, cupping my face again to check me over. “I’m so fuckin’ mad at you right now.” His face is still pale,which is odd to see against his flush and swollen lips after kissing me the way he did.
My mouth drops open and shut a few times, not sure what to say as my eyes dance back and forth across his. Also not sure how to move us past this moment, so I make a joke. “Maybe next time, if you plan on scarin’ me, make sure I’m a good ten feet back from the fire. Don’t need me matchin’ Frank with all his scars, do we?”
The teasing doesn’t hit the way I want it to. Instead, Wilder’s eyes get watery before he pushes me until my shoulder blades hit the ground, his body coming over mine. I’ve only been in this position once before when Clyde kissed me at the pond, but it feels just as good.
