Page 13 of Wasted Oil

"But as soon as she kissed me I pushed her off, she got angry and walked out the door.” I hang my head with regret. I got it all wrong, I'm such a pendeja. “And you know what sucks out of all that, I was really looking forward to” He brings his warm hand to my face this time, cupping the sides of my face, his green eyes string right into my ocean blue ones. "We never got our slow dance.”

Just then he pulls back, making me miss his warmth instantly. He reaches into his truck, turns the key to get the radio and I found you by Nate Smith starts playing through his speakers and is echoing through the fields. I look down at the gravel and start doing this shy girl move by playing with the rocks and smiling like a complete niña mareada. I look up through my lashes to a calloused tan hand reaching out to me “May I have this dance, Boots?” and just like that, the butterflies are back taking flight.

"I don't know Cowboy, I think it might be too late and I have a curfew and all.” I say sarcastically while waving my hand in the air to motion behind me. He grabs me by the waist pulling me closer as we both let out laughs.

"You are a stubborn one Boots.”

“Only when it comes to you Cowboy.” He leans down and kisses my cheek and with the soft music playing in the back, in our spot the night ended perfectly. Just the two of us. Better than any prom.

I pass the Texas state line just as my memory comes to a stop.Taking a deep breath I exhale while my hand reaches for that spot on my shoulder for comfort.

No turning back now is there.

Chapter three

“Talk to me, Goose.”

Melanie

Driving over this last hill and passing the old wooden signs that read of my hometown I can’t help but feel the sting to my heart like I'm an utter failure. I said I would never come back here and would live out my life like I had always dreamed of. Singing music I had written, becoming discovered and sell out stadiums.

I lasted five years and honestly the last three were really rough. I struggled like any new upcoming musician would. Sure I got small gigs every so often but they only provided for gas and groceries. By day I was a waitress in a hole in the wall off the Nashville strip and by night I was doing what I loved most for bare minimum.

Alex found an apartment for me and she paid first and last month's rent because she believed in me. Just that thought alone has me feeling even worse because I was evicted from it the third year I was living in the city. They were right when saying a musician's life is hard beyond belief.

Which brings me to my current state, driving back to the place I’m supposed to call home but see as a dark unwelcoming hole instead.

Downtown West Hill hasn’t changed much since I left five years ago. There are a few added little shops along the main street, one in particular catches my eye and I find myself pulling to the side of the street and parking to get a better look.

Climbing out of my truck with my aviators still sitting on the bridge of my nose I look up at the sign above that reads The Den. Featured with a coffee mug placed on top of a stack of books. I've seen photos of course. I may not have been here through out the process and that I'll regret forever, but my best friend made sure to keep me in the loop. Her youtube videos for weekly updates on the renovations were my favorite to watch. I'm guilty for replaying some too much just to catch the glimpse of Rhett helping in the back round. His muscles were glistening in the sunshine while hauling what looked like shelves inside. A shirtless Rhett is mouth watering.

The shop itself has a big wooden mahogany door almost like it was found in an antique store with windows on each side that are almost from ceiling to ground with a big enough look inside to see it's a little book shop cafe. I smile at my reflection in the window to the thought in my head knowing exactly this was the place I needed to come to first before figuratively speaking walking through the gates of my own personal hell.

Opening the door to The Den there is a bell that sounds off as if to alert the workers that someone has walked in. I scrunch my nose in a cringe way to the sound of Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade playing faintly over the speakers. This place I can truly say is a dream come true, and a dream I know all too well of and who it belongs too.

"Welcome to The Den, how can I help you?" The guy behind the counter asks me as I’m walking up.

"Any chance the owner is in today?” I ask.

"Yeah she basically lives here, she's in the back taking inventory. Is there anything I can help you with?” He responds with a questionable look on his face. I lift my sunglasses up to reveal who I am. Quickly I raise my finger to my lips to silence RJ before he gives away anymore of my surprise.

"No, if you could get her for me I’d appreciate it and while you’re at it tell her—," Leaning over the counter I whisper in his ear what I want him to say and he then leans back and looks at me with a look of utter confusion.

"’ll be right back” He walks a few steps to a door off to the side of the cafe bar and opens it then gives me a sly smile before he speaks playing his part.

"Hey sis, there is some chick out here who needs to talk to you, it’s about the store's playlist being total shit and to play some Berlin or Kenny Loggins”. I chuckle to myself over hearing him say my request.

"Well tell them tuff sh—,” She stops mid-sentence then I hear some rummaging of some boxes being pushed around and footsteps rounding the corner. “Well, I’ll be damned, seems like hell did freeze over. Then again hell knows there is only one girl that can talk dirty to me like you.”

"Talk to me, Goose.” I say with a big smile. Alex wastes no time jumping and I mean literally jumping over the counter and jumping into my arms with legs wrapped around and everything. Thankfully I don’t fall over, just stumble back a little.

"ha sido para siempre, We've missed you.” I turned to look at Alex’s little brother in amazement. Only he’s not so little any more he definitely hit a growth spurt and is tall slim with dusty blonde hair styled like a GQ model.

"RJ, tu español es bueno! te ves tan crecido.” I say giving him a hug.

"How have you been and what are you up to, other than the obvious working with your sister?”

"I’ve been good. I'm gonna take a gap year just kind of seeing what I really want to do and taking local Spanish classes getting ready for my trip to Spain at the end of the summer, so what better way to pass the time than to serve coffee and work at the local bookstore right? Gustas algo mas?” He asks as he moves towards the espresso machine. I look up at the big chalkboard menu behind the counter that’s up against the wall and scan over the choices and as I’m about to go for the Yellow Rose Tea I’m halted by the last coffee listed before the tea’s. . .Old Lady Mels. I raise my eyebrow and start slowly turning to a smug Alexandra Daniels sitting on the stool perched in front of the cafe bar.

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