Page 21 of Wasted Oil

"Trust me Mel, you get used to it. I’ve asked him all but a hundred times to clean out his smelly car.”

"That's a chick thing to do babe, I’m a man, the smell comes with it.” Johnny flexes his what seem to be “muscles” I use that term loosely because his biceps look more like ant hills.

"Babe I don’t know how to put this lightly but, NO woman wants a dirty smelly man.” I stifle a giggle at Alex’s bluntness.

God, I missed her. Johnny goes to say something back but lets it go and throws the car in drive taking us to our destination for the night.

"I told you those jeans with the boots make your ass look amazing love!” We jump out of truck, Alex still going on about the man that was looking at my ass at the gas station.

"I'm not the one with the big ass Goose, mine looks like a pancake compared to your three tier cake.” She gives a turn shaking her ass my way going to the beat of the music from inside. The song sounds familiar but with the words being muffled I can't tell what is playing until the door to Jansens opens and the words to Friends in Low Places ring out, sucking me into the memory of the first night Rhett and I kissed.

"Mel, listen, they're playing our song! Hurry and grab your hat, let’s go before we miss it.” I reach around grabbing my hat off the seat slamming the door and grabbing onto Alex’s hand as she all but drags me inside.

The smell of whiskey and smoke swirl through my head making me feel dizzy, this place still looks and smells the same. With the dance floor front and center and the stage directly behind. To the right is the horseshoe shaped bar, on the left is the high tops, three pool tables and some dart board hanging along the wall. I only have a second to just skim the place and take everything in because Alex is still holding my hand as she bobs and weaves us through the crowd to the middle of the dance floor. I notice but don’t really care to notice that we have ditched Johnny in the parking lot.

After the song ends, Johnny finds us on the dance floor and we make our way to a high top table off to the side near the pool tables. The tiredness from earlier is back but I refuse to just get up and leave since we just got here. Drinks. Drinks will always help.

“Hey! I'm going to the bar to get us a few drinks! I’ll be right back.” I turn to leave and head to the bar but Alex grabs me by the shoulder pulling me back to her.

“Don’t worry Mav, I got this! Drinks are on me tonight!” I start to argue with her but it is no use as she is already halfway through the crowd.

Chapter six

“Boots”

Rhett

Five Years Ago

“Let’s dance”

I grab Mels hand before she can interject and lead her to the middle of the dance floor of Jansens.

It’s one of four bars in this small town but the only one just outside of town that makes it the most popular place for young adults to sneak into for dancing and Friday night karaoke. Johnny somehow got us all fake IDs but I’m not sure why,everyone knows everyone in this town so getting away with drinking alcohol is impossible, especially knowing we are friends with the Oil Princess.

I was a bartender for Jansens during the summer last year when I turned eighteen, which also allowed them to come here after 9pm when it is usually last call for the teens.

The Jukebox comes to life with Garth Brooks' friends in low places. Reaching the dance floor I turn around and look at Mel. She has a huge smile on her face followed with a giggle with her free hand on top of her cowgirl hat to hold it in place I pull and spin her into me, her chest crashes into me with her hand still in mine and her other falls down just on top of my shoulder. I reach behind her with my free arm and rest just at the top of her ass with my fingers slightly dipping into her back pocket doing the two step dance with her.

Johnny and Alex follow us and just as the chorus comes we lift our beers up and sing our hearts out all together. Still holding onto Mel I lean down and pick her up and spin as she raises her beer higher with a yell of pure joy. Seeing her like this so carefree, just in the moment makes me smile.

She is my best friend.

But I shouldn’t be looking at my best friend the way I do and thinking about kissing her the way I am.

I can't imagine what growing up without her would have been like.

"You’re in a really good mood.” she says as I set her back down.

"We just graduated, Boots. Of course I’m in a good mood.” I tuck her under my arm and reach my other arm out and place it on Johnny's shoulder while Alex is tucked under his other arm.

"Can you guys believe it, from pre-k recess to high school graduates, we have stuck by each other the whole way.” I say with absolute pride because if you asked me who my ride or dies were it would be this group right here.

"Actually if you wanna get technical, Mel and I were besties since pre k because I strictly remember the sandbox incident at recess as not a fond memory.” Alex says with her eyebrow raised looking at me and Johnny.

"Yeah you leaches didn't tag along until kindergarten." Mel adds.

"Oh come on babe I was just flirting with you, I had to make some kind of impression to get you hooked in.” Johnny pulls her in with a tug.

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