Page 24 of Wasted Oil

With the back of my hand I wipe the remaining drops of beer and take a deep breath as I take the last couple of steps where I am now standing behind the Oil Princess herself. It’s clear that this is a surprise for us both, only I’m the one who knows minutes before. I have yet to know my exact feelings other than question whether if I should stay or leave… like she did. But ghosting her seems far too easy of an option than what I'd really like her to feel, the pain I felt.

“Boots.”

Chapter seven

“What happened boots? Cat caught your tongue?”

Melanie

My breath hitches, my spine snaps straight from my leaning position at the table. I know that voice, it belongs to the man I’ve been in love with for over two decades. He’s here.

I see Alex round the table, with a vicious, devious smile placed on her lips. She knew he was going to be here, this is a set-up. I should have freaking known.

As “The Devil Went Down to Georgia '' plays I turn with caution not ready for what I see in front of me.

My Cowboy.Here he is and I have no idea what to say, after so long of not seeing one another what do you say? Instead, I take in how he looks, dark faded Levis and a plain white button up with the sleeves rolled up, and are those tattoos? When did he get those! Holy shit, he looks good!

My eyes wander up just a bit more till I reach his face. He has a little bit of stubble and his Stetson as always in place, he looks so dreamy I can melt in my spot. Finally, I settle on his eyes. I have always loved his green eyes and when the sun hit them you could see gold specks in them, but now it's something different. They are cold yet burning holes into me and not the good kind. Oh boy this can't be good.

"Rhett—” The words get lodged in my throat. There are so many things I want to say but none of them seem right and saying sorry is probably not what he wants to hear right now, especially in a crowded bar with the music blasting. So I just settle with “Hi.”

He doesn't respond, more or less scoffs and rounds the table next to Johnny. Alex looks between us in shock. I don't think this is what she had planned .

"Seriously guys? That's it?” We look up at each other, him eyeing me up and down while I’m trying to read what's underneath them.

This isn't the cowboy I fell in love with, this is someone else, someone that has been through a lot and I’m partially to blame for it. He keeps his eyes on me as he takes another swig of his beer. A tiny drop drips his neck down my eyes trailing it as it falls. God I wish I could go over there and lick it off him.

He sets his bottle on the table still looking into my soul.

"You look good. Nice to see that you kept the boots."

The compliment was honest but dry with no real emotion to his words. I put on my best playful face.

"Not looking bad yourself Cowboy.” He freezes over the use of his nickname and there is a shift in his eyes. The ones that were cold a moment ago have now flashed with a heat I can only describe as lust.

Keeping my eyes trained on him I hear Johnny speak from beside him.

"Will you two just fuck already?” That breaks our stare as my eyes snap toward Johnny just in time for Alex to give him a smack to his chest. A blush spreads through my face heating my cheeks. I can feel him staring at me, the heat spreading down my body to my core eliciting a shiver to run down my spine. Give it to Johnny to ruin the moment. I look to Alex to see her giggling loving this even though this is not how I envisioned my reuniting with Rhett.

In my head I would come home and run into Rhett's arms and he would be there waiting for me with his open wide and catching me mid air, then we would ride off into the sunset in his blue beat up Chevy truck. I know that's a bit of an exaggeration but still I have dreamed of this moment since I left, and now that it's here it’s not going the way I had hoped. I fear my worst nightmare is coming to reality but I can’t bear to shake myself awake and brush away the ache I feel between my legs. He is cold, distant and for me it would take multiple bulldozers to tear down the walls that I’ve built. I know that it was wishful thinking and far-fetched when it came to it. I guess the confident Mel I am in Nashville dissipates when I come home, here I revert back to the old high school Mel.

“Now Ladies and Gents I have a special treat for y'all and if we give her a big hand and warm welcome home we can get her up here to sing with us.” Mason, the owner who has been here since we were in high school announces.

I look across to Alex and see that she has that look on her face, the sly smirk knowing what's about to go down.

"Alex…?” I warn. Looking Rhett next and I see that he is wearing the same expression on his face as she is.

"What did you do?” My face is dead set on her crossing my arms under my boobs propping them up. That little movement makes Rhett's head snap in my direction, his eye averting to my full chest.

"You’ll see.” Is all she says when Mason begins to speak again.

"You all know and love her. Give it up for our hometown sweetheart. Melanie Alvarez.” The room roared with cheers as I stood there in my spot glaring at Alex. I haven't sang along with the Jukebox for god knows how long, she is truly out of her mind. I give a couple waves and begin to walk to the stage when I turn around and grip Alex’s hand.

"If I’m going up there, I need my wingwoman. Let’s do this like the old days, yeah?” That's all it took for Alex to shrug out of the hold Johnny had her in and walk hand and hand with me up the stage.

"What will it be, girls?” Mason asks even though he already knows what it is going to be.

"Come on Mas, you know what it’s gonna be.” I say to him with a wink. All throughout our Senior year we would sneak in here and sing karaoke. He shakes his head while laughing, handing Alex and I our mics. He hits play on the jukebox with Take my Breath away by Berlin starts to play over the speakers.

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