Killing Me Softly(A Broken Souls Series)

“Nothing happened, stop freaking out. I had to carry you to bed and helped you out of your clothes. Hope you don’t mind. I tried to do it with my eyes closed, but that’s hard to do with someone flopping around.”

Ugh. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you in front of your friends. I’m sorry.” I can’t even turn around to face him, I’m so embarrassed.

“Holl, you didn’t embarrass me. You drank everyone under the table. They didn’t even see me carrying you to bed. That game did everyone under.” He placed a hand on my back as he talked. “You needed to let loose, we had fun. On a more serious side, would you like some ice water or anything?”

“If they have any pink stuff and something for a headache that would be nice.”

“No problem.”

Maybe no problem for him, but for me, it’s the most embarrassing moment with him. I have puke in my hair and I need to brush my teeth. I’m never drinking again.

***



Chapter Fourteen. Picnic

It’s been over two weeks since Tate went away for training. He was gone for five days, but it felt like a lifetime. I’ve been busy with the store and getting enrolled in my fall classes. It was amazing to pay for my classes without taking out a student loan. I’m already in debt for six thousand dollars. The club in Norman liked us so much they had us out this past weekend.

The weather has been so hot that the lake water has receded. We haven’t even taken the motorcycle out because it has been so hot. Thankfully,we’ve been going to the Waffle Shack to work on our songs. We’re regulars now and the staff likes it when we sing. There’s usually not anyone around after eight. Periodically, a random straggler will stop in and have coffee.

Today’s the first Sunday I’ve been off work. Sam went on a family vacation, so I’ve been working the floor more than usual. All of the employees have been scheduling vacation time, making it harder for me to get days off.

“Hey beautiful, you look like you belong in a magazine. For the life of me, I can’t see what you like about this country boy. I was trying to find something fun to do, I’ve never been to the Omniplex, would you like to go?” Tate asks as he holds open the truck’s door for me. He walks in front of the truck and does some crazy dance for me. This is what I like about him, he can be fun and silly just like me.

Today I decide to do something I’ve never done before, hopefully it won’t throw him off too bad. I take the center console and lift it up. He glances at me sideways, but doesn’t say anything. I scoot over next to him. The lap-belt is deep down in the crevasses but my hand is thin enough to reach in and grab it. Tate is still watching me with his crooked grin plastered on his face. “In answer to your question, the Omniplex sounds fun. I haven’t been down to the science museum since grade school. Oh yeah, do you mind if I sit next to you? I see couples in trucks do this, so I wanted to try it out.”

“Of course you can sit here. Only one thing makes a nice truck better, is a pretty girl to sit next to the driver. My grandma called this morning, she wanted me to say hello to you for her. Consider yourself told.” He takes his phone out and types in the address for the Omniplex before he drives off.

“Is everything okay on the farm?” It feels strange sitting so close to him. “Did you tell her about our singing?”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “Not yet. She’s been under the weather. My mom took off with some guy she met on the internet. Grandma thinks they went to Las Vegas. Either way, my mom left her alone to care for the ranch. I’m not surprised, my mother has wanted to go traipse off and not worry about the farm for years. She’ll be back in the fall when he’s had enough of her. That’s how things have gone with her my entire life. Enough about her. How’s your dad?”

We still haven’t had dinner together. I try not to talk about Tate too often. It’s a balancing game when it comes to my dad. The medicine has been keeping him calm, but I’ve heard him crying late at night. I’ve sat up with him to ease his mind that I’m not going to run off and get married. He’s fixated on me getting married too young and having children before I have a career. “He’s fine. The guy he does plants for is coming to get him and they’re going out for lunch. That’s pretty huge, he doesn’t go out with other people very often, or ever. He tried to turn the air conditioner off last night and we had a small disagreement about how hot it was in the house. I’m sorry, but I can’t handle being hot. With my extra hours and the money from singing, we’re able to keep it a little cooler than usual. It isn’t like the thermostat is turned down to freezing. We keep it at seventy-four, but last night it was still in the nineties when we went to bed. The house was over eighty inside because he turned the air off. Aren’t you glad you asked? You’re protecting our country on a daily basis and I’m having arguments with a mentally unstable man. I can’t imagine what you tell your friends.” Sitting on the hump of the center seat makes me feel like my head is blocking his review mirror. I try to scoot down without looking like a hunchback but if I sit up straight, I’m obnoxiously tall.

“I tell my friends the truth. I’m dating a girl who’s beautiful inside and out. Your heart has been battered but you still found room to let me in. We can’t help who our parents are, and what nonsense they do in their lives. We are living for ourselves. When you and I met, you were sad. In your store you were confident and strong, but at the bookstore you were sad. I’m only guessing here, but I think you felt guilty for having a good time without your friend, Andy.” He pats my thigh, one simple touch sent my heart skipping.

“I think you’re right. When she died, it was like a sister was ripped away from me. That reminds me, her mom called me and asked us to a cookout for the Fourth of July. It feels strange going over there without Andy to bounce down the stairs and announce ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! At the top of her lungs. She was her own entertainment, we were her faithful audience. If you don’t want to go, I totally understand.”

“If it means I get to meet someone who you care about, I’m game. My unit is having a picnic this weekend. Would you like to go? They’ll have food and a volleyball tournament. Oh, and we’ve been asked to sing. My C O called me in his office yesterday and asked about us performing. I agreed to sing and told him I’d talk to you. I’m not sure if you have to work or anything.” A semi pulls into our lane almost taking out the front end of the truck. I yelped without considering the distraction it would cause Tate. “Holland, are you okay?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scream. Since Andy died, I’m a little nervous in a car. For the most part, I can hide my fears. Idiot drivers scare the crap out of me though. In answer to your question, I’m off next Saturday and would be honored to sing.”

“Awesome, I’ll text him when we get to the Omniplex. Don’t worry about screaming, my friend Carrie is the worst about freaking out in a car. After a while, I got used to her screaming and it doesn’t faze me anymore. She’s talking about coming down in August. I hope she does. You’ll like her. She’s very much like you, wiser than her years. She’s a cowgirl through and through. She’s hoping to hit some of the western bars. Vince Gill is one of her all-time favorite singers, so is Garth Brooks. Rumor has it that when they’re in Oklahoma City, they will show up at the bars. It’s unlikely, but who knows, maybe they will.”