Kady sat and listened to the music on the jukebox. One country song. One eighties rock song. And then back to country. She lost track of time. It was nice for a change.
When she looked up, she had been there for nearly two hours. Shaking her head, she smiled at Editon and started to stand.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes…” She grabbed the edge of the bar. “Whoa…” she said, surprised by the spinning room.
Editon was there with his hand on her elbow to steady her. “I’m going to drive you home.”
“I’m…” she started to say ‘fine’ but knew that she wasn’t. “Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”
When they got outside, she motioned across the street. “What about my car?”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get it tomorrow.”
He helped her to the parking lot and unlocked his pickup. It was new, shiny, and expensive.
“I only ask one thing,” he requested. “You can’t throw up in my rig, I’ve only had it a month.”
“I promise I won’t,” she said, embarrassed. She slid in the front seat.
Editon got in and said, “Put on your seatbelt. The roads are still icy.”
She clicked closed the buckle. As he pulled out, Kady’s head swam more. How much did I drink?
The night and the darkness seemed to envelop her. Her head slumped over and landed on Editon’s shoulder. He felt solid, the first solid thing in her fluid world that she’d felt in months. She inhaled. He smelled like firewood and cedar trees. The brush of leather from his coat was cool against her cheek.
I’ll just close my eyes for…
“Kady?” A deep voice pulled her awake from the nice dream she was having. Editon straightened her in the car seat. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern etching his brow.
She rubbed at her eyes. “Yeah…I’m fine.”
“We?re here.”
“Where?” she asked, disoriented.
“Your mom and dad’s house. I remembered where they lived. When you live in Vine Grove, you pretty much know where everyone lives.” He reached across her and unhooked her seatbelt. “You gonna be okay?” he asked again.
“Yep.” Kady shook her head to clear it and rubbed a hand over her face. She looked at his leather coat and felt her cheeks heat. “Here I was accusing you of trying to pick me up at the bar, and I’m the one who slobbered all over you in the car.”
“I think you were asleep. Short nap. That doesn’t really count.” His smile was easy, and it lit his eyes.
She slid her legs out and stood. “Thanks for making sure I got home safe.”
“You’re welcome. And, when it comes down to who’s picking up who, I’m the one who got to take you home at the end of the night.” He winked, making something flutter in the pit of her stomach.
Kady took a pen out of her purse and reached for his hand. “Here’s my number, why don’t you call me.” She inched up his sleeve and wrote her cell on his wrist.”
He smiled and pulled the sleeve back over his wrist. “I’ll see you around, Kady Randall.”
The only light still on in the house was over the sink in the kitchen. Her parents went to bed early. Her dad’s motto was always, early to bed, early to rise. Farmers were like that year-round, not just during the growing season. This was a good thing, she’d hate to face them.
Kady slipped her coat off her shoulders, took off her boots and set them by the front door.
She got about half-way across the living room.
“I thought you were going out for a few groceries, not to get drunk and pick up guys.” The computer screen lit the glare on Noah’s face.
“I didn’t…well, I did have a few drinks, but I hadn’t really planned to. Editon was buying.”
“At least the two of you are on a first name basis.”
“We knew each other from school.”
“That makes it better? And…you forgot the pop.”
“It’s back in our car… which is back at the store. Sorry.” Kady sighed. “I can’t have this conversation right now. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” She started to turn away and then stopped, remembering her rule of never going to bed angry. “I love you.”
“Yeah…” Noah muttered as he flipped his computer closed and tossed it over on the other side of the bed.
Chapter Three
Kady woke to the rumble of a truck outside. She sat up in bed and the vice of her hangover wound down on her head. “Ow.” She pressed her hands against her temples and reached for the glass of water on the nightstand.
She stood and then tiptoed across the cold, creaky wood floor to peek out the window. Why did a wood floor feel so much colder in the winter?
Editon and Nahko were outside talking with her dad. They’d brought her car back. She remembered that Editon drove her home and that she’d left her car at the store. He’d offered the take her home because she’d had enough liquor in her to light a tiki torch. She’d been friends with Editon in high school, and he obviously was still a nice guy.
When her eyes could focus again, she would go and thank him in person…just not now.
****