I laugh and send a spray of water up at her causing her to gasp and send one back at me. Before we can go full-on water war, Hetter swims up behind her and tosses her over his shoulder to carry her out of the water with a yell.
“Grub’s ready, ladies!”
I sigh at how perfect they are for each other, snag Maggie’s discarded inner tube, and follow them out of the water
Rain
Every single thing I put on my plate is incredible. Maggie and Hetter are truly a match in the kitchen and I clean every bite of food they prepared for today’s cookout. I’m on my second fireball and coke when the sun starts to go down and the music is turned up. Someone has started a bonfire in the center of the clearing and Maggie drags me closer to it to dance. I’m feeling loose and happy as I swing my hips and lift my arms in the air to the beat.
Almost everyone I’ve chatted with today has been nice. Some I went to school with and some were new people I’d never met before. Two of the guys that had been checking me out in the water came over to chat and me reminding them that I use to babysit them did nothing to discourage their shameless flirting with me. Not going to lie, I liked it. There’s a small group of women off to the side that have sent me catty looks throughout the afternoon and evening but I knew them from high school and they’ve always been a mean girl clique. I use to ignore them back then so I just kept on now.
I don’t give the two sets of headlights washing over the clearing much thought as I dance but minutes later, I feel the whole vibe change and a shiver runs down my back. I know it has nothing to do with the weather as my white blouse is sticking to my skin from the warm, humid air. I don’t even have to turn around to know that the Kingston men have arrived. Maggie shoots me a concerned look but I just shrug and down the rest of my drink and head for the cooler to get another one. I’m going to need a few more drinks to deal with them being so close.
Maggie pulls the girl that served me at Rex’s bar over to me and introduces her.
“Rain, this is Starlight. She moved to town a few years after you left.”
I give her a smile in greeting and marvel again at her delicate beauty. Her cheeks turn pink as she blushes and her voice is barely a whisper as she says hello.
“Did Jackson drive you out?” Maggie asks her. The girl blushes even more and I follow the look she throws over her shoulder to spot Jackson standing with all three of the Kingstons who are glaring my way. I sigh in frustration and turn back to the conversation.
“Yes, Agnes is babysitting Moon for the night and Rex closed the bar so he insisted I come and have what he calls, some normal fun.”
My brows shoot up in surprise that such a young-looking woman has a child and ask, “Are you and Jackson a couple? I didn’t know he was married and a dad.”
Starlight’s blush goes full red as she shakes her head quickly.
“Oh, no! He’s just a friend and Moon is my little brother. I…I’m not with anyone…like that.”
Maggie laughs. “Yet! Not with anyone yet, Star. We both know Jackson would change that status in a hot minute if you even blinked in his direction.”
Star dips her head, letting a waterfall of fairy white hair hide half her face even as she mumbles, “It’s not like that, Maggie. He’s just being nice after…”
I feel bad for the girl at how clearly uncomfortable she is so I quickly change the subject.
“Would you like a drink or something to eat?”
She peeks up at me with a grateful look and nods.
“A drink would be great, please.”
I nudge Maggie away to get it for her and look around the clearing, my eyes skipping past Chase, Rex, and Luke and the scowls directed my way and land on the group of catty girls. Seems like they have a new target in Starlight judging by the nasty looks and whispered words.
Cindy Paulson is the worst of the bunch and I remember her as being the queen of her little group of vipers. She actually points right at Star, says something I don’t quite catch over the music, and they all look at her and start laughing. My hand tightens around the plastic cup in my hand but I turn back to Star and judging by the hurt expression on her delicate face, she knows that they’re talking shit about her.
“Just ignore them. They’ve been like this for years,” I tell her in a soft tone and get a small smile in return.
All the relaxed mood I had for most of the day is gone with the Kingstons glaring at me and Cindy’s group being nasty so I toss back what’s left of my drink.
The current song ends and Cindy’s voice is clear as day as she says, “…why she’s still here. She should go back to the city with the rest of the snobs. Rain always thought she was better than the rest of us. Thought she was too good for country folk.”
I don’t know if it’s the fireball, Star’s hurt expression, or if I’ve just had enough of bullies but I crack my neck to the side and pivot slowly to face her with a smug smile, catching her eye.
“Cindy Paulson, you think you’re country?” I ask in mocking disbelief and then laugh and shake my head. “I don’t see country when I look at you. All I see is a cunt in the trees.”
There’s a beat of silence and then half the crowd roars with laughter. I give her one last dismissive look and turn but I meet Chase’s angry eyes and any satisfaction I might have felt at putting that bitch in her place melts away. I duck my head as a frown pulls my lips down. That’s the first time I’ve snapped back at someone like that and it fills me with anxiety. Jason would be furious if he saw me causing a scene like that. I’m trying to shake thoughts of him and his expectations from my head when Jackson speaks up.
“Uh, Hett? I think your woman is contemplating a crime. I’d rather not have to arrest her on my night off.”
