Driving along the road, I spy the lit-up sign for McCoy’s shining in the distance. No name, just a pair of neon cowboy boots lighting up the parking lot. That’s new. Cole must have upgraded.
Making a right into the parking lot, the spaces full to the brim.
Wow, I don’t remember it being this crowded.
Of course you don’t, dumbass. You skipped out thirteen years ago.
Shaking my head, I pull away from the thought’s that are invading my mind and see a big enough space at the small corner of the parking lot, hidden away as well as it can be.
Parking the truck, I pull my hood up and over onto my head. I don’t need to be recognised right now.
Hell, I don’t even know if anyone would recognise me anymore, my knowledge on this town is now next to none. The town has sure moved on since I was last here.
I’m here to see Jake sing, hide somewhere in the back and go home with him, that’s all. To hang my head in shame with my brother and my parents. I’ve already created one shit show tonight; I don’t need another.
Stepping inside McCoy’s, I take a good look around.
Damn.
This place really hasn’t changed much.
TheTennessee Titans’shirts through the years still hang on the deep oak walls. The music star pictures have doubled.
Country music is slowly, and finally, in my opinion, taking the world by storm. About time, too. The only music that’s worth something in my eyes, even after spending my adult life somewhere that doesn’t listen to it.
I hold my hood firm around my face doing my best to keep my blonde curls hidden until I find a dark corner to hide myself away in.
I lift my gaze from the floor and drop myhands down to my sides. I’m about to make my way over to the bar when the feeling of a slight unease hits me.
Looking in front of me must be a hundred, maybe more people are staring at me.
And double fuck!
I recognise every single damn one of them.
My hooded disguise not working as well as I thought it would. Deciding to take it down, I ignore the constant string of eyes staring back at me. My head darts in the direction of the bar,scanning the crowd for my brothers face, when my eyes land on Mabel leaning against a bar stool, whiskey in hand.
Her eyes lock with mine, I see the pained look that matches the blood-curdling scream she let out not even an hour ago.
Watching her, I remain routed to the spot as I notice our old friends around her. All of them. Luke, Hope, Iris and my brother, the very man I wanted to run into.
Luckily for me Colter isn’t in sight.
I turn my eyes to look at my brother as I excuse myself through the crowd of people gawping at me. Their curious gazes heating in my cheeks.
Looking back at Mabel, her back now turned to me, I watch her shoot back shot after shot of clearliquid. I’ve all of three guesses to know that’s tequila.
It always was her favourite.
Hope and Iris gawping at me just as much as everyone else is. Luke looks incredibly nervous, turning his face to me, then back at Mabel, who still has her back turned to me.
Jake looks at me with a shit-eating grin on his face, the only smile I’ve seen so far today.
I squeeze my way further through the crowd, placing my hand on others backs to get through towards the bar.
“Well, holy shit. Look what the cat dragged in,” Jake says, slapping my shoulder as I reach my old group of very best friends in the world.
“Hey, bro’.” I return the slap to his shoulder.
