“I’ll stay here. Let you two have some privacy.”
“Oh, well, up to you. I’m sure his dad’s there and whatnot.”
“Nah. I’ll do the speed dating thing awhile.”
I shake my head with a laugh. “Have fun.”
When I get down to the gate, I look for someone I recognize. Brantley’s green shirt catches my eye, and when I see his dirty-blond hair poking out from his hat, I make my way over.
He turns around and smiles just before I get the chance to scare him like I was planning. He wraps his arms around my waist and gives me a hug and kiss.
“You nervous?” I ask.
“Eh. Nah.” He shrugs but I think it’s because his buddies are here. He’s gotta be a little nervous. I don’t care that’s he’s been doing this for three years…he’s about to ride a bull for crying out loud!
“Addison, you coming with us tonight? I’m trying to get a head count,” Brantley’s friend Steven asks.
I look back to Brantley, unsure what he’s talking about. His hands squeeze my shirt a little more. “We’re going to Dally’s after the show. I figured you weren’t interested so I didn’t ask.”
Irritation creeps in. It hurts when he assumes I’m not interested, because even if he’s right, he shouldn’t assume. Don’t put me in a box and make choices on my behalf. That’s exactly what people did to me in high school. Eventually, the invitations stopped coming, just because I didn’t go a few times. And before you know it, you’re not part of the group anymore.
“Yeah, I have Church tommorow, early,” I say in my defense, glad that this time I actually have a reason. Usually, I don’t have one, and it’s not that peopleneeda reason, but it always came off better, in my opinion. Rather than letting them think you just didn’t want to be around them.
Steven and his friends all turn away from us, continuingtheir own conversations. Brantley meets my gaze again and his hands loosen around me.
“What?” he asks.
“Isn’t Dally’s a strip club?” I say.
“Yeah, but they have food and stuff.”
I tilt my head. “And you’re telling me you’re only going for the food? The girls dancing around are just…what? An accidental bonus?” I cross my arms.
“Be mature. C’mon.”
“Me? You shouldn’t be somewhere like that, ever, but especially when you’re in a relationship. It’s disrespectful.”
“Touching is disrespectful. There’s no harm in looking. They are two very different things.”
“They’re not actually.
He breathes, annoyed. “I’m a man. We…look, it’s sorta in our nature.”
“That’s no excuse. It doesn’t mean you feed the temptation. Sin feels good, that’s why it’s tempting.”
He scoffs and looks around before lowering his voice. “I can’t do this right now. I need to stay focused, not get dragged to church.”
He pecks my lips aggressively and walks away. I spin around and head back the way I came. Frustration is bubbling beneath my skin and the unsatisfying ending of the argument has settled in my chest.
I get back to Mason and see him with his phone pressed against his ear, covering the other ear with his hand.
He grunts when he hangs up. “Sorry. Work.”
“It’s fine.” But Mason doesn’t miss a beat.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“What?” I say, my voice rising in pitch. “Nothing.”
