“What happened to Billie’s Mum?” I blurt out before my brain has a chance to catch-up and stop the words from leaving my mouth.
I expect him to scream at me, shove me away, tell me to fuck off,anything. Instead, he takes a deep breath and says softly, “That is something I want to share with you, but not tonight, please. Tonight, I just want to dance with a beautiful woman and enjoy my beer. Is that alright with you, Firefly?”
I nod, unsure how to muster up any form of coherent reply that won’t make me sound – and feel – like an asshole. Dallas seems satisfied with that, because he pulls me closer, his grip tightening around me.
My teeth sink into my lip, my mind racing at the ways I can try to redeem myself from bringing up what is clearly a painful, and potentially still touchy, subject.Nice going, Annabeth.
Billie hasn’t been in my class long – given that I had only just started teaching her grade – but she and I connected instantly. She’s vibrant, colourful, and full of joy, which is only further cemented in her musical talents. Billie expressed her desire to master the guitar, and all but chewed my ear off on my first day helping her run chords. Truthfully, that was one of my favourite days. I make it my business to get to know my students, and their parents, although Ireeaallydidn’t mean to get to knowthisparticular parent quitethiswell.
I remember my own music teacher felt like a second mum at times, often staying back to look after us if someone’s parent was running late, always making sure we felt safe at school. She was such a breath of fresh air, someone I always aspired to be like. I wonder if she would look at the woman I’ve become and be proud of me. She was there when Mum—Never mind…
“Where have you run off to, darlin’?” Dallas asks.
I adjust myself in his hold so I can look up at him, the wrinkles creased beneath his hat draw my eyes straight to his, and I’m immediately lost in the hazel pools.
“Just reminiscing, I guess,” I offer.
The sound of engines roar from the car park, and it’s only then that I realise we’ve been out here for over an hour. Colt and Ella stumblefrom the diner, arm in arm, and Colt’s voice rises over the engines as he calls for his brother.
Dallas calls back, and the pair make their way down to where we’ve parked up by the river. Ella springs to life when she sees me, and immediately starts gushing over Link and Hannah’s news.
“Do you think you’d ever do it again?” Colt asks, his gaze locked on his brother.
“Colt,” Dallas says, a warning tone lacing his voice.
Ella senses the tension and immediately pipes in, “I can’t wait to get married. I want the whole kit and kaboodle. Big white dress, five bridesmaids—”
“Five? Who the fuck else would you have? Youhateeveryone but Hannah and Annabeth,” Colt cuts in through fits of laughter.
“Excuse me, River and I have come a long way,” she retorts.
“What, since you first moved here and tried to fuck Teddy?”
“Shut up, dickhead. I didn’tknow!” She reaches her arm towards Colt, slapping him playfully with a scowl on her face, clearly embarrassed by the memory.
“Knock it off you two,” Dallas interjects, apparently accustomed to their bickering. He motions to me, his smirk widening as he says, “They’ve been like this since they met. It drove everybody mental back then, and it sure as hell still does.”
“We’re all heading into Wattle Ridge to continue the festivities, Hannah has decided she wants to party on. I don’t think Mrs. Hartford was too impressed when she called her to drive the courtesy bus. You coming?” Ella asks, her blonde hair almost glowing in the moonlight.
“I’m too old for that shit,” Dallas replies through a laugh.
Ella smiles and turns her question to me, “A.B.?”
My eyes meet Dallas’s, the unspoken question lingering. “I might just meet you back at home, if that’s okay?” I ask her, although I can tell she’s reading between the lines because she shoots me a knowing look.
“Roger that. I’ll take care of this one for ya, Dallas,” she says, gesturing at Colt.
Colt rolls his eyes, wrapping his arm lazily around Ella, the smirk on his face telling me everything I need to know as the two of them bid us farewell and continue on their way. I make a mental note to grill her on her newfound sidekick the second she gets home. I didn’t know they had history untilafterher birthday party, and I still feel like an absolute wanker for what I said to Dallas about them, although he seemed to get a rise out of teasing me, so I suppose it’s not all bad.
The courtesy bus rolls out several minutes later, the hollering of our friends echoing down the driveway as they head out to Wattle Ridge.
“Do you wanna’ get out of here?” Dallas asks.
“Where are we going?”
“I have no fucking idea, but I don’t want you to go home yet,” he confesses.
My heart skips a beat in my chest as the words fill my ears. I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe. Every drop of air has left my lungs, I’m sure of it.
