“I don’t know who I am without Whiskey Wild.”
“YouareWhiskey Wild. The music, the lyrics, the spirit. That was all you. Darla was just siphoning from your energy.”
“It works because it’s us.”
“Nah, it works because it’s you. It’s in your blood. You are the heart and soul of this group.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“You don’t have to have all the answers now. It’s okay to take the time to process your feelings.”
“I’m scared and I feel like my life is falling apart.”
“That’s fair.”
“Maybe I should go. Home or back to LA. It’s not fair to lay this all on you. You were expecting a good time and I’m just a Debbie Downer.”
“I’m not going to tell you what to do. But I’m not asking you to leave.”
“Why are you always there for me?”
I stared at my feet, kicking a thistle that had made its way onto the porch. The answer to Fancy’s question was a simple one. Growing up whenever she needed me, I came running. She didn’t have to ask. I eagerly volunteered to carry the load, brainstorm the problem, or quite literally kick someone’s ass. Heat overtook my cheeks and ears as my gaze settled on her face and we locked eyes. I don’t know who said it, but you miss all the shots you never take. So, I planted my feet and let a free throw fly. “Because … I love you Fancy.”
After dinner,I led Cotton Candy to the barn, feeding her and the other animals. When I got back to the house, with my truck still parked out front, I remembered I had a surprise for Fancy. I moved the truck and collected the items from the back seat. In the house, Fancy was stretched out on the couch in a tank top showcasing her nipples and booty shorts that placed her curves on display.
“I come bearing gifts.”
Fancy sat up. “You’ve come to the right place. I love gifts.”
“First we have this.” I placed a nondescript box in front of her.
“What’s that?”
“This is a router for the internet I signed up for today.”
Her face brightened. “You bought that for me?”
“Yeah. So now you don’t have to run to town for service.”
“This feels naughty, like I’m converting you to the dark side. Before we know it, you’ll be fighting with strangers online who go by usernames like Macaulay Culkin’s Left Butt Cheek.”
My brows smashed together. “Is that supposed to be a real person?”
“Maybe, sometimes it can be a bot.”
My expression was etched with confusion, probably because I mostly spent my time on the internet checking emails and searching recipes for thirty-minute meals.
“Awe it’s like you’re my grandma and I have to teach you how to work the group chat.”
“I’m a part of several group chats, thank you very much. If you keep teasing me, I’ll take my second gift back.” I thrust a bouquet of wilted flowers in her face.
“Dead flowers?”
“They were a beautiful arrangement of flowers. But they’ve been sitting in my truck in the sun since five this evening, so now they are a representation of my good intentions.”
“I love every parched petal.”
“Don’t worry I can probably bring it back to life by cutting the stems and dunking the entire thing in cold water.”
