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Kennedy headed over to his truck, opening the driver’s side. “I—um sorry, Miss Charlene. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Just when he stepped on the side rail, I called his name. “Mr. Townsend?”
“Please call me Kennedy.”
I shook my head, feeling my eyes well up with tears. “Why did you shoot my father?” Guilt was written all over his face and he rushed into his truck, racing off before I got any kind of answer. “Yes, it’s okay. I hope you’ve lost as much sleep as I have, you prick.” I wanted to take that plate of brownies and toss them in the trash, but they were teasing me with the ooey-gooey, chocolaty goodness. It was a peace offering and even if he told me why he shot my father, it wouldn’t pacify me or reverse time back to before my father was shot.
After I stuffed a brownie in my mouth, I walked into the bathroom, still chewing, and turned on the shower. Showers are supposed to soothe a frenzied soul. No one ever said that. It’s something I made up, and I needed the hot water to cleanse my body from the desire for Dallas and hatred for Kennedy. Hate was such a potent emotion, but I had no reason to feel otherwise.
FIFTEEN
What harm was going to a little BBQ? I was a prospect in the Nanuq Shila club, so it was only fitting that I show my face, even if it wasn’t actually me, Charlene Dixon. This Johnny Wayne gig has already taken a toll, but until there was some sort of resolution to the madness, he would need to remain.
I listened in on a few of the conversations as I nursed my bottle of beer, which was tasting off the warmer it got. Admittedly, I was a beer snob, but beggars can’t be choosers when someone else is hosting. Here it was Austin. This man was entirely different at home and unbeknownst to me, he was married with his first child due to show her face in three weeks. Austin was gentle around his wife, Danielle, and he was a proud papa to be. If I was Char, I would’ve asked if little lady Marquez was going to learn how to fix bikes and ride like her daddy. However, I had to continue acting like the unaffected Johnny Wayne.
As I got up to get another beer out of the cooler, I glanced at Dallas, who was busy chatting with his younger sister. “Hey, uh-Dallas. When are you going to settle down and get yourself an old lady?” I cringed at the name, but it was part of the act.
It was as if I was a driver who caused a twelve car pile-up. The chatter halted, and all eyes were on Dallas. His cheeks turned three shades darker, and he stammered. “Ummm. I am not at liberty to say Wayne!”
Austin chuckled and took a swig of his beer before he answered. “He’s pining after the Chief’s daughter. But I think she’s brushing him off.”
“Come on, Austin. In Char’s defense, she’s got a lot on her plate and her father comes first before the thought of a boyfriend.” Dallas said as he stood up, arching his brow at me. “Are you satisfied, Wayne? You found out I have a weakness.”
I nodded and my heart leapt when he sat next to me. “Sooo, uh, Dixon’s daughter? Is she hot?” I asked, intending to probe him in case he’d say anything out of line. You can bet your ass. If he did, I’d clock him in his perfectly chiseled jaw.
“It’s crazy. She wasn’t in a circle that I’d consider being with in high school. But this girl glowed up.” Dallas said with a soft, dreamy look in his eyes. “I suppose it was more her aloofness toward me that was a deterrent. But now that she needs me, I am more attracted to her.”
I choked on my beer and coughed.Excuse me? Do I need him?Has worrying about my father truly made me that pathetic that he deemed I needed him? I don’t understand men at all. It was seriously the dumbest thing to ever come out of anyone’s mouth.
Turning my head, I wiped the spit from my bottom lip without him seeing. “What do you mean? Are you telling me when a chick needs a dude, she’s more attractive?”
Dallas laughed, “I guess. It softened her. Char was the queen of the resting bitch-face.”
Are you fucking kidding me? Resting Bitch Face?And to think I was developing fond feelings for this inconsiderate, rude pig.
“Are you saying?” I covered my mouth the minute my own voice slipped out. “Are you saying Charlene Thompson?”
Dallas interrupted me, “Dixon. If you plan to be part of this club, you need to know our Chief’s name.”
“Sorry, my bad. So, as I was asking? Dixon’s girl was a bitch until her father got shot?”
He shook his head, glaring at me. “She has always been a pretty girl, but in high school she was unapproachable, so the guys were all afraid to ask her out. It wasn’t like she had this intimidating father, so that wasn’t the case. Tyler Dixon is a hella cool guy, the finest you’ll ever know. I think you’ll like him. She’s got this untamed spirit and is so passionate about things that don’t matter. Tyler would always complain about how she was constantly pushing the equality envelope. Char wanted to be part of the Nanuq Shila because she had a love for riding and a knack for adventure. Yet, because she’s a girl, it wasn’t allowed, regardless of who her father is.”
Fine! He got those points back after what I assumed were complete insults. It wasn’t until then I never realized how much my father talked about me to club members and certainly wasn’t aware how much Dallas paid attention to anything regarding me.
I licked my lips, aching to lean in and kiss him. But that would be so wrong on so many levels. Clearing my throat, I urged him. “You should call her. Ask her on a proper date. If any chick meant that much to me, I’d throw caution to the wind and ask her out.”
“Please stop calling her ‘chick.’ If Char heard that, she’d jump down your throat for the degrading reference.” Dallas chastised me as he reached behind him for his phone and hesitated to dial. He groaned and tapped his chin with the phone. “Ah, I need to wait until tomorrow. It’s already ten and I’m sure she’s asleep.”
I nudged him and gave him a crooked grin. “Are you a pussy? If a girl gave me a hard-on the way this Char chick-I mean, Char does. I wouldn’t hesitate to call her. What’s the worst that’ll happen? It goes to voicemail.” I jumped to my feet. “I need to take a piss. In the meantime, call her and you better have an answer for me when I get out.” I never knew, until now, that men become as nervous as a woman does when he’s interested.
My heart swelled at the notion that my heart's desire was interested in me. As I listened to him pour his heart out, I longed to tell him I felt the same way for him. But for obvious reasons, I couldn’t; not until the time was right, anyway. I hurried inside the house to use the bathroom, but also to hide my blushing. After doing my business, I washed my hands and caught my reflection in the mirror. “Char? What are you doing? Don’t let that handsome raven-haired man with the glorious light eyes distract you from your mission.”
I sighed heavily and rolled my eyes. “What mission? To break bread with two clubs that don’t seem to want peace among the ranks? Or the mission to teach Kennedy Townsend a lesson for shooting my father?” My mind was all over the place and asking myself questions that would never be answered was pointless. I had no outline of how this was supposed to all go down. It was more a situation where I was flying by the seat of my pants.
It took him long enough, but my phone rang and I let it ring twice before I cleared my throat. “Hello? Dallas. You know what time it is?”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s late, but I was doing some thinking and I-uh.”
