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Chapter Six
Trask
I look over at Kelly sitting in my truck and I like it. I don’t think I have ever taken the time to enjoy a woman’s company outside of trying to get in her panties. I have been missing out. I see the worry on Kelly’s face. I don’t think I have ever met a woman who is as beautiful as Kelly worry about meeting people. The beautiful women I have known have been more about who was going to be at the place we were going instead of if the people will like her. Women are odd creatures. No one in their right mind would not like this woman sitting across the truck from me. If I had my way, I would turn this truck around and keep her all to myself but as skittish as she is, I think she might run. I don’t want Kelly running anywhere but into my arms. The faster the better. Yep, I’m keeping those thoughts to myself. I think Lyric and Kelly will get along fine.
“You never did tell me your last name, beautiful Kelly,” I tell the woman who is staring out the window.
“My name is Kelly Littlefield, Mr. Stillman. You are one crazy man. I could have been some ax killer. You didn’t even ask my last name before you invited me to your friend’s cookout. What if I kill everyone with poison or something? You need to be more careful. Didn’t your mama tell you not to talk to strangers? Remember, stranger danger,” Kelly says with laughter in her eyes. I wink at her.
“My mama has been warning all the girls about me, not me about them for years.” Kelly laughs a full belly laugh, as we call it in Texas. “Your laugh sounds beautiful. You should try it more often.”
“How do you know I don’t? I may be a laughing idiot.” That makes me laugh.
“You seem way too serious for that and you have no laugh lines around your eyes the way I do.” Kelly looks at me like I am crazy.
“Well thank goodness for that. I am too young for laugh lines.” That makes me laugh louder. Kelly looks like I kicked her kitten.
“I was just joking. Why are you so serious?” Kelly looks at me and smiles.
“I haven’t always had a lot to laugh about but my life and luck seem to be improving. There’s this crazy guy that wants me to laugh a lot.” Kelly looks back out the window as if her mind is somewhere else. I don’t like the melancholy look on her face.
“Listen to the crazy guy, it looks good on you.” Kelly swings her head back to me.
“I think I might just do that. If I can’t beat the crazy, I might as well join it. I’ve got nothing else to do,” Kelly says with a grin on her face. She surprises me by winking at me.
“That’s the spirit. Give in to the crazy.” I start to stay quiet but I can’t. It’s not my nature.
“You can relax when you’re with me and just have an enjoyable time. Everyone is going to love you and if not, screw ‘em. So what, don’t like them right back. There will be other people, move to the next one. If they all don’t like you, to hell with them all. We’ll go back to your place and have an enjoyable time by ourselves. Just relax and enjoy the ride,” I tell her. It’s my way of thinking and dealing with life. I couldn’t care less who does and doesn’t like me.
“That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t been alone in a farmhouse by yourself for months because you were afraid to reach out and make friends. I’m lonely and I need to interact with people before I go crazy and I’m known as the woman that sits in a farmhouse and counts water stains on her ceiling to pass the time. I want to have friends.” I think that might be the saddest thing I have ever heard.
“I wish I had known. I would have been your friend sooner. You have me as a friend now, so you never need to be alone again. I promise, just be yourself today and everyone will love you. Then you will have more friends and I will need to make an appointment just to visit. Do you think you can pencil me in for about three hours every day, now, so I have my place saved?” I wink and smile at Kelly. Her face is still and then she breaks out in a smile.
“You are a nut. I’ll see what I can do when I check my calendar.” We both laugh. “Alright, I’ll try to relax and just enjoy myself, you big nut. If your friends can put up with you, surely, they can put up with anyone.” She’s not wrong about that.
“Put on those big girl boots and let’s do this.” I try to give her some reassurance as we drive into Botie and Lyric’s drive. “You ready for this?” I ask her.
“As ready as I will ever be. Let’s go.” That’s what I like to hear.
“Let’s do it,” I say and we do.
Chapter Seven
Kelly
I am still nervous as Trask and I walk up to the house and he knocks on the door. Trask has tried to put me at ease, but it’s hard to relax. I guess Trask is right, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I can do this. This is what Kim would do. She would own this cookout, and everyone would love her by the end of the day. Surely, I can gain at least one more friend. I’m determined and my expectations are small.
“I thought I was going to need to come and find your ass. Get in here and help me. Lyric is going crazy,” the big man that opens the door says to Trask. “Who is this?” The man looks like he’s trying to dissect my inner thoughts, but his eyes look nice and he isn’t making any hairs stand up on my neck, so I think he’s safe. I think Trask will keep me safe. What was I thinking getting out like this?
“Chill out, Botie, you’re scaring my girl.” Trask laughs but he latches on to my hand. Did he say his girl? “What’s wrong with Lyric? That girl is never out of hand. This is my girl.”
“I’m his friend, Kelly,” I tell the big man. He smiles at me and I know the man is just concerned for his wife and not a threat to me. I relax a little more.
“Are you his friend or his girl?” He looks at Trask. “I think he said you were his girl and Trask hasn’t had a girl in a long time.” I see he’s trying to get a dig in at Trask and it makes me like the man. “Lyric is just nervous and micro-managing everything. I keep telling her this is like any other get-together we have been to. We are just sharing good news with everyone.” I wait for him to quit talking. “I’m Botie, this guy’s best friend, he’s so rude.”
“I don’t think that Lyric is the only one wound up. Take a breath, man, before you hyper ventilate,” Trask tells him. “Back up so we can get in the door or am I supposed to help from out here?” Botie backs up and lets us in the door.
“By the way, I am a girl and Trask’s friend. Do you think I could give your wife a hand with something?” Botie laughs.
