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“They’ll get over it,” Loretta said, hugging her back. “I have to thank you, though, for taking my place as family pariah. I thought because I was divorced and homeless, I was going to have to wear that mantle for a couple more years.”
Loretta sometimes acted like a second mother, but it was times like this, when she acted like a co-conspirator, that made LeAnn appreciate her all the more.
“Always glad to help out,” LeAnn said.
“Tell me all about the bull riding. Was it worth it?”
“It wasn’t worth causing Mom and Dad this much pain. But I love bull riding. I want to win this. And I’m going to have the time of my life doing it.”
“You don’t have to look so miserable about it,” Loretta said.
“At least the WPRC wasn’t too pissed by your little stunt,” Dolly said. “They came around when they saw that they were trending on Twitter and going viral on TikTok.”
“You could have told me what was going on,” Reba grumbled. “Both of you.”
“I’m sorry,” LeAnn said. She wanted a good cry, but she supposed that could wait until her parents had left and she had the Winnebago to herself for a while. There was one more person, though, that she needed to apologize to. She wouldn’t even blame him if he didn’t answer when she texted.
You around?
Even though she didn’t deserve it, he replied right away.
Yup.
Can I call?
Sure.
“I’ve got to make a phone call. Don’t leave until I get back,” LeAnn said to Loretta.
“No promises.” Loretta craned her neck. “They want to get on the road sooner rather than later.”
“I’ll stall them,” Reba said. “Make your phone call quick and then say your goodbyes.”
“Thanks.” LeAnn walked away from the RV, appreciating the cool night breeze. “Hey,” she said when Dylan picked up. “I’m just checking in. Did you get in trouble?”
“There were words exchanged,” Dylan said. “But we all came to an understanding.”
“What was the understanding?”
“That women are crazy. You in particular.”
Ouch. Yet she deserved that, so she would take the lumps. “Can I see you tonight?”
There was a long pause and she thought he’d tell her to go pound sand, but then he said, “I’m staying at the Holiday Inn on Main Street. Room 402.”
“I’ll be there in about an hour,” she said, and then because she couldn’t think of anything she wanted to say over the phone, she hung up.
Saying goodbye to her parents was a frosty and uncomfortable affair. They flinched away from her offered hugs and got into the car without looking back at her.
“They’ll come around,” Loretta said, giving her an extra-long hug to make up for it.
“Yeah,” LeAnn sniffled.
But the dust hadn’t settled on their car leaving the parking lot, when LeAnn headed for the truck. “I’m going out. Don’t wait up.”
“Don’t drink tonight,” Reba said.
“I won’t.” LeAnn had other things in mind for tonight. Nerves made her jittery as she drove into town and walked into the Holiday Inn. She wanted to make things right with Dylan, but that wasn’t the only reason she was here. LeAnn wanted him to hold her and tell her they were okay. And she wanted to kiss him again. She only hoped he didn’t toss her out on her butt for lying to him today.
