The ultimate goal was to expand the business and sell the restored Harleys once we had enough. But for now, Madeline was excited about the possibilities. “I’m not like Maggie,” she said as she sketched a few designs in the back room of the shop. “She has these passions she knows she can make a career out of: either become a chef and open up her own restaurant or become a nurse. Mama thinks nursing is the safer route, but I think Maggie loves cooking way more than she’s into nursing.”
“What about your painting? That’s your passion. Why wouldn’t you be able to have a career doing that?”
She shrugged, glancing up at me. “I like to paint and draw and all that, but the only way to really make a career with that is if I leave Huntsville. I’d have to go to a big city: New York, London, Los Angeles.” With a single crinkle of her nose, she had me smiling big. “I’m not a very worldly person. I’ve thought about just taking some business classes and opening up a small gift shop here in Huntsville and trying to sell my own paintings there and online. But this idea of working side by side with you and still indulging my passion is even better.”
We talked some more about the details of how we could design a logo for the online shop we had now and maybe even build off to the side of the shop where there was plenty of empty land. “We’ve actually had a few contractors come out and draw up some plans and have started getting estimates.” I got up when I remembered. “We have the plans here somewhere. We got two different quotes.”
I started toward the door that led out front to the shop and Madeline followed. As if she weren’t perfect already, her excitement over this topic had me smiling from ear to ear. I couldn’t resist stopping just as we walked into the front of the near empty shop and sneaking in a quick kiss.
Out of habit, I turned to the lone customer in there. “Have you been . . . helped?”
Midway through my question I realized who she was, and my stomach plummeted. America’s eyes were on Madeline and then on me. “No actually . . .” Her eyes once again bounced from Madeline to me, and I could only pray she saw me kiss her and picked up on the fact that Madeline was my girl. “I’m here to pick up an apron and a shirt I had embroidered.” She glanced at Madeline again then me. “It should be under my name, America Beasley.”
If Madeline recognized her from that night she and her friends showed up, she didn’t seem upset or anything by it. I nodded, pulling out the folder with the plans for the addition to the shop from the top drawer and handed it to Madeline. “Give me a sec,” I said, handing Madeline the file.
Madeline took the folder, more interested in that than she was in America. “I’ll go get your stuff,” I said to America then walked back to where Madeline and I had just come from.
I tried to stay calm because, so far, America seemed cool. Since I made things official with Madeline and changed my number, I hadn’t heard from America. But she had tried reaching me in other ways like my email, which I could only imagine she got from Facebook or something. But after the second email, I labeled her email spam and hadn’t gotten anything since.
It wasn’t as if things were ever serious between us anyway. I’d slept with her a handful of times, and there were never any promises made. No biggie. I checked the boxes with ready-to-go finished orders and pulled out the bag with her name on it. I froze when I saw the printing on the shirt and apron.
Huntsville Feed & Supply
It was their work uniform, and America’s name was now embroidered on the apron and shirt. Good Lord. Did this mean she’d moved into town and would now be working alongside Loretta? What else could it fucking mean?
Squeezing the damn bag as I walked toward the front of the store again, I could only pray now that, like Madeline, Loretta wouldn’t recognize her either. It had been dark in that alley. She couldn’t have gotten too good a look at her, and that had been a long time ago.
Thankfully, America took her items, which had been pre-paid so there was minimal conversation between us, and she was on her way. Madeline and I went over the estimates for the expansion. She was as excited about it as she was earlier, but unlike earlier, it was hard for me to smile as genuinely with thoughts of America now working with Loretta.
After much thought, I decided to keep anything more about America to myself. It was in the past and meant nothing even then. Only thing that would come from it was awkwardness should we run into her again, which in this town was inevitable.
I found out how inevitable it was just a few nights later. Friday evening Madeline had to work. Nolan had only been back a month, so I decided it’d be a good time to catch up. I took him and Xavier up on their bowling challenge. Madeline’s shift at Little Caesars was over at nine. She was picking up Maggie when her shift let out at the Dairy Queen then supposedly hanging out at Shelby’s until late. But with Shelby’s mom working the night shift, I’d be picking Madeline up there, and she’d hang with me instead.
It had been a while since I’d been to the bowling alley, but I figured it was safe. Madeline had never actually said it, but I knew she might not be thrilled about me going out to the lake or river on a weekend evening without her. I sure as hell wouldn’t want her out there without me.
My time away from the bowling alley showed in the outcome. I came in dead last three straight times. It was getting close to nine, so we wrapped it up and headed out. Just as we were walking out, America and a couple of other girls were getting out of their car in the parking lot. Before I could even try to pretend not to see her, she spotted me and smiled big. “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
“Is that Tracey?” Xavier asked as we walked down the stairs of the entrance.
“Who?” I glanced at him and realized he was looking and smiling right at America and her friends.
Fucking great.
I vaguely remembered the girl he was talking about: Tracey something or other who went to school in Huntsville but moved away a while back. Apparently, she was back.
We walked toward them because clearly they were waiting for us to approach them, and Tracey immediately hugged Xavier. “Oh my God,” she said, pulling away to look at him. “Look at you. You’re all grown up.”
“It’s only been what?” Xavier glanced back at me as if I knew. When I shrugged, he turned back to her. “A year?”
“Yeah, about that long, but you’ve gotten so much taller and bigger since then.”
“You look good,” Xavier said with a smile, as he openly took her in from top to bottom.
America greeted me with a hug then didn’t totally back away as if I weren’t already feeling unnerved. Even more unnerving, it seemed we’d been paired off. Xavier got busy catching up with Tracey while Nolan struck up a conversation with Rebecca. As if it weren’t bad enough that people kept walking in and out of the bowling alley doing double takes when they saw me hanging with America, Loretta’s minivan pulled into the parking lot.
I was immediately scrambling, saying I had to go. Of course, tonight would be a night we decided to drive down in the shop’s van, so I couldn’t just jump on my bike and leave them there.
“What’s the rush?” Xavier asked, giving me a sideways look.
“Yeah, it’s only twenty to nine,” Nolan added with a similar look. “You have time.”
I tried to sneak in a telling glare so they’d know I needed to get out of there now, but both my damn brothers were too busy turning on the charm to notice.
“You headed to the lake tonight?” America asked with a timid little smile—so unlike the girl I bagged in an alley, despite the interruption.
“Nah.” I shook my head and felt my stomach drop when I turned to see Loretta almost at the stairs where we were standing. “I have other plans.”
My only hope about being seen hanging out with America by my girlfriend’s mom, was maybe America hadn’t actually started working at the feed store. No way would Loretta remember her from that night in Kings Falls. I’d already convinced myself of that the day America walked into the shop.
r />
“America,” Loretta said as she reached the bottom of stairs then turned to look at me, unsmiling. “I hope you’re behaving yourself tonight.”
The comment was obviously meant for America, but she looked right at me when she said it. She turned back to America, who flashed her a mischievous smile. “You know me.”
My heart had officially begun to race, and one glance at my brothers told me they now got why I wanted to leave. But there was still hope. Just because I was standing here in a very public and lit parking lot talking to America didn’t mean it was anything to write home about. Obviously, America had started working, and that was how Loretta knew her name.
With her mouth twisting to the side in response to America’s comment, Loretta nodded my way and then at my brothers. “Boys.”
“Evening, Ms. Hellman,” I said, failing at trying not to sound too overly polite.
My brothers nodded but didn’t say more. Without slowing or responding back at all, Loretta continued walking into the bowling alley.
“Maybe we should get going,” Xavier said, looking at me ruefully.
You fucking think?
“Yeah, I have that thing with Dad I have to do,” Nolan added but was quickly exchanging numbers with Rebecca.
Xavier did the same with Tracey, which made it awkward as shit for me, but no way was I exchanging numbers with America.
“You changed your number,” America stated not asked.
“Yeah. I got a new phone recently and just decided to change my number.” Nolan started toward me, and I started down the stairs, barely looking America’s way. “I gotta go,” I said, and I was off. Xavier could just catch up.
“So she saw you talking to another chick,” Nolan said, keeping up with my long rushed strides. “Big deal. Maddie’s still denying any of the rumors are true, right?”
I nodded, staring straight ahead. I could only hope it really was no big deal. But I was in no mood to explain why it might not be. I didn’t even know if America had already made the connection with her pretentious older co-worker and Madeline or not. But it seemed like something she might’ve mentioned as soon as Loretta was out of hearing range. So I was still hopeful.
Xavier caught up soon enough. “Where’s the fire? Or did Ms. Hellman light one up your ass.”
Both my idiot brothers thought that was hilarious and only laughed louder when I scowled at them. “Why you sweating it?” Xavier asked as we all got in the truck. “You were just talking to the chick. You said Maddie’s mom wasn’t happy about the rumors about you two. If anything, this should make your mother-in-law happy. If she mentions it to Maddie, just tell her the truth. We ran into an old friend and her friends as we were leaving the bowling alley. Remind her, her mom probably wants it to seem like you were doing more in case those rumors hold any weight.”
Nolan scoffed at that. “How can she not know, dude? The whole fucking town does. She really thinks it’s all made up?”
“There have been some pretty nasty rumors spread about Ms. Hellman for years,” I explained as we drove the hell away from that bowling alley. “Maddie just reminds her of that and how untrue those stubborn rumors are, and she says that shuts her up every time.”
“Ah, small town gossip,” Xavier said, looking out the window. “Gotta love it.”
I dropped the van off at home, freshened up a little, and took off on my bike to Shelby’s. Madeline’s bug was already there. She walked out the front door just as I pulled into the driveway, but she looked completely engrossed in something she was reading on her phone. I gulped, praying it wasn’t a text from her mother.
Chapter 10: Forbidden Paradise
“How was the bowling?” Madeline asked as I approached her, and I could already tell something was up since, for the first time in like ever, she didn’t greet me with a big smile or jump into my arms all giddy.
“Eh,” I said, holding out my arms because I needed her in them already. “Rusty as shit. Came in last all three times.”
“Who’d you bowl with?”
“Nolan and Xavier,” I said, pulling her to me by the waist, since she still hadn’t greeted me the way I was used to. “Quino’s in Radcliffe with my dad and grandma.”
She was stiff but gave in, staring up at me. “Hang out with any girls?”
“No, babe,” I said, trying to smile with confidence. “We ran into a few as we walked out, stopped and talked with them for a minute just outside the place, right as your mom got there.” I raised a brow so she knew I knew why she was asking. “Did she call just to tell you?”
“No.” She smirked and finally wrapped her arms around my waist. “She always asks us to check in once we’re out of work and together. I texted her to tell her we’re safely here at Shelby’s. She only mentioned seeing you there with the new girl from her work to say she hoped the rumors about you and me would die down. ‘If you’re going after the fresh meat in town,’ she said, ‘hopefully the rumors would shift to that girl now.’” Madeline nudged me in the gut. “They better not.”
I laughed, trying not to sound as unnerved as this made me. “Course not. Seriously doubt any rumors will start up about my brothers and me talking to those girls for all of what? Five minutes?”
Finally, I did what I was already dying to do. I devoured her mouth, and she gladly kissed me back. Thank God. I only hoped all talk about this was over with. But when we were done, she hit me with an unexpected question.
“How do you know the new girl at Mama’s work? She said she only moved into town a few weeks ago.”
Swallowing hard, my mind raced for a proper response, and then I shrugged. “She’s been in the shop a few times, and Xavier knew the other girls with her.”
Madeline nodded, smiling big now, and I knew she was completely satisfied. I smiled back, feeling enormously relieved, even if I did feel a little like a douche for not being entirely honest. But I knew my girl too well now. No way could we have a conversation about how I really knew America without things getting ugly, even if it was way before her and me.
There was a sudden gleam in Madeline’s eyes, and I knew there was no way her mom could’ve told her about seeing America and me together before. My initial greeting tonight was nowhere near as giddy as I was used to, but I knew it would’ve been much colder if she knew the whole truth about America. That could mean only one thing. Her mom didn’t remember, and in all likelihood America hadn’t made the connection either. I realized suddenly I may’ve prematurely worried about this whole America thing. Loretta peeked out at us for all of five seconds that night. Odds are America didn’t even see her; she was too busy trying to tuck in her shirt.
“Mama’s driving out to Nashville for the weekend once she’s done with that birthday thing she had to attend at the bowling alley,” she said, staring at me with those wickedly playful eyes. “Her”—she stopped to do air quotes— “just friend, Bernie got tickets last minute to see Tim McGraw. She was able to get the weekend off, so she’ll be gone all weekend. And Maggie works both days. I’m off, so I’ll have the place to myself all weekend.”
I was already shaking my head, but the twitch in my pants coupled with her pouty lips was a telling sign I’d be giving into her as usual. “Baby, I’m gonna have a hard enough time winning your mom over. No way am I gonna risk her finding out I disrespected her in her own home.” When she started to pout again, I thought fast. “But there’s no one at my place tonight.”
I’d already told her about my dad, grandma, and Quino being out of town until tomorrow. Her eyes opened wide. “Aren’t Xavier and Nolan home, though?”
Shaking my head, I smiled. “They’re hanging out with those girls they talked to tonight.”
I knew it was still a risk. My brothers could decide to come home early, maybe even bring their dates home, but them walking in on us was not as risky as being walked in on in her mother’s home.
Madeline dug her teeth into her bottom lip, and I knew she was thinking the same thing that had m
e rock hard already. “Let me grab my purse.”
My heart thudded nervously as she ran into the house. She was almost eighteen and I knew her. Should this get back to her mother, Madeline would fight tooth and nail for her mother not to try and keep us apart. Yet the very thought of what I’d been so close to giving into had me so hard I needed to adjust, or this was going to be one uncomfortable ride back home.
Within minutes, we were on my bike, and I was taking the back way to my house. As expected, no one was home. “You hungry?” I asked as we walked into the kitchen from the back door.
I flicked lights on as we made our way through the house. “A little,” she admitted, glancing around curiously.
Opening the fridge door, I smiled when I saw it. “You’re in luck. My grandma made enchiladas, and there are actually some left.”
“Oh my God. Homemade enchiladas?” She turned to me with a big smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever had some. Mama buys the frozen kind.”
I made a face, pulling out the enchilada container along with the beans and rice. “I know I’ve never had the frozen kind.”
“What is that?” she asked, eyeing the other two containers I pulled out.
“Beans and rice. Also homemade. We don’t eat them any other way around here.”
“You’re kidding?” she said as she stood next to me while I opened the lids. “I’m getting an authentic homemade Mexican meal?”
“Sure are.” I turned to her, surprised to see the strange expression on her face. “What? I promise you it’s good.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that for a second. It looks delicious. I just . . .”