Page 71 of For Fillies and Monsters

I hurriedly walk toward the table where Dale already has two large margaritas sweating on the wood. It’s not a big gesture, but it still causes my blacked heart to twitch. She’s so effortlessly kind, always considering what I might need or want, before I even know it myself.

I know to be loved is to be seen, to be considered, and if I had a bisexual bone in my body, I know I’d no doubt be in lovewith Dale. But as it is, I just love her—I have a best friend, who I love, and with striking clarity, based on the margarita—Tajin, not salt, like I like it—I know she loves me.

How did I get so lucky?

“Am I late?” I ask, shuffling into the brown leather booth, my heart now lumped in my throat. Dale waves me off, leaning in to take a large slurp of her margarita.

“Naw, I got here early; wanted to get started.” She grins warmly at me, and I smile back, pulling my slushy green drink toward me. I wonder what is going on with Dale. She smiles and jokes, but more and more she seems…hollow.Her smile never quite reaches her eyes, and her laugh never quite sounds genuine. I hate to see her suffering in silence.

I’m opening my mouth to demand answers when Dale cuts me off, most likely sensing my impending questions.

“School has been so crazy, and I just need a break. Nothing too serious—happens every year. Now, I’ve been completely deprived of you and your Soap Opera life! Tell me, have you hooked up with the hunky ranch hand yet?”

I groan, taking a long gulp of the lime-flavored tequila, searching for strength at the bottom of the glass. Never one to be subtle, Dale kicks my shin under the table, and I cough, spewing margarita all over the table.

I suck in a sharp breath and glare at the spitfire. “No, Dale, geez. Not all of us are sex-crazed. I have other shit going on.” The words are harsh, but there is no bite to them.

“So, you’re still hiding from him, then. Have your fingers gotten a break in weeks?” Dale reaches across the table, snatching my hand, holding it up for inspection. I yank it back with a growl. “What? Just checking they weren’t robotic or something. I’ve been too busy for any action myself; thought if they were battery-operated, I might invest in some.” Dale slurps again, making me bark in laughter.

“Where do you come up with this shit?” I ask between gasps.

“Porn mostly,” Dale states flatly. I laugh harder, snorting in the process, and Dale’s face softens. She smiles a toothy grin, and I can’t help but feel like it is the first real one I have seen since I got here.

“Have I mentioned I love you—” I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye, my chest still vibrating with laughter. She smiles wider, her own eyes glistening, and I want to climb across the table to hug her, or under it and hide. Becauseno, I’ve never mentioned it even though she has several times, and we’re both painfully aware of the fact. But, in true Dale fashion, she knows I can’t dwell on it, or I will surely detonate from embarrassment. She only shrugs and blessedly says nothing.

In the space of a single heartbeat, she blinks, dispelling the sheen across her eyes, and leans forward conspiratorially. “Let’s see what I’ve heard, and then you can fill in the gaps. Gus got arrested, and then Gus got off scot-free?” She raises an eyebrow and I just slurp in confirmation. A wicked grin tips her lips. “You’re masturbating five times a day at least, based on how tightly wound you are. Oh, what about your Uncle? Heard anything from him? Is he still threatening to bring the town and pitchforks? Oh my God, your stalker! Has he left you any new… surprises?”

My brows twitch at her onslaught of questions, and I hold a finger up to my lips. “Dale,” I hiss, looking around the crowded room. “I don’t need everyone to know every horrible thing about me. People already hate me; you don’t need to give them more fuel.”

“Sorry.” Dale giggles sheepishly.

“I still know nothing about what happened with Gus, other than Nathan dropped the charges and refuses to even make eye contact with me. That is fine, otherthan I needed his family to buy a hundred cattle pairs like you suggested. I need that money, like yesterday. And since Gus fucked that up, I have no idea what to do. I don’t think anyone would buy them if I went to a sale, so what do I do?”

She waits, I’m sure expecting me to elaborate on her other questions, but my nerves are too fried. As much as I love her and her company, I need to focus.

Dale squeezes my wrist reassuringly. “It’s hard in this town. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be here and get everything you want from this life. People have their heads so stuck in the sand, they often forget that a whole world is happening above, and I am sorry. I wish I could make them see how incredible you are. Just don’t give up.”

My shoulders slump.

“Listen, I have a, urm… friend that I’ve known for years from showing cattle. He’s a very well-connected guy. His family owns a huge herd and some casinos and things, but more than that, he’s one of the fairest people I’ve ever met. I think he’d be interested in buying whatever you are willing to sell.” I grumble, ready to protest, and she squeezes my wrist again. “Being the Ag teacher, and town favorite, means I have a lot of good connections, so let me use them to help you.” She winks at me and I deflate. I need the help desperately.

“A friend, huh?” I tease Dale, and she withdraws her fingers from my wrist with mock horror.

“What else is going on with your life?” I press, wanting to be as invested—and helpful—to Dale as she is to me. But like always, Dale brushes me off—if I thought I was private, Dale is a vault, so closed off I know it has to be miserably lonely. “Dale.”

She slurps her drink and forces a smile. “Oh, ya know. Besides school, I don’t have much going on—aside from keeping up with your life.”

“And your parents and sister?” I ask, smiling as fries in every shape and color arrive at our table.

“Nothing too crazy. Now, let’s focus on your love life—it’s getting borderline painful to watch.” I want her to open up to me, but I know I’ve been effectively shut out.

Again.

“Try living it,” I grumble, shoveling a crispy potato into my mouth.

“You just need to fuck him and get it out of your system,” Dale states matter-of-factly between bites.

I glare at her. “Are we back to this again?”

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