Page 57 of Whiskey Lullaby
He placed the mashed potatoes on the table. “Sweettea?”
“Water’sfine.”
“Shit…” he said, walking back into thekitchen.
“Boy!” There was a whack, I assumed from his grandma smacking him with thedishtowel.
“Well, Grandma, she just said no to sweet tea. That’s a seriousoffense.”
She stepped into the dining room, setting a basket of greasy fried chicken next to an old Pyrex filled with green beans and snap peas. “I didn’t pray for him as a child, I guess that’s my fault.” She pulled out a chair and flopped down with a loud exhale. “Wooh, it ain’t getting noeasier.”
Noah set the plates out along with a pile of fresh cornbread before he took a seat next tome.
“Alright,” she huffed, dotting her forehead with a napkin. “Let us pray.” She bowed her head and immediately glared up at Noah. “And close your eyes to make good for the preacher’s child, would you?” We closed our eyes. “Dear Graciously Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for the food which you’ve prepared before us. We thank you for Noah and Hannah, may she lead him to your glorious salvation because we all know he’s a little troubled. We give thanks for Ms. Thompson, even if she’s nosier than a two-headed woodpecker. And thank you for that new stray cat, Mr. Jiggles, he’s really helped with all the field mice that like to get in my pantry and eat my Little Debbie Cakes. May we continue to be a blessing unto you and do you right proud. And please, when my time comes, let me go in my sleep. Don’t make me suffer. Amen.” We went to open our eyes. “Oh, and thank you for Alabama football and bless Mr. Coach Saban, would you kindly? Amen.Again.”
Noah leaned over. “She always prays for Nick Saban, even when she forgets to pray forme.”
“I take my football very seriously,” she said, reaching for the cornbread. “So, let’s just get this outta the way, Miss Hannah. Roll Tide or WarEagle?”
“Don’t say you don’t care,” Noah whispered. “That’s worse than saying you’re forAuburn.”
“Uh, RollTide…”
She lifted her hands in the air and clapped. “This is gonna work out just finethen.”
After dinner, Noah cleared the table and we played a few rounds of poker, Doris winning every single hand. By the time we left, Noah owed her two days of Sunday school and a steakdinner.
Doris held the door open, the humid air creeping in and sticking to my skin like a fine mist. “It was mighty fine of you to humor an old lady and have dinner withher.”
“Well, thank you so much for the invitation. Hands down, the best fried chicken I’ve everhad.”
She patted myback.
“Love you, Grandma,” Noah said, leaning down and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll come by and see youtomorrow.”
“Alright then.” And with that, she shut thedoor.
We climbed into Noah’s truck and he cranked the engine before adjusting the mirrors and glancing over at me. He patted the middle seat. “Don’t stay all the way overthere.”
There went that flittery-fluttery feeling in my chest. Something so simple shouldn’t have had the effect it did. I unfastened my seatbelt and scooted across next to him. Smiling, he brushed his fingers over my cheek and gave me a soft kiss before putting the car in reverse. “Stay with me,” he whispered. “Please. Just for tonight, don’t leaveme.”
There seemed to be so much more to that request, something desperate and utterlyinnocent.
“I just want to sleep next to you and holdyou.”
“Okay,” Ibreathed.
How can you tell the bad boy who’s not really bad no? You can’t. You really, reallycan’t.
25
Noah
Irummaged through my drawer and pulled out an Imagine Dragon’s t-shirt, tossing it to her. “You can sleep in that if you want.” She timidly picked it up. God, she looked so out of place standing beside my bed, like she was second-guessing what she was doing. “Oh, shit.” I went back to the drawer and grabbed a pair of basketball shorts. “And these. I mean, they may fall right off youbut…”
She looked away from me, rubbing her lips together. There was a moment where I expected her to tell me to take her home, but then she stepped in front of me and took the shorts. “It’s fine.” She dropped them onto the dresser. “I trust you.” Her eyes locked on my lips while her hand rubbed across mychest.
“Mmm.” I inched toward her mouth. “Don’t know that anyone’s ever said thatbefore.”
