Page 82 of Whiskey Lullaby
His eyes searched mine and a line sank between his brows. My heart pounded in my chest and I prepared myself for a comeback. I wanted a comeback, because if he cared about me enough, he’d fight this. He wouldn’t just let me go. “You’re right.” He pressed his lips together, his jaw ticked. “It’s really not.” His hand dropped to his side. And with that, he stormed back to his truck and cranked the engine. “Bye, Hannah.” I fought the tightness creeping through my chest. He turned his truck around, dirt flying up from the tires as he sped down thedrive.
I thought if he really cared about me he’d turn around and look at me. I waited, but he didn’t even glance at me before he turned onto the highway. He consumed too much of my thoughts, and as much as I loved him, I couldn’t handle him right then. Besides, whatever was going on with him, I couldn’t hold himback.
I didn’t tell him goodbye on purpose. I may have been ready to walk away, but I wasn’t ready to let himgo.
37
Noah
July 4th, 2015
Trevor pulled over behind the line of cars to park, revving his engine like an asshole at some girls strutting by in bikinis. Benji shook the back of my seat. “All the titties, bro. All thetitties.”
“You’re both dicks,” Isaid.
“Thanks.” Trevorgrinned.
I shoved open the door. Within five seconds of climbing out of the car, the muggy Alabama heat had my skin slicked. The whir of bottle rockets whizzed through the air followed by the pop and crackle of the fireworks shimmering in thesky.
Trevor grabbed the case of beer from the back seat, tossing me and Benji one each. “Shit, this is our boy’s lastnight.”
Benji sniffed, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes. “Don’t talk like that, Trev. I’m never gonna be the same. I ain’t gonna have nobody to draw cocks on when he passes out like a pussy at aparty.”
“Shut up.” I shoved Benji hard enough that hestumbled.
“Come on, man, you leave for Nashville tomorrow.” He caught his footing and smacked me on the back. “You just better not forget us. I expect the royal treatment at your first CMA. First class flight, front row seat, some hot blonde to pose as my arm candy. And hey, hey,” he grinned wide. “Make sure she’s got one of them coochiepiercings.”
I glared athim.
Trevor tucked the case of beer under his arm, popping the tab to his Coors and taking a gulp. “I can’t believe this shit.” He took another sip, then burped. “This fucker’s about to be a big damndeal.”
“Hell, we don’t even know if the album’ll get pickedup.”
“Brice-fucking-Taylor, bitch!” Trevor shook his head. “He said it’s golden,right?”
I shrugged, and he stopped, turning to face me as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you.” He smiled before walking off. “Now, you won’t ever hear some sappy shit like that come outta my mouth again.” The music from the dock boomed through the air accompanied by the shouts and screams of people jumping into thelake.
The pier was covered with people dancing, drinking, kissing. And as we made our way down the slope to the lake, it felt like every person we passed stared. Assholes I didn’t like stopped me to take a picture, and I started to wonder if maybe I wasn’t cut out for this shit. I mean, I hadn’t even recorded the album, but, for that little town, the fact that I was going to Nashville—the fact that I had met Brice Taylor and sang on one track for his next release, well, that was enough. I was famous tothem.
“Shit,” Trevor said. “This isnuts!”
“Yeah.”
When we reached the pier, Benji climbed up onto one of the picnic tables, cupped his hands over his mouth, and shouted: “Hey, fuckwads!” The crowd didn’t quiet down. “Hey!Hey!”
“What the hell is he doing,” I asked Trevor. He just shook his head and tipped his beerback.
“Hey!” Benji clapped his hands, then whistled. Most everybody turned and looked at him. “Fucking finally!” He cleared his throat before pointing at me. “You all know Noah Greyson,right?”
Everyone glanced in mydirection.
“Well, tonight’s his last night in little ole’ Rockford, Alabama, in case you didn’t know. He’s getting the fuck outta here!” He raised his beer, and everyone followed suit. “So, cheers, fucker. Do us all proud.” He grinned. Everyone shouted before gulping down their drinks. Benji jumped off the table, and just like flies on shit, everyone crowded around me. Somehow, through the throngs of people, I caught sight of Hannah standing on the end of the pier with her eyes locked on me.Damn, I should go talk to her…But people grabbed me, taking selfies, telling me how amazing it was that my dreams were coming true. Those people didn’t fucking know me, I’d never dreamed of becoming famous because I’d never believed in myself enough to dream up bullshit like that. I just thanked them and nodded, then took the beers and shots they shoved in my direction. An hour later, I was shitfaced and signing some girl’s tits while I tried to look through my blurred vision for Hannah somewhere in thecrowd.
“Man.” Trevor slapped me on the back while the topless girl threw her arm over my shoulder. “This is the fucking life!” he slurred. “The life.” He reached over and pinched the girl’snipple.
Flashes from phones went off, and the girl leaned in to my ear. “I want to fuck you so bad.” She rubbed over the front of myjeans.
Smiling, I pulled away a little. “Nah, youdon’t.”
