Page 55 of Black Flag

Mission accomplished.

Spencer and I exchangeda nod along with a fist punch. Lane came bounding back with a huge grin. “I dogood?”

“You did awesome littleman.” I replied giving him his own fist punch.

“Told you I awesome!”And then he was back to jumping and pumping his fists in the air.

The evening passed in ablur. Before I knew it Spencer, Justin, Tommy, Aiden and I were on stagehelping the Eagles cover band and singingHeartache Tonight. Aiden triedto convince me to propose on stage in front of the entire town. I almost did...but when adrunkAiden tied a lasso around Sway and pulled her toward the stage, I chickenedout. I didn’t particularly want Sway to look back and think of me as drunk anda lasso wrapped around her when she remember how I proposed. Not romantic.

So I didn’t propose.Instead, I broke out into a solo and got down on my knees in front of her. Swayjust laughed, so I leaned forward placing a soft kiss against her stomach andthen returned to my seat.

Someday the timing willbe right, but until then, the ring remained in my pocket. I caught a lot ofshit from the boys for not doing it.

Spencer and Aidenhassledme about not doing it on stage.

“I just...” my fear broke through. “I don’t evenknow what to say to her.”

Spencer waved his handaround, spilling beer all over the place. “It’s simple here...” he grabbed a napkin off a nearbypicnic table. “You say...I love fucking you. Iwant you to be the only one I fuck for the rest of mylife...marryme!”

“Really?That’s what you say?”I smacked his forehead. “Funny...Ithought it was supposed to be romantic and I’m pretty sure the words “fuckingyou” shouldnotbe said.”

“I’m disgusting...” Spencer replied with a shrug. “Sueme.”

Aiden nodded inapproval, Spencer ignored us.

Cramming the note in mypocket, I went toward the mechanical bull.

Gasket – Sway

“Watch him.”

I never liked thosewords. Over the years, they always ended badly for me.

“Why do I have to bethe one to watch him?”

“Because...I have to take my son and get him intobed before midnight,” Alley explained shifting a sleeping Lane to the otherarm. “You gave them the bottle of Jack Daniels, you watch them.”

“This hardly seemsfair.” I mean, yeah, I handed over the bottle but it was either that orTequila, I chose the better one.

“Wait until the kidpops out...nothing is ever fairagain.”

“Shouldn’t we tellJameson that the mascot’s Dana?” I asked Alley hesitantly before she left. DanaSloan was stalking Jameson, disguised as a bear. Dana Sloan was nice enough,but really strange and had this unhealthy obsession with Jameson.

“Nah, where’s the funin that?”

“He’s going to killus.”

“Like I care,” Lane’shead flopped to the side. “Remember don’t lose Spencer and for Christ sakes,make sure he keeps his goddamn clothes on.”

Alley left after thatand I played babysitter. Keeping one eye on Spencer, I felt someone touch myshoulder.

“Oh hey Sway, howare you holding up with Charlie?” Langley O’Neil, one of the drivers on theWorld of Outlaw series asked.

“I’m good.” I replied.My eyes then focused on Jameson on the mechanical bull. Just coming off aninjury like he did, that just seemed like a stupid thing to be doing.

With a smile, Langleywalked away leaving me to my bottle of water.

Do you ever wonder whypeople go crazy?

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