Page 9 of Heart of Dixie
It had always been the three of us, as inseparable as peas in the same pod. Cautious me, lying low until Coot was either lording over his minions or holed up in his studio; coltish and brilliant Deke, nose in a book as he waited impatiently to grow into himself; and kind-hearted Beth, smothering us both with attention to make up for what she lacked at home.
Molly showed up with two plates loaded with burgers and fries. “Molly, wait!” I waved my hand. But the waitress was already gone.
Beth just shook her head and waved it off. “Let it go. If Ruby doesn’t think we should eat a salad for lunch today, we don’t eat salad.” And apparently, she thought I needed to add a few pounds.
I studied the plate before me. How long had it been since I splurged on red meat? It did look good. I grabbed the mustard and squirted a puddle for my fries, then dragged one through and ate it while I collected my thoughts.
“There were plenty of things that happened before I left that helped make the decision.” I mostly blamed it on Cooter, but that wasn’t fair, or honest.Not that I ever worried what he thought.Beth and Deke were both Kissing Creek natives, as I was. “You belonged here.” It was true. As much as the wild honeysuckle that bloomed in the summertime. “But Deke . . . he was made for better things—and he would have stayed for me.”
“Which you thought meant you had to go.”
I simply kept my eyes trained on hers. “I can only guess what made my mama leave, but my daddy threatened her if she ever tried to take me away from Kissing Creek. Even when he was mean, she’d tell me to be a good girl and when I graduated I could live with her in her big, fancy house and go to college up north. She always acted like she wanted me. That was a tempting prize to dangle.”
Beth nodded and lifted her glass for a sip. I’d always been faintly embarrassed by this town and its occupants. As a whole, they were simple, uneducated people, living a modest life. I wanted more. Over the years, Beth and I had talked, and yelled, and cried over this. It wasn’t a new subject.
I reached for Beth’s hand across the table. “I am sorry. For all the worry I caused. For all the times I wasn’t here for you. I had no reason to come back. I don’t belong here.” I looked up and glanced around, but she knew I didn’t mean inside the diner.Herewas Kissing Creek.
“Well, hell.” Her smile seemed forgiving, and the wink she added cleared my conscience. “You’re here now, and even though it’s only for Cooter’s funeral, I say we make it a girls’ week. What do you say?” She looked so hopeful, I could only smile.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Have you already checked in? Because if you haven’t, you could stay with me. You know, at my house.”
What!“Are you kidding?”
Beth’s eyes lit with excitement. “Of course not! It could be like a slumber party.”
I’d never been to one before, and nearing thirty seemed an odd age to start. But Beth was practically vibrating with anticipation. Maybe this was a good way to make amends. I pretended to glower. “I’m too old to sleep on the floor.”
For that statement, I got a look that clearly saidduhand a chair wiggle that probably meant she’d launch herself at me given the slightest encouragement. “You always were a spoilsport, but fine. I’ve got an extra bedroom. We’ll eat junk food for dinner, drink too much wine, and sleep on pillow-top mattresses. We can even give each other facials.”
It was tempting. More than tempting, actually. I hadn’t combined pizza and an estrogen-fueled late night gab session in, well,ever. My list of acquaintances in LA was endless, but the number of women who were true friends was embarrassingly short. It might be fun to play tweenager for a few days.
Oh, no! Dinner!“Can we start our girls’ week tomorrow, though?”
Beth’s eyebrows rose until they were hidden by her bangs.
“I saw Deke this morning.”
Her grin was nothing short of devilish. “Yummy, no?”
“Beth, I was overheating right there in the refrigerator section of the Piggly Wiggly.” I used my palm to fan myself.“Your cryptic description this morning could have been a bit more specific, you know.” I gave her a mock glare, because really, when forced to bump into something as delicious as the updated version of Deke McAllister, how angry could one be? “I was, let’s say . . . unprepared.”
Beth leaned forward in her seat, all ears. “So, what did you say? Something witty and clever, I bet; you a sophisticated city girl and all.”
Wasn’t that a wonderful fantasy?I laughed. “I believe I was sharp enough to remember his name. I’m pretty sure I forgot to say hello. He seemed flustered, it all went pretty fast, and before I knew it, I agreed to have dinner with him tonight.”
“Way to go! Just think, you and Deke, back together and absolutely perfect for each other.” Her voice had risen an octave and she was practically bouncing in her seat.
Wait a minute!I teed my palms. “Time out, cheerleader Barbie. Deke and Dixie is ancient history. This morning was the first time I’ve spoken to him in person in ten years, and I’m pretty sure he regretted the invitation about point three seconds after it left his lips.”
“But those lips. Imagine what else he can do with them.” Beth grinned, and dived into her burger.
I dragged another French fry though the spicy yellow mustard and popped it in my mouth. Its sharp tanginess burst on my taste buds. Sort of the way my imagination had the little bud at the apex of my thighs tingling about now. I squeezed my legs together.
“As much as my girlie bits would love to take Deke’s lips for a ride for old times’ sake, he is not the reason I’m here.” I pointedly ignored the disappointment brewing in the eyes across the table. “I’ll go to his house, eat dinner with him and hope he plays nice. When it’s all over, I’ll drive myself back to the lodgeand climb into bed.” I shot down any optimism Beth may have been conjuring with a hard stare. “And Iwillbe sleeping alone.”
6
