Page 31 of Ocotillo Kisses
“You know I don’t need you to look after me anymore,” she said, her voice low after she made her shot and was circling the table looking for her second.
“I was just making sure they remembered the manners their mamas taught them,” he said.
She laughed at that, and took her shot while he tried to remember his own manners.
Only because of Caleb did the men beat the ladies.
“Come on, I’ll buy this round,” Britt said, leading the way to the bar.
Con should excuse himself and go home. The band had finished playing, and another band was setting up, Lacey and Beck had left, and he was sure his mother was getting tired as well. But he was strangely pulled toward Britt.
She’d always been confident. She’d been beautiful, well-off, and a cheerleader. But now that she was running her own business, she had this new confidence that was intoxicating.
So he followed her to the bar, along with Sofia and Caleb.
She dropped onto one of the barstools and immediately commanded the attention of the bartender, pulled out her credit card after they all placed their orders, Con just ordering a Coke since he was getting ready to leave.
Britt turned to Sofia. “Tell me about your art. Your mural in town is outstanding. I have been meaning to tell you.”
“She’s amazing,” Caleb chimed in. “She has a couple more in the courtyard at the motel you should see. I told her we need to do a website and feature them.”
“I agree completely with that,” Britt said. “I can help you set something up if you want. It would take us maybe half a day to put it together.”
“The motel has a website,” Sofia said slowly.
“It could use an upgrade, though,” Caleb said. “And maybe you can set up one for the town, maybe add a feature with pictures of the area. I think that would be great.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Britt said. “I think you’re really talented. You’ve done other murals, but anything else?”
“Caleb wants me to do smaller pictures to sell, but I haven’t done anything I’m really happy with in a small format.”
“I get that. I wonder if my uncle would let you do one in the theater. I think that could be cool.”
“Your uncle doesn’t even want to put new movies in the theater,” Sofia pointed out. “I don’t think he would pay me to paint a mural.”
“We’ll see.”
Conversation turned to the festival, and Con tuned out. He had no interest in that. He had nothing to contribute to the conversation, and he rose, leaving his drink half empty on the table.
“I’d better get my mom home,” he said. “I’ll see y’all Sunday.”
“Oh, Con, I didn’t mean to leave her alone for so long,” Britt said a little breathlessly.
Con looked over his shoulder at where his mom and Javi were in an animated conversation. “I don’t think she’s lonely, just tired. Thanks again for bringing her out, like I said. Look, ah, your grandmother still has her horses, doesn’t she?”
“Sure?” Her response was more of a question.
“Did you bring any proper riding clothes out here, or is everything like that?” He gestured to her outfit.
“I brought boots and jeans,” she said.
“Why don’t you bring a horse over tomorrow, we’ll go riding.”
The three of them stared at him, and he resisted the urge to shift his weight from one foot to another, like a little kid who had been caught doing something he shouldn’t. He was certain his face was red, too.
“Caleb, you can bring Sophie, too, we can all go,” he said, but the addition sounded lame to his own ears.
“I’ll, ah. I’ll call you,” Britt said.
