Page 25 of Tastes Like Watermelon Moonshine
Insert fainting GIF
Chrissy:
Ima start bouncing off the bed if this keeps up!!!!!
Rae I’m just so excited for you!
We’ll talk more about this at school!
Chapter 12
Austin - The Present
Ithasbeenweird.Awkward at times, too. All of us together for Christmas after everything Dad had put us through. But Izzy’s proclamation that, “We’ve got Dad back!” has almost made it feel like my childhood Christmases. Our days together have been filled with things like a zoo trip, an aquarium visit, and several family movie nights.
I need a break from all of it. Even though I’ve forgiven my dad, there’s still hurt and even some anger bubbling under the surface. So, as much as I dread the possibility of running into Becca, I’m getting ready to head to a New Year’s Eve party that someone on the team planned. It’s one of those parties where you really don’t know the host of the party, but you’ve still been invited. Mom and Izzy left two days ago, so it’s been quiet, and even though I’ve been going for morning runs and working out often, I’ve been a little bored.
Not that a crazy party with strangers is the cure for my boredom. It definitely isn’t. But it’ll keep my thoughts of everything else that’s going on in my life silenced for a while. So, even though I’m not a big party-goer, I answered the text invite with ayes. But I’m not staying all night. It’s three in the afternoon and I’m certain everyone is already getting crazy. So I’ll stay for a few hours and head back home. I can watch a ball drop at Dad’s house and I won’t have to worry about drunk people tripping over me, getting sick on me, or doing worse things.
I study the monstrous houses as I drive to the address. A wide open wrought iron gate at the front of the party house gives way to a long paved drive, and after a few yards, I’m there. In front of the biggest house I’ve ever seen. Seriously, can you even call this place a house? Dad’s house is big, but you could probably fit five to ten of his house in this one. I find a spot on the long drive, and park my truck with all the other vehicles.
My truck’s engine hums, and I grip the steering wheel. Is this a good idea? Maybe I should’ve stayed home. I need a break from Dad though. I’m expecting to see guys from the team and from high school. I know Jacob was invited, but he gets invited to everything.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I let it ring a few times then pull it out. A Facetime call from Carson. We’ve exchanged several texts since I left, but this Facetime call is a first. I’m honestly a little surprised. I paste on a happy face before tapping the button to accept the call. “Carson. How’s it going?”
“Austin. Man, I’ve missed you.” Carson grins at me, his familiar brown eyes bright with their normal twinkle. A twinkle I learned long ago is a result of his relationship with God. He looks older now. His hair is cropped in the usual Marine Corps cut, and his jaw is more angular than it used to be. And his shoulders. Man, he could probably pull a Mack truck.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen that ugly mug.” I tease him. “Just joking. You’re looking good. How is military life treating you?”
“Running me ragged, man.” He runs a hand over his head. “But I’ve finished basic training, and I’m just waiting for my orders.”
“Like orders to go somewhere and fight?” The thought of Carson facing terrorists, or being shot hits my chest like a ball ricochets off a catcher’s chest plate. Carson is a good guy. I don’t want to see him wounded, or worse lose his life serving his country.
“I’m just an intelligence specialist, still the lowest rank.” He waves a hand at me, like it’s nothing. “I’ll still be in the US, but at some point I will likely go overseas. Just to collect info, you know. Hopefully I won’t have to see anything crazy like Carter did.” Carter, his older brother, came back right before I got drafted. From the bits and pieces I’ve heard it was a rough time, and he’d needed some help reacclimating to life as a civilian.
“Well, I hope it all goes well. I can’t imagine how you do it, man.” I huff out a laugh, baseball is my job, and I’m sticking with that. “So, you’re home for a few days, weeks?”
“Yeah.” Carson holds up the phone so that I can see his bedroom. “It was good to spend Christmas with my family. I was hoping you’d be back for a visit.”
I shake my head and look away from the phone. “I don’t know if I'll ever be back to Clear Creek, man.” I keep my eyes on the truck window, not wanting to see the disappointment I’m certain is obvious on his face. He was there when I got saved. He was there when I started dating Raegan. He knew about our boundaries.
“Is it ‘cause of the breakup with Raegan?” His words are quiet, and I force myself to meet his eyes.
“Ehhhh… I don’t really want to talk about it.” My jaw tightens, and I rub a hand over the scruff growing there. I haven’t shaved since before Christmas. “Listen, man. I’m actually sitting outside someone’s house, ready to head in for a party. So, I’ll need to go here in a second.”
“I won’t hold you up then.” He clears his throat. “But, I’m praying for you, man. My phone is always on, you can call me anytime.”
We say goodbye and I turn off my phone screen. I click it back on. And my thumb hovers over Raegan's name in the call log. I tap it, before I lose the courage. It rings twice, and I tapend call. What am I thinking? She’s probably busy. Maybe she’s even found someone else and moved on.
Maybe this party is what I need. Maybe I’ll meet some girl, and she’ll make me forget all about Raegan. Ha, that won’t ever happen. Raegan is seared on my soul, like the brands I put on a few cattle at her dad’s ranch last year. I quickly text both of my parents before hopping out of my truck and heading toward the mansion.
My feet feel like lead as I walk up the fifteen steps to the front door of the mansion. Jacob’s familiar face greets me at the door and he slaps me on the back. “Aus’in. Finally showin’. Le’s go party.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “They go’ the goo’ stuff ‘ere.” He grabs my arm and drags me in, stumbling over the footplate in the process. “Becca been as’ing about you no’-stop.”
I groan, and rub a hand down my face. What is her fascination with me? Why hasn’t she moved on? I haven’t seen her since Halloween, and when I left she’d finally found another guy to chase. “She won’t leave me alone, man.” I shake his shoulder. “You talk like you want a girlfriend. Why don’t you take her out?”
Jacob lets out a long hoot of a laugh, then two more. “Me an’ Becca? You wan’ a bomb to go off? ‘Cause tha’s what Becca and Iwou’ be. A bomb. A ba’ bomb.” He shakes his head vehemently. “Nope. Never ‘appening.”
“Okay, okay. Help me find someone to pawn her off on though. When I left her at Halloween she was with some Thor look alike, and they seemed pretty cozy.”
