Page 23 of One Little Lie
Thank fuck.
“Well, my cards are opening, but not enough to get a name. You’re makin’ progress, Fibby. Keep up the good work. We’re all on your side, ya know? But you’ve got to put in the effort now. I’ll see ya at the fields. Don’t dilly dally either. You’re already late.”
She shuffles across the room, cackling at the door on the floor, and is gone a second later. With my elbows on my knees, I hold my head, praying I don’t vomit on the old, worn carpet.
I just have to make it through ten minutes on stage. Ten minutes by myself on stage. I can do that. Maybe I can even pay the person off, so I don’t have to actually go on the date. That could work.It’s just ten minutes, Halton. Ten fucking minutes.
In a daze, I make my way to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and say screw it to everything else. Making my way through the Wagon Wheel, I’m thankful I don’t run into anyone on the way. I’ll walk to the fairgrounds from here. The exercise will do me good.
* * *
“Jesus Christ, Halton. You look like shit,” my brother, Preston, shouts across the field as I arrive. “What the hell happened to you?”
“I think GG drugged me.”
His wife, Emory, gasps at his side. “What?” She leans in, giving me a hug, and inspects me up close. She’s a heart surgeon, and I suspect she’s taking my pulse as she holds onto my wrist.
Running a hand through my hair roughly, I grab my glasses out of my front pocket and put them on.One more shield against the world.
“I don’t know. She gave me this wine, and I blacked out. Twice. I have no idea what the hell happened.”
Preston howls with laughter. “Why the fuck did you drink it the second time?”
I shrug because it’s a fair question. “I don’t know, Pres. She drank it. I thought a freaking port glass of it would be fine.”
“Did you even shower today?”
“No. And I probably slept in these clothes. Any other questions?”
Clapping me on the back, he brings me in for a hug. Preston takes his role as big brother seriously. “Nope. That’s it from me, but you’d better make your way to the stage. East is on edge and was ripping everyone to shreds earlier, so you don’t want to piss him off.”
“I should have stayed in bed,” I grumble.
“Too late, little brother.”
“Don’t worry,” Emory whispers. “We’ll put in a good bid to get the ball rolling.”
Knowing the hell they have been through recently, I give her a sincere smile. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to Preston, and I appreciate the love she has for him. “Thanks, Ems.”
Trudging forward, I come face-to-face with Colton shortly after.
“Ugh,” he groans. “Seriously, Halton? You look like that guy from the movieBeetlejuice. Just lose the constipated expression when you get up there on that stage. Women have come from all over the state for a chance at a date with you. Please don’t fuck this up with your scowling asshole face.”
“I’m not the right guy for this, Colt. I told you that.”
“No shit, but who else do we have? You don’t think we can put Ash through this right now, do you?”
“Don’t be a dick.”
“Okay, well, I have to be in the kissing booth.” He waggles his eyebrows like a creeper, and I cringe. “I’m happy to switch with you.”
“Fuck off. I told you I’m not interested in catching herpes while we’re here.”
“Well, that leaves you for the auction, then. Suck it up, buttercup. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet your soulmate at this thing.”
I spin and stomp off before I punch him in the fucking mouth. I’ve already met, hurt, and pushed away my soulmate. I’ll be whacking off to visions of her for the rest of my life because my father was right about something else, too. Love like that only comes around once in a lifetime.
The closer I get to the stage, the harder the pulse in my neck throbs, and I have to shake out my hands to keep them from trembling. My shoulders are so tight I can already feel a tension headache forming. And as I climb the three steps to find East, sweat rolls down my spine and settles at the top of my boxer briefs.
