Page 60 of Real Good Love
“You’re getting down to the wire, and I’ve got a big thing planned for that car. Tell me it’s done, Brantley.”
“It’s done.”
“Thank fuck. This shit is gonna be epic. My girl will be there, and I’m gonna surprise her by asking her to marry me, then drive right offstage in the car so we can break it in right. I bought the ring yesterday and everything.”
“Holy shit, man. Congratulations. Wow.” If I remember right, Boone’s girlfriend is another country singer. A tiny thing who looks and sounds more like a pop star. I prefer Holly’s brand of country, and that’s without the personal bias.
“Wow is right. Never fuckin’ thought I’d see the day I’d want to tie myself to a woman, but she’s the first one who’s ever understood what this life is like and can hack it with me.”
“That’s great. I’m glad the car is ready so you can make it happen.”
“You doin’ all right? You bringin’ that city girl with you so I can show you both a good time? I’ve got all-access passes for the both of you, and a suite where you can crash so you don’t have to drive back after the show. Press conference and all the classic-car mags are going to be showing up Saturday morning starting at noon, so I can make an appearance and tell them all about the project before I have to get in the zone for the show and start worrying about sound checks and that shit. And fuck, I’m proposing Saturday night. Jesus Christ. I can’t even believe it myself.”
“We’ll be there tomorrow with the car. I’ll load it up in the morning in the enclosed trailer, and we can bring it right to the stadium for you so you don’t have to worry about anything.”
“Perfect. I’ll tell my guy to make sure that you’ve got a reservation for tomorrow night too. Thanks for pulling through, man. Not everyone can be true to their word these days, but I knew you would. Holly had good things to say, and she knows her shit when it comes to people.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence. I aim to please.”
“You better get ready to expand that shop of yours. My buddies are already thinking about using you, and they haven’t even seen the car yet.”
A smile stretches over my face. “I’m ready for whatever they want.”
“Perfect. Now I gotta go meet my future father-in-law for dinner and ask him if I can propose to his baby girl. Fuck. I haven’t been this nervous about anything since my first sold-out show.”
“How could he possibly say no?” I ask, hoping I’m right. I’m actually surprised as hell that Boone is sharing all this with me.
“You’re right. I’m Boone Fucking Thrasher. I got this. See you and the ride tomorrow,” he says before he hangs up.
More than ever, I’m really glad that it all came together. Now I just need to take the car on a nice and easy test-drive with Banner and do a few last-minute checks on it before I load it up in the trailer in the morning.
I tap my screen a few times to bring up our last text.
LOGAN:Wanna meet me at the shop? We’re going for a ride.
MYWOMAN:Did someone say ride? I’m so there. Give me a few to get ready. I’ve been up to my elbows in dicks all day.
I laugh and tuck my phone back in my pocket before heading to the overhead door to open it. As soon as I step outside, Julianne waves from the window of Cut a Bitch, and I wave back. She comes out, walks across the street, and sticks her head inside.
“Oh my hell. Is this Boone Thrasher’s car? Holy shit. It ishot.”
“Sure is. He’s gonna see it tomorrow for the first time.”
“You mean he’s gonna get laid tomorrow in it for the first time, because that’s what a badass like him would do.”
“Not going there with you.”
“Well, I’m just sayin’. You gonna drive it?”
“Waitin’ on Banner to get here.”
“Can I talk to you about one thing before you go?”
“What’s that?”
“I was down at the county building renewing my DBA, and that reporter chick was there pulling all kinds of property-tax records and searching deeds and stuff.”
“So?”
