Page 28 of Hung Up
I take my hat off, letting my braid loose, and run my fingers through my sweaty hair. “I’m in. I’ll give Charli a ring.”
“I’m sure the guys are all in too, they never turn down a happy hour,” Denton says.
The Wagon Wheelis dim and noisy, just the way I like it. I slide onto a worn stool next to Charli, the wood sticky beneath my palms. Ryder and Sutton are getting a round of drinks for everyone. Denton and his crew are at the pool tables, starting up a game.
The clink of glasses and low hum of country music barely register as I watch Denton, free and easy. Not even noticing that every girl in the bar is staring at him.
“God, Charli,” I mutter, “I’m about ready to lose my damn mind.”
Charli gives me a sideways glance, already sensing the storm behind my calm facade.
“What’s eating at you this time, Sorrel? You’ve been tight-lipped ever since that handsome country music star showed up at your ranch.”
I hesitate, then push the words out like a knife slicing through a thick wall. “It’s Denton. It’s Huck. It’s everything. I’m spiraling, Charli.”
Her eyes soften. “You like him, don’t you?”
She knows me better than anyone.
Denton is bent over the pool table, about to make his shot. His eyes lock on mine. A heat ignites low in my belly, and I chew on my bottom lip. Sutton brings our drinks over and takes the seat next to me, a grin playing at her lips.
When I look back at Denton, a girl with light brown hair has her hand on his shoulder while she whispers something in his ear. Her features are dark and alluring and everything about her screams sex appeal. Jealousy settles deep in my chest and I can’t look away.
Charli turns her gaze to them. “You going to do something about that, Saxxon?” she asks.
I grip the glass in my hand tighter and grind my teeth. I let out a deep breath. “No, he’s a single man. He can do what he wants.”
But then he shrugs her hand off his shoulder and her face turns into a look of disbelief. The corners of my mouth tilt up.
A screeching noise comes from the microphone on the stage that catches all of our attention. Randy, the owner of the bar, is on the stage fiddling with the microphone. He taps on it a few times and clears his throat.
“Well, folks, we have a special guest that so kindly offered to put on a show tonight. Everyone give Denton Reed a warm welcome to the stage.”
Denton looks stunned as a mullet. He gives me an accusatory look.
I put my hands up in innocence. “It wasn't me.”
Charli starts slinking away, her body melting under the table. Our heads whip in her direction.
“You!” we shout at the same time—catching her red-handed.
“Look, I might've made a call when Sorrel invited me to the bar tonight and told me y’all were comin’.”
Oh, Charli. It’s too late. Everyone in the bar is staring at Denton, and Johnny has already run up on the stage, strapping a guitar to his back.
Denton throws up his hands, accepting defeat. “Fuck it, live in the moment and all that. Right?”
Cool confidence washes over him as he takes center stage. He definitely belongs up there with that mesmerizing smile he gives the crowd. They begin to play, and every girl in the bar damn near falls to their knees—including me. But out of everyone in the bar, his eyes only meet mine. Not the pretty girl who probably asked to take him home tonight, but me.
My lips part, and I feel my blood pumping. I shoot back my whiskey and get to my feet, making my way to the back door. I need to cool off. Charli calls after me as I push my way through the swarm of people at the stage but I ignore her.
As I open the back door, cool night air slams into my face, and I let out a shaky exhale. I lean against the fence and close my eyes, just for a moment. I can’t have these feelings for Denton. It terrifies me. I can’t get hurt again; my heart can’t take another beating.
I sense a presence coming toward me, and my eyes shoot open. As my vision comes back into focus, the unmistakable, staggering figure of Huck fills the open space in front of me. His eyes are wild and glossy as he takes me in.
“Well, well, well… if it ain’t Sorrel Saxxon, hiding and running away like you always do.”
He’s close enough I can smell his rank breath that reeks of liquor. It repulses me, and I choke down a gag.
