The next day was a Saturday, and my day off. A real blessing, considering I couldn’t show up at the clinic looking like someone punched the daylights out of me.
A blackish-purple bruise formed around my right eye over the course of the night, and by morning, I looked like I’d been mugged.
I screwed on a baseball cap, put on my Aviators, and made my way to Jerry & Sons, where Tennessee was floating between booths, popping her pink gum loudly and joking with the customers.
I slid into an empty seat and waited for her to notice me, admiring the way she worked her audience like a starlet from the fifties. She had too much charm, which made her burst in colors and personality.
She was insufferable in the eyes of those who couldn’t be her or be with her.
My chest filled with sharp pride when I noticed she wore a black pair of tights under her uniform, so no one could see under her dress anymore.
I ripped my sunglasses off and slipped one stem into the collar of my polo shirt. Looking like I got punched square in the face trumped looking like a creeper. Wearing glasses indoors was only passable if you were:
1) Brad Pitt, or
2) Blind.
I was, at least to my knowledge, neither.
A few moments passed before Tennessee swept her head sideways, her laughter rolling from her throat at something Jerry said, before noticing me. Her smile dropped and she put down a tray full of soda and burgers on the counter, rushing to me.
The color drained from her face, and that’s how I realized not only was she wearing leggings, but she also wasn’t wearing enough foundation to moonlight as a circus clown.
She was evolving, becoming the most authentic version of herself I’d ever seen, and I wanted to grow right along with her.
“Holy sheep, Cruz!” She slid into my booth, grabbing both my cheeks in her hands and studying my face. It looked much worse than it felt. “What happened to your face?”
“I fell.”
“What’d you fall on?”
“A class-A jerk.”
“You’re going to have to give me more than that. But first things first—can I get you anything? Water? Coffee? A milkshake? Maybe some Tylenol? Scratch that, I’m going to get you a Tylenol anyway. This looks nasty.”
“It’s mostly harmless, but what I’m about to say to you isn’t, so get me a cup of coffee and sit your cute ass down.”
I wasn’t used to courting women.
I especially wasn’t used to popping into their lives unprompted, which was exactly what’d been happening with Tennessee. Ever since we started sleeping with each other on the cruise, she hadn’t called, texted, or given me any indication she wanted anything serious with me.
At some point, I had to get a shred of commitment from her, too. But for now, I gave her some leeway, considering her insecurities and history.
She pinned me with an unreadable look, her concern morphing into trepidation. “That doesn’t sound too good.”
“Depends on who you’re asking.”
“Wait here.”
A minute later, she came back with a fresh cup of coffee and an apple pie that had seen better days, probably in the early nineties. She slipped two Tylenols into my hand discreetly.
A waitress I guessed was Trixie, the new girl, took over Tennessee’s tables while we spoke, patting her shoulder to show her allegiance.
I began by explaining I hadn’t known Rob was going to show up to the bachelor party, and then the thing he’d told me, about me getting his leftovers, and how he’d left me no choice but to punch him square in the face.
“So now he knows we’re hooking up?” She paled.
Was that what we were doing? Hooking up?
I felt a second hit, this time to the gut.
I wanted to correct her definition, but now wasn’t the time.
“Not necessarily. I kept it vague. Shouldn’t you be more concerned with the fact he called you leftovers? This is the so-called reformed man who wants a second chance with you.”
Translation: he is getting a second chance with you over your dead body, right?
“I wish you’d let me deal with Rob. This only brings more attention to me, Cruz.” She rubbed her forehead tiredly. “Messy Nessy strikes again, causing trouble between two best friends. Trinity’s going to kill me.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” I pointed out.
“She told me to stay away from you.”
“We’re not having this conversation again. You need to stand up for yourself.”
“Says who? Someone who is still trying to be everyone’s darling?”
This was getting old.
And tiresome.
Even though I knew she was right—I was still far too agreeable to everyone around here, even those who needed a good ass-kicking—I stood up.
“Where’re you going?” she looked left and right, whisper-shouting.
God forbid someone knew we were having an intimate conversation about something that didn’t have anything to do with how I wanted my eggs fried or our siblings’ wedding.
“Gonna go find a girlfriend with a spine. If you see one, send her my way, would you?”
“A girlfriend?” She jumped up from her seat, her eyes big and wild.
I gave her a defiant, what-are-you-going-to-do-about-it look.
She rubbed the back of her neck, her cheeks crimson-stained. “I guess…I just…” She chuckled. “Okay. Wow. This is moving fast.”
“We’ve known each other since nursery school. You were pretty late to be potty-trained, by the way,” I said flatly.
“I had nightmares.” She punched my arm, laughing. “And what I mean is a month ago I didn’t even know that you liked me.”
“Well, I do.” I softened on a sigh.
“I like you, too. I just…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “I’m scared of my family, and to be perfectly honest, I’m scared of myself, too. I’m Messy Nessy. I mess things up. And I’m pretty scared of you. Can we keep it on the down-low for now?”
Ah, yes.
Messy Nessy didn’t deserve anything good. Especially when that something could overshadow her precious sister’s wedding.
“Until after the wedding,” I said curtly. “I’m not going to live in shame. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“A girlfriend,” Tennessee murmured, her eyes wide. “I haven’t been someone’s girlfriend since I was sixteen.”
“Well, it’s high time someone tamed you, Miss Turner.”
I turned around and walked away, out of the diner.
I watched from the reflection on the glass door as she ran to whisper something in Trixie’s ear, then followed me out, not bothering to say goodbye to Jerry.
Tennessee slipped into my car, ducking her head to make sure no one saw her.
“Are you following me?” I asked extra loudly as she buckled up, just to be a dick.
She grinned at me like a loon, her head tucked next to the glove compartment, still in hiding. “Maybe. Where am I following you to?”
“My house.”
“Nice. Bear is with his mamaw all day and mentioned he wants a sleepover so he can help my dad tomorrow morning with putting together a tree house for their neighbor.”
“All I heard was quality time with my girlfriend.”
She reached across the center console and kissed my thigh, still out of sight from whoever peered into my car.
It was secretive, and forbidden, and even a little crazy.
A calamity waiting to explode in my face in a very public, very un-Cruz fashion.
And I fucking loved it.
