Nate (A Texas Jacks Novel) (20 page)

“For you — any time, hon.” She replies, shocking me into silence for a moment. Charlie has never used a term of endearment before, unless you count ‘cowboy.’ I can barely get her to call me Nate, like everyone else does.

“Well, if that’s all I had to do to get you to call me something other than Nathan or cowboy, I would have taken you out to dinner every night for the past three weeks.” I tease her, making her laugh.

“Oh, hush. Don’t make a big deal out of it, or you’ll embarrass me more. Anyway, just text me the details tomorrow, and I’ll be ready and waiting for your hotness to show up,” she giggles.

I have to admit, I sure do love this playful side of her that’s coming out more and more. I already can’t wait to see her tomorrow.

“All right, sweetheart, it’s getting late, so I’ll let you go. Make sure you check in with Halley and Naomi tomorrow and ask about their dirt-coated adventures,” I chuckle. “Goodnight, Charlie. Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, cowboy. Dream of me.” I hear her say before hanging up the phone.

I don’t think tomorrow can come soon enough for this cowboy.

I
MEET UP WITH HALLEY
and Naomi the following day during my lunch break from work. Of course, it can't be a girls’ lunch since Holt and Tucker are with them. These two are clearly head over heels for my two best friends. Holt still seems to be in denial over this fact, but I know one day —it will dawn on him, and he’ll wise up. Until then, there's no leading that horse to water unless he completely wants it.

“Guys,” I address the group as a whole, as I flop down into a seat at the end of the table. “No Nathan?” I ask the two Stooges.

“Not today. He had to go out to his dad’s house. Something’s up with his sister, and he went to see what he could do to help out.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling dejected by this news.
Why doesn’t he ever say much to me about his family?
Forming a smile, one that I don’t genuinely feel, I look at my friends. “Well, his loss, right?” Everyone silently watches me, but wisely chooses to move on, so that they don’t have to see the sad girl get into an emotional fit on their watch. They either know what’s up, or they don’t have to worry because it doesn’t affect them directly. Clearly, it’s time to move on.

“How was the track the other day? Nathan mentioned something about you girls getting into a dirt-coated adventure?” I eye Halley and Naomi. “What’s that all about? And please, tell me it’s something good!”

“Do we have to get into this again?” Tucker complains from his end of the table, as he pulls Naomi into his side a little more securely. “I’m really over this chick. She’s making my life miserable at the track, and she’s definitely ruining it for Naomi as well.”

I laugh at his expense—which seems mean, but I can’t help it. I’m definitely in a bad mood, now. This is so unlike me, at least when I’m around my friends. My emotions are not in check at the moment, all thanks to Nathan and his lack of trust in opening up to me about his family— and essentially, his life. “Lisa is
still
bothering you? Doesn’t she know you have a girlfriend?”

“She doesn’t care what I want, or think, obviously. I’ve been the object of her obsession since high school, and I had no idea until I went out with her, how unstable she would turn out to be. I know she’s not clueless. She was the smartest girl all throughout high school. For some reason, she doesn’t seem smart in the guy department, though. Or at least not bright enough to take a hint. I can’t believe I ever got mixed up with her,” he groans.

“Hey, I’m pretty sure we tried to warn you.” Holt puts his two cents in.
Which isn’t helpful
. I give him the ‘shut-up’ face, but he studiously ignores me and keeps flapping his big trap. “And since when are you and Miss July over there,” he nods to Naomi, as he uses an earlier nickname Tucker gave her when we first met them, “classifying your relationship? That’s news to me.” I know he’s not trying to be a jerk, but he really could have used a little more tact.

“Well, Curly,” Naomi enters the conversation, “am I dating you?”

“Touché. Still, are you guys straight up dating, now?”

“Why are we even talking about this? How did it go from Lisa, to my relationship with Naomi?” Tucker asks Holt. “For now, we aren’t classifying anything, but we aren’t seeing other people, either. It’s just me and Miss July. Right, babe?” Tucker smiles fondly at Naomi.

“Right.” She softly replies. He kisses her gently on the lips.

I still think they’re in denial about their relationship, but since I’m in a foul mood, I’m not going to bring them down with me. Holt’s doing a fine job of that for the both of us.

“So, Halley, is Kyle still bothering you? You really haven’t mentioned him in a while.” Halley’s eyes bug out as her head tips towards Holt, before turning her laser beams back on me, trying to incinerate me on the spot.

“Who’s Kyle?” Holt tries to ask nonchalantly, without being overly interested but making it sound as if he’s only curious. Which I know is a big lie, but whatever.

“He’s some guy who works with Halley. He seems to think she really wants to go out with him.” I crack up, but I’m the only one, because Halley is really getting agitated, and the other two wisely stay in their own kissy-faced bubble.

“Really.” Holt continues to carefully watch Halley, looking as if he’s trying to decide something. “Woman, why didn’t you say anything? I’m more than happy to help a lady in distress.” He wags his brows at her. She rolls her eyes, and then turns her face back to me.

“Thanks a lot for that. The situation is under control, for the time being. Besides, he’s too loaded down with work to have any interest in pestering me.” She turns back to Holt. “And for the record, Curly, I can handle my own business, thank you very much.”

“Halley, I’m serious. You ever need anything, you call me. You have my number. Please, use it day or night.” He’s definitely being serious, for once, and really sincere. “I don’t want one of my good friends to end up hurt.”

Halley’s face softens at his sentiment. “Thanks, Holt. That really means a lot to me. Trust me, if he becomes more of an issue, you’ll be my first call for a rescue maneuver.” He gives her a real, genuine smile that I can see knocks her off guard for a moment before she recovers. “So, where’s our waitress already? I’m starved!”

I’m sorry
, I mouth to Halley, and she waves me off. I know she won’t forget, and we’ll certainly be visiting this subject later, without prying eyes and ears.

“Wait, no one ever did tell me what happened with Lisa!” I decide to re-open that topic, causing the whole table to groan. I give them all a sheepish smile, but forge ahead because I really want to know.

“She was trying to stake her claim on Tucker at the track the other day. Naomi and I are getting pretty sick of the show. It’s no longer entertaining. It’s really just pathetic. Naomi was snuggled up to Tuck, as she is now, and Lisa ‘accidentally’ bumped into her, causing her to fall out of the stands and into the dirt. She’s a little banged up, but otherwise fine. However, Lisa and I had it out. No way was I letting her get away with that. I know she meant it maliciously,” Halley explains to the table.

“You should have seen her, too!” Holt whistles. “She was a beauty, rolling around in the dirt, after mouthing off to Lisa.” He gives her a sexy grin of his own. “Anyway, Lisa decided to trip Halley and caused her to fall, too. It wasn’t a good situation, and it took me, Nathan,
and
Tuck to get the girls apart. I’ve never seen Halley so irate before. Remind me to never get on her bad side!”

“Well, I’m glad no one was seriously hurt. I feel bad that happened because Lisa has it out for me. I’m not letting her run me off the track, or dig her nails into Tucker. Karma always has a way of getting even with people. Sooner or later, hers will come knocking.” Naomi calmly states.

“Dang. I’m missing all of the good stuff by not coming out to the track. I really need to get back out there, though I really hate it when Nathan gets on his bike. It’s so nerve wracking! And apparently, I’m a distraction, according to him. So, maybe coming out there isn’t a good thing.” I realize I’m starting to become a Debbie Downer again right when the waitress
finally
shows up. We place our orders and find our way back to a better topic, and leave the weight of the world behind us, along with my bad attitude.

It’s been a few weeks since our lunch with the guys, and by the way, Halley did ream me out over my introduction of the Kyle topic. He’s only bothered her a few times recently. But otherwise, all seems kosher on the home front, for now.

Tucker has been spending less time on his bike and more time cozying up with Naomi. I suppose this is a good thing. At least they won’t have to run into Lisa as much. As for Nathan, we’re spending a lot of time together still, but he has yet to open up about his family, so I’m still in the dark about the troubles of his sister —and he has never come up to my folks’ place for Sunday dinners. But we’re only seven weeks into our relationship, so I’m really not going to try and rock the boat. When the timing is right, I hope he feels comfortable opening up more. Though, I’m a bit hurt he hasn’t mentioned his sister’s problems to me. And since he’s never brought it up, I didn’t feel right about prying. I was actually hoping I wouldn’t have to pry and he would volunteer it on his own, but he never did. He's been pretty busy and distracted lately.

Tonight was another Sunday family affair up in Sacramento, complete with dinner and board games. All of the family’s usual suspects were there, plus Greg, Lindsay’s fiancé. We had a few good laughs, and for once, no one tried to throw anyone else under the bus with their life’s secrets.

Driving home from dinner on the I-80W freeway, I reflect back to the gathering, full of board games and laughter. I still can’t believe my dad almost lost to Greg during one of the many rounds we played. The look on his face, when he thought he was about to lose—
priceless.
I wish Nathan had been there to share in the experience with my family. I think he’d fit in with everyone, giving as well as he gets.

I let the air in my lungs pass over my lips with a deep sigh as I approach the long stretch of road from West Sacramento towards Davis. I really don’t like this segment. Once you’re on it, you can forget about getting off for a bit, which reminds me—
do I have enough gas to make it home?
Quickly glancing down, I see that the gauge is half full, which eases my rattled mind. This is my least favorite part of the drive, from here to Dixon. It’s dark out, and tonight, it looks like it’s just me, the highway, and no one else. Yep, it’s definitely time to kick the radio on so I can stay awake, but to also drown out the noises of the tires on the road.