Back To Country (Country Love #4)(40)

 "Mom. Stop. I don't want to talk about it." I should want to talk about it. I should want my mom to console me.

"Don't slouch. And how many times must I remind you to call me Mother?" She looks around, smiling. I'm not slouching. I never slouch. And I think a few more million times might make me call her Mother but probably not. "You never should have gone there." She looks everywhere but at me. "Why you ever thought you could make it on your own in some forsaken land that houses farm animals and men who wear those ungodly big hats, I'll never know." If I wasn't so upset and not wanting to talk about it, this would be comical. 



"May I take your orders?"

Mom looks up at the waitress and smiles. "We'll both have prime rib, baked potato, vegetable medley, and a side salad. Oh! And iced teas, please." She hands the menus back that were on the table, never looking at them. She doesn't have to since she has them mesmerized.

"Right away." The waitress grins as she takes the menus.

First, it's like having dinner but it's lunch. I really don't know how she keeps her figure. Second, it's a ladies brunch but it's just the two of us sitting here. Thing is, for her, it's about being seen here, having lunch, dressed up. I just don't get it.

"Margaret Brogdon." My head turns quickly to three women walking towards the table. I can see Mom smile from my peripheral. "Ellen, Beatrice, and I were just wondering if you were here." She bends down and air kisses Mom. I strain not to roll my eyes. She stands and looks at me and I swallow hard. "Oh! Tina! You're back from  –  where did you go again? France?" Why in the hell would she think I went to France? I look at Mom and scrunch my face.

"Yes," Mom says with a smile. "She just returned from Paris. She had a lovely time, didn't you, dear?" She looks at me, and I open my mouth but nothing comes out.

"Oh, Paris. It's so beautiful there," Beatrice says smiling dreamily.

"Please, won't you join us?" Mom looks at them and they all start nodding like the bobble heads they are. They all pull out chairs and sit down, talking a mile a minute about trivial things.

"I need to use to the restroom," I say standing abruptly. Not one of them turns to look at me as they keep gabbing.

I walk out of the dining room, following the stoned floor hallway right past the restrooms and into the bar. There's a few people in here, thankfully no one I recognize. I walk over to the counter and sit down on a barstool. Shit! Surely it's open but there's no bartender. I look around, starting to feel like the Exorcist.

"Never thought I'd see you back here."



 My head whips around, my long hair flying and covering my face. I brush it back quickly and stare into the eyes of.... "Matthew Pearson. I forgot you worked here." Fuck. My. Life.

He leans his arms on the bar counter, his face close to mine. "Get tired of the country? Or did you find out those cowboys weren't man enough?"

"None of your business. Jack and Coke. Make it a double." He smiles and winks as he stands and starts making my drink.

Just for the record, I don't drink that often. I think we all know how bad I can be on steady legs but right now, I just wanna get drunk.

Two hours later, Mom finally figured out I never returned from the restroom.

"There you are." I lift my glass and drain the rest of the contents.

"Another, please." I push the empty glass at Matthew.

"Really, Tina. It's not ladylike to sit at a bar and get drunk." I turn my head and watch her give me her snooty expression, and I laugh. I laugh again and again and it feels so good I keep laughing. "Oh my! What will everyone think?" I start laughing harder. She turns around and starts walking off. "Well, I don't want to be seen with you." I lay my arms down on the counter and put my forehead against them, laughing my ass off.



       
         
       
        

"Here you go."

Raising my head, I bite my lip, trying to stop from laughing myself off the stool. I'm able to finally contain myself and pick up the drink, draining it quickly. Pushing against the counter, I try to stand, almost falling on wobbly legs and grab the edge. He walks around the counter and grabs my arm. "Here. Let's get you outta here." I stumble in his grasp but I'm not so far gone that I don't know he's taking me out the side door. He walks me down the wide pavement, large trash cans and cigarette butts on the ground decorate the area. He says something and I laugh so hard, I trip over my feet.

"Matthew, you're so funny." I let out giggles and a snort, almost falling.

"Whoa, there. Need a ride home?"

I look up at him and open my mouth....

"She's got a ride."

I turn around, holding onto Matthew's arm tighter. My mouth is still open but for a different reason now.

Nash.





  Chapter Nineteen





Nash

I'm exhausted. Drivin' all night, full of worry and concern. I'd stopped by her parents' house, saw her car in the driveway, so I pulled my truck up along the curb. I sat there and just stared at the house, not sure what to do. I'd fight for her, do whatever it takes to get her to see but not like this. Are her parents' home? I don't want to embarrass her. By the sound of what her parents are like, from what she's told me, if there's any chance that they can rekindle their relationship, I don't want to do anythin' that would hinder that. So, I turned around, found the nearest hotel, and slept the rest of the day and night.

I'd slept late into the mornin', not realizin' just how tired I was. I ate a pretty hardy breakfast at the hotel after I'd showered and put on some clean clothes. All I kept thinkin' was, is Tina at home? Is she even thinkin' of me at all? How much does she hate me? Fuck! What she must think of me. It hurts my heart knowin' she's hurtin'. Somethin' I never wanted to happen. Then anger swells. Damn Blair and her ploys to get me back. I'd felt bad for her. No one should have to go through a family member passin' away. She played me just like she used to. Openin' my front door to her standin' there shakin' and in tears. I welcomed her into my house, tryin' to console her, and walked right into her trap. Now, I need to get to Tina, make her understand. Fuck! Why didn't I tell her about Blair before? How cruel she is and what she did to me before? Maybe then Tina would have seen through her bullshit, even though I didn't. 

I drive over to Tina's parents' house again and park along the curb. This time I don't wait, don't think. I get out, walkin' straight to the front door. I ring the bell, ready for the door to open, stand my ground and make her listen to me. The door opens and I'm greeted by a tall man, maybe in his late fifties, wearin' a dark suit. He looks down at my boots, all the way up to my hat. My brows lower in confusion.

"Is Tina Brogdon here?" I feel way underdressed and quickly remove my hat.

"I'm very sorry, sir, but Miss Tina is out to a brunch with her mother," he says soundin' all proper.

"Oh. Uh  –  think you can tell me where, please? I really need to talk to her."

He shifts his stance. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say." This not backin' down is pretty hard to do. Then a woman appears, could be around his age.

"Hello. I'm Leslie." She walks out of the door, causin' me to take a step back. She looks over her shoulder, smilin'. "It's okay, George. You can shut the door." He gives her a strange look but steps back and closes the door. She turns and looks at me, leanin' in and lookin' around, like she doesn't want anyone to hear her. She looks at me, still smilin'. "Are you the young man from the country?"



 I shift, feelin' pretty uneasy. "Uh, yes, ma'am."

"Oh my! A real cowboy!" She giggles a bit, puttin' her hand over her heart. They sure talk funny 'round here. "Forgive me. I've never met a real cowboy before."

"Uh, yes, ma'am." I smile. "Think you can tell me where Tina is. I'd be mighty obliged."

 She lets out another giggle and covers her mouth. Finally, she leans in closer and uncovers her mouth. "She's over at the Highland Country Club." She points down the street. "You just take a left at the stop light, go about five blocks then take another left on one hundred and twenty-seventh street. You can't miss it on the right. It sets up on a small hill."

I back up onto the first step of the porch, put my hat on, and raise the tip her way. "Mighty grateful, Leslie."

I turn and jog down the last couple of steps and start headin' to my truck when she stops me. I look over my shoulder. "She's very tender right now. Please remember that."

I give her a nod. "Yes, ma'am." I head straight for my truck and get inside, firin' it up. Pullin' into their driveway, I throw it in reverse and back up then take off down the street. I take the left at the stop sign and can feel my heart poundin' against my chest. I'm gettin' ready for the fight of my life yet I need to be ready to beg. This just might be the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I'll be damned if I leave here without her. I take the next left and look to my right. There on the top of a small hill is a huge buildin', lookin' all fancy. I drive up the hill into a parkin' lot and see the entrance. The lot is pretty full so I end up parkin' far from the buildin'. I get out, my boots loud on the pavement as I make my way past very nice cars. Fancy. I reach the sidewalk and head for the entrance when I hear somethin' that catches my attention around the buildin'.