Serenity Falls(13)

“I didn’t forget to introduce you, dick. You didn’t give me a chance to,” Wes interjects laughing. “This is Kenleigh.”

“I like it. I’ve never heard that name before.”

“Thank you,” I reply, pulling my hand from his grasp.

“Well, the party is over there, y’all.” Reid points in the direction of the fire, as if we can’t see that for ourselves. “The keg and cups are over by Leslie’s truck, so help yourselves.” He turns his attention back to Wes and me. “Later?”

“Later,” Wes replies with a nod.

Just as Reid turns around, sauntering back towards the crowd of people, he yells, “Y’all won’t believe who the fuck is here!?”

I watch as Reid stumbles his way back over to the party, but when Wes wraps his hand around mine, my attention shifts to him. His hand is calloused, strong, and warm—nice. My dad always taught me that calluses on a man’s hands prove that he works hard for a living. I notice how well my hand fits in his as I look down at our joined hands. Lifting my head to meet his stare, he whispers in my ear. “Stay by my side, okay?”

“All right,” I reply breathlessly. Maybe I shouldn’t drink tonight, because his proximity alone leaves me already feeling intoxicated. With a tug on my hand, he leads me towards the amber colored flames of the bonfire.

The stifling heat of the fire reaches about ten feet away from it. As we make our way closer, I hear a chorus of people chanting, “Hey Wes!” He just waves and nods his hellos. It’s funny, but he seemed much more vocal back at the house.

I squeeze his hand to get his attention. When he looks down at me, I ask, “I thought you knew all of these people?”

“I do. Most of ‘em anyway. Why?” he asks with a perplexed look.

“I don’t know. I just figured with them being friends of yours that you’d be stopping every five seconds to say hi to someone.”

“I thought we’d get a drink before I’m swallowed up by conversation about high school, football, and what all I’ve been up to since I moved to Dallas.”

Thank God, he can’t see the blush on my face because I feel like an idiot. “Oh.” There’s not much else I can say. I think I’ve inserted my foot into my mouth far enough. Here I thought he was being rude, but he just wanted to get a drink.

“How about that drink now?” he asks, with a smile.

“Sounds great.”

“Do you want a beer or a mixed drink?”

“I’ll take a beer. I don’t really drink liquor, unless you want to babysit me all night long, which I’m pretty sure you don’t.”

“I don’t think I’d mind babysitting you,” he replies with a cocky smile.

I’m not going to reply to that, so instead, I give him a pointed look, which I’m sure is hard to see in the dark.

He obviously caught my expression because he laughs. “Right. Now let’s get you a beer.”

Wes lets go of my hand, leaving it cold and lonely, to get us each a beer. I lean back against the tailgate of someone’s truck while Wes pours our drinks. I look around, taking in all the people around me. To my left, the sound of rushing water lets me know that there’s a creek nearby. To my right, a group of guys stands in a circle, holding red solo cups, and laughing loudly. Straight ahead is a cluster of guys and girls, some embracing each other, while they all converse. Another bunch stands around the fire, dancing to Florida Georgia Line’s Round Here.

“Here you go.” I hear Wes say in my ear as he hands me my cup.

“Thanks.” I smile up at him before I take a drink.

Just as I’m about to say something, a blonde with really large breasts, and a way-too-tight outfit pounces on Wes, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her drink spills over the edge her cup and splashes onto the ground. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re back in town,” she slurs. “I knew you’d come back to see me. It’s been too long, Wes. Riley said I was crazy to sit here and wait for you, but I knew once you got that whole bull riding thing out of your system, you’d come back.”

I watch as the scene unfolds around me. I know that I have no claim to him, but hasn’t she noticed that someone else is sitting here? “Hey, Les. I’m not back for good. Just for the summer,” he replies, not showing her the same type of affection she is showing him.

I watch in disgust as she nuzzles his neck, trying to elicit some kind of response from him. “So, you’re going back to Dallas?”

“Yep.”

“Hey, I’m going to see, uh… if I can… find Brantley,” I tell Wes, pushing away from the truck.