All characters are at least 18 years old unless otherwise stated.
Big thanks to you, the readers, for your patience in waiting for this next chapter. The flu sidelined me for nearly three weeks and a fevered few days of writing spun the story in a direction I hated so i scrapped it and went another way. Hope you enjoy this follow up and as always, thank you for reading, commenting and voting.
****
The thought of ringing the doorbell flashes into my head for a brief second but since Jessica has already closed the door in my face I let it go. I head to my car but before I start it, I pull out my cell phone and send her a text asking her to please call me. I only wait a moment then crank the engine and back out of her driveway. Instead of heading home, I decide to drive around to try to clear my head.
"Maybe some music will help." I sigh and hit the random button on my phone.
We're No Good Together
by Tesla begins to play and I just shake my head.
"You really know when to kick a guy don't you?" I ask my phone but it stays silent. "Yeah, you can't possibly defend that one, huh? Well, let's see what you have for an encore." I hit the Next button and
Kiss My Love Goodbye
By L.A. Guns starts up.
"Really?" I say aloud.
Next.
I Don't Believe in Love
By Queensryche
"Nope."
Next.
Edge of a Broken Heart
By Vixen.
"The grief I'd get from Bobby if he knew I still had this band in my phone. Screw Bobby, they were a great band!"
Next.
Foolish Heart
By Steve Perry
"I didn't know that I had a broken hearts playlist," I think as I pull over to the side of the road. As I scroll through the artist section looking for Iron Maiden, I find myself singing along with Steve Perry. "I need a love that's strong. I'm so tired of being alone but will my lonely heart play the part of the fool again before I begin..." I sing to my steering wheel before I reach Maiden.
I queue up
Be Quick or Be Dead
and as the drum beat begins I stomp the gas and whip my car back onto the road. By the time the chorus kicks in, I'm ten miles over the posted speed limit and gaining speed. I slow a bit in the next curve until I reach the apex of it where I once again press the accelerator down just like my grandpa taught me. That sends me rocketing down the next straightaway while
The Pretender
By Foo Fighters starts playing. Soon I'm drumming along on my steering wheel and feeling a little better by getting some aggression out. I reach the county line and take a turn onto a dirt road that I know by heart. The road is a long and winding stretch of dirt and gravel mix that's bracketed by thick forest on both sides. I'm taking this road slower so I don't end up sliding off into a ditch and I begin to wish I hadn't taken it. It's giving me too much time to dwell about what I did wrong.
"Whatever that was," I mutter to myself.
As I'm nearing home
Wait
by White Lion starts playing. I almost hit Next again but I decide to just let this one play for a minute.
Wait... Wait... I never had a chance to love you, now I only wanna say I love you one more time...
I lean forward a bit so I can look up towards the heavens. "Wait, huh, am I supposed to be the one waiting or what?" I ask. No answer is forthcoming of course but I wasn't really expecting one.
****
Sunday
"I didn't know that you played." Marybeth exclaims as Bobby pulls his electric guitar from its case. The pair are sitting out in Bobby's garage after she came over to see him after church.
"Just a little," he answers as he plugs in his amp and plays a bit of the opening to
Sweet Child of Mine
.
"Just a little, huh?" She asks.
"Okay, maybe more than a little," he admits with a grin. "I always tease Jake about us needing to start a band but he refuses to sing."
"You could sing." Marybeth suggests.
"Everyone knows that the guitarist gets all the great girls, Marybeth." He tells her.
"Oh, is that so?" she asks raising her eyebrows questioningly.
Bobby leans forward and brushes his lips against hers. "I hope so."
"Me too," She sighs then pushes him back. "Who knew you were so smooth?"
"Smooth as crunchy peanut butter," I quip from the open garage door.
"Hey Jake," Marybeth calls out in greeting.
"How long have you been standing there?" Bobby asks.
"Long enough to hear you trying to impress Marybeth with a guitar warm up exercise. Sweet Child of Mine, really? Why don't you just play Stairway next?" I tease him.
"Why don't you introduce your top lip to your bottom one? I think they'd be the best of friends." Bobby counters.
I turn to Marybeth. "You are doing wonders for his wit, Marybeth and I guess I should apologize for butting in here. I didn't know that I'd be interrupting another date so soon."
"You're not interrupting." Marybeth tells me.
"Yeah you are," Bobby grumbles.
"I thought as much but that line was just too funny to let slide." I tell him. "I'll be getting out of your hair now."
"That ride of yours isn't sneaky so since I didn't hear it pull up I assume that you walked here." He states.
"It's still not that far." I point out again.
"He walked here from his house?" Marybeth asks.
"It's really not far." I assure her. "Just a mile... two at the most through the woods right over there."
"He does this often?" She asks Bobby.
"Only when something is bothering him," Bobby answers her then looks at me. "What'd your dad do this time?"
"Nothing," I answer. "Dad's been pretty decent since he saw the whole me being slammed to the turf video thing."
"Hey, when did you lose the sling?" Bobby asks just noticing it's missing.
"Yesterday," I answer. "Dr. Golden checked me over and said that I could lose it."
"I'll bet that made your
date night
a lot more enjoyable." Bobby jokes.
"Uh huh," I answer trying to sound normal but when Bobby gives me an odd look, I know I failed.
"Okay, what happened?" He asks.
"What makes you think something happened?" I attempt to deflect.
"You walked here and you said that your dad wasn't the cause. You also didn't come in here with that big, goofy grin on your face that you usually have when you've been out with Jessica and you haven't even said her name yet." He states.
"I haven't been here that long." I argue.
"I have to agree with Bobby, Jake. You said
Dr. Golden
when you would normally have just said
Jess's mom
and whenever one of us says
Jessica
you get this weird look on your face. Like now." Marybeth points out.
"That's just my normal face. It's always been weird, ask Bobby." I try to tell her to get Bobby to insult me and hopefully avoid this conversation but he isn't having it.
"Fuck off and sit." He orders me while pointing to a fold out chair.
"Dude, don't let me interrupt this date or whatever this is." I throw out in a last ditch effort.
Bobby ignores me and opens up the case that holds his acoustic guitar. He hands me the guitar and says, "Strum."
"Strum?" Marybeth asks confused. "Jake plays, too?"
"Bobby, this really isn't..." I begin to argue anyway but he shushes me with a look.
"Just play," He tells me then turns to Marybeth. "Yes, he plays on rare... well maybe not so rare occasions. Give him a second."
I sigh, put my fingers on the strings and begin to strum with no song in mind. After a few moments the chords start to sound familiar and I realize I'm playing the opening to
