? God, I hope I didn't embarrass myself, did I? I mean, I had the strangest dreams, but that's what too many shots of tequila does to me," she said as if she was straining to remember.
I thought back to that amazing experience and actually could still taste her on my lips. Should I tell her?
"No, you were kind of out of it, but you were really funny at the same time. I don't remember a lot either other than making sure to get you into bed," I said, completely aware that I was playing with fire.
She thought for a moment, as if she was trying to recollect it. I wondered if her blackout was permanent or if there was a chance that the memory would eventually return. I felt sick thinking of it.
"Hmm. Well, thank you again for all your help. And here's something for watching the kids. I hope they didn't drive you too crazy."
"No, really. I can't take that from you. They were great. We had fun."
And YOU were tasty, I thought to myself, so no payment is necessary.
She insisted, so I reluctantly took her money, and we stood there in awkward silence for what seemed like forever.
"Well, anyway...you can...come by any time, Destiny. I started a new drawing if you want to see it sometime."
I nodded and we both turned to return to our trailers. I couldn't resist peeking back at her over my shoulder.
"Let me finish rimming your tight asshole and I'll be right over," I thought to myself as I watched her butt swaying in her leggings.
I heard her screen door open as I walked away, unsure of what just occurred. I knew though that I would eventually need to confess, no matter how hard it was going to be. I started wondering to myself if last night really WAS a dream. After all, I doubt that I would forget if I was being licked, no matter how drunk I may have been. Another lick of my upper lip produced a hint of her taste, and I knew then that it really did happen. I was torn between relief that she had no memory and disappointment in her connection with her date. Any silly notion that I may have held of her possibly being a romantic partner was dashed. Well, at least I still had her friendship, I thought, as long as her memory didn't return.
Although my head was still pounding from my hangover, my thoughts suddenly shifted. Something was awakened in me last night and once again I thought back to Beth and our brief phone conversation. There was clearly a chance that she was setting me up, but I knew I was going to take the risk. I took a deep breath, grabbed the phone and made the call, despite my better judgement. After some small talk, we firmed up our meeting time and place, and my heart was beating out of my chest.
With hope in her voice, Beth said, I'll come by for you in like three hours?"
"Beth, promise me you're not fuckin' with me again. Say it."
"I'm not. Trust me, okay?"
"I guess. Three hours, but don't come down the path. I'll walk out to the park entrance."
The last thing I wanted was for Lucy to see me leaving with Beth.
"Thanks, Destiny, really. See you soon."
I hated myself for allowing her and her insanity back into my life. Was I setting myself up for a whipping or worse? Was Jed really out of the picture or was it just their sordid way to lure me out of my comfort area? I knew I had to be really careful. If she confessed to him what happened to his truck, I realized that I could easily become the next missing person. So why was I feeling that now familiar warmth, I wondered. I decided to trust her for better or worse, for the thrill of the risk if nothing else. As I got ready, I went down the hall into my brothers' room and rummaged around in their utility drawer before finding what I wanted - a small switchblade that fit nicely into my front pocket. You never can be too cautious, I thought.
The clock ticked slowly, and I realized that I was nearly as excited to see Beth this time as I was when I went to the Piggly Wiggly. I was SO screwed up! I dressed down in a faded black 'Guns N Roses' t-shirt and my old black work boots along with my ripped Levi's. I put my hair into a ponytail and ventured out, nervously peeking over to see if Lucy was within sight. Why did I feel like I was cheating on her? I was relieved to see that it was quiet at her trailer, and I slowly walked toward the park entrance, being sure to keep an eye out for the Silverado. I knew that if Beth showed up and ambushed me, I would have to do something drastic. I tapped my pocket to make sure that the knife was still tucked away. In my heart, however, I prayed that she was genuine. As much as I loved the hazy drunken lovemaking that occurred just a dozen hours earlier with Lucy, the tenderness in which Beth and I made out in the thicket was now my focus. I got to the entrance a few minutes early and I lingered at the mailboxes to kill time. Five minutes went by, then ten. In the distance I saw a pickup truck coming my way and my heart sank. I was poised to run back into the trailer park until I realized that it was the totally wrong color, and as it drove past, I wondered, how paranoid am I?
Another ten minutes went by, and finally I saw the big rusty navy-blue Ford Crown Victoria rumbling toward me, which I remember my brothers mentioning was probably an old repainted police cruiser. Not exactly a classy ride, but it served its purpose. She pulled up and I peeked in the back seat to make sure it was empty before climbing in next to her. The seat felt giant compared to other cars that I had been in.
"Thanks for coming," she said. "I wasn't sure you would give me, you know, a chance."
"Yeah, I wasn't sure either, to be honest," I said, trying to feign indifference and looking out the passenger's window. Our past make-out session flooded my brain, and as she watched the road, I turned to take her in. I felt my heart pounding and although I tried not to get my hopes up, I imagined that this was our first 'date.' She was also in torn jeans, but unlike me she was in a short-sleeved navy button-down top, untucked. Her hair was loose and blowing in the breeze, and when she looked over she caught me admiring her. A small smile appeared, and we drove without talking. Her big sunglasses barely hid the dark bruise on the side of her face, and I again felt my blood pressure rising. I need to control my anger, I thought.
Finally, I commented, "This is a little faster than our last ride."
We both laughed, before she responded, "Yeah, but not as much fun though."
"So, are we really goin' to the Walmart?"
"I dunno. I mean, I need some stuff from there so maybe we can stop there first, then get some ice cream or go for a walk somewhere."
Paranoia crept in again. A 'walk' could be the end for me, with a trail being the perfect ambush site. I decided that I would bail at the first sign of danger.
We finally reached the Union Town Walmart, and I followed her through the doors and past the smiling geriatric greeter. I didn't know why he seemed so happy. Didn't he realize he was on death's doorstep? Then again, maybe I was too, I thought. Beth headed for the makeup area and grabbed some generic foundation and finishing powder, no doubt to cover her bruises before her shift began at the Piggly Wiggly. I thought we were done, but she glanced at me and hesitated before moving to the pharmacy area. She took a few steps and looked around before quickly grabbing an early pregnancy test. Jesus, I thought. What kind of shit did she get herself into? First an engagement with possibly the worst person in our county, then a pregnancy test? I took another look at her fingers and was relieved that there was no engagement ring, but that really didn't mean anything.
Again I assumed that we were done shopping, but I was wrong. I followed her quietly as she reached the sporting goods section and turned down the aisle toward the back wall. In front of us was a myriad of locked cases containing rifles, pistols and ammunition. Behind the counter was a disinterested middle-aged man in a red vest that was at least one size too small. He sported a Vietnam tattoo on his hairy forearm, and his scraggly graying goatee made him look like a deranged old billy goat, I thought. When he saw us approaching, he licked his lips and perked up.
"Whatcha lookin' for, ladies," he gave us a coffee-stained yellow toothy smile as he undressed us with a wandering sleepy eye.
I felt a shiver down my spine and I grabbed Beth's arm to pull her away from the counter before she could respond. I looked back at the clerk to apologize, but his eyes were riveted to Beth's ass. We got to the checkout line and Beth paid for her makeup, with the pregnancy test conveniently hidden inside her blouse. I nervously followed her past another leering retiree at the exit, hoping her EPT wouldn't set off the alarm. We reached the unlocked car and I did a quick scan of the lot. Although there were far more pickup trucks than sedans there, none resembled Jed's old blue Silverado, so I slid into the seat as we pulled out of the lot.
We drove in silence for a few miles. I decided not to bring up the pregnancy test or the gun rack window-shopping, but any idiot could have connected the dots. She reached over and popped a cassette in with a shaky hand. REO Speedwagon's "Keep on Loving You" came on, crackling through the broken car speakers. She sniffled as she drove, and occasionally dabbed at her swollen eye with a used tissue. We continued down the 2-lane road, and we passed a marked hiking trail and a sign pointing to Naggassat Lake.
I finally commented, "That looked pretty. Let's try that spot, okay?"
