The Country Duet(65)

“Love ya, Dave, but your three a.m. calls need to stop.”

“It only happened…”

I cut him off. “Five times.”

He shrugs. I make sure he has his home phone and cell phone, medication, bucket, and bottles near him before I turn off the lights. I’ve brought up the topic of a commode once again to him, but Dave insists it costs too much damn money.

He is snoring lightly before I’m even halfway down the hall. I clean up his plate and know it will only be a week before his trash is overflowing again. Flipping off the rest of the lights in the house, I feel light and positive about Dave’s situation for the first time in a long time. It was a good afternoon.

On the drive home, my phone lights up with an incoming text from my little sister. It’s not the text that piques my curiosity, it’s Teale’s face smiling in the background. The woman took me home the night after my accident because the doctors told me I couldn’t be left alone. She insisted on me not driving the next day, but the reality of my life is I had too much responsibility to take care of. It was the first time I lied to Dave. He asked me why in the hell I didn’t visit him the night before. I wasn’t about to tell him about the motorcycle accident and have him berate me, so I told him I had to study for a test. Of course, he took it a step further, harassing me about it being a nice set of tits and pussy.

It wasn’t easy leaving her cozy, little apartment because of the two girls in it. Baker swept in and stole my heart. It started with the fact she’s a mini version of Teale, then it was her genuine and honest spirit. Her little birthday invitation has been burning a damn hole in my pocket. I go back and forth about attending it. The other night and morning were a game changer for sure. Now the ball is in my court.





Chapter 12


Hunter


“I’m high on loving you.” –Florida Georgia Line


The gymnastic studio is foreign to me. When I walk in, there’s pink balloons and streamers decorating every single inch of one of the rooms. The present in my hands stands out like a sore thumb since it’s wrapped in John Deere paper. Hell, I didn’t even know what to get a five-year-old girl in the first place.

A mother in the toy aisle took pity on me sensing I was out of my element. She suggested a few collections of Shopkins, claiming it’s the biggest craze right now. She even took it a step further, telling me the selections on the shelf were difficult to find. I shrugged, but ended up throwing them in my basket when she walked away. I had to buy candy for Dave, so I ended up tossing in a pack of bubble gum and a chocolate bar for Teale.

I filled my mom in on what had been going on, and she warned me about giving a five-year-old bubble gum, but hell you only turn five once, right?

“Hunter,” a little voice squeals in delight.

The high pitch of her voice causes the room to fall silent, then all heads turn to me. Baker has her arms thrown wide open and is racing my way, still screaming out my name. I barely have enough time to set down her gift before she reaches me. Her hot pink tutu bounces with each step she takes to me. Her aqua eyes are lit up and those dimples are on full display.

I kneel down on one knee and throw my arms wide open. She doesn’t hesitate when she flies into them.

“You came.” She squeezes my neck as hard as her little arms will allow.

“Wouldn’t have missed it, Darlin’.”

And it’s the damn truth. I had gone back and forth whether to attend or not, but then realized I’d do anything to make this little girl and her momma happy.

She pulls back and taps my nose. “Want to meet my friends?”

“I’d love to.”

Baker wastes no time dragging me from little girl to little girl, introducing me as her cowboy. It makes me smile. I catch Teale staring at us. At first, I swear there are tears welling up in her eyes, then on a second look I see them streaming down her face.

Baker tugs on my hand. “Can you carry me? The shoes hurt me.”

I don’t think twice before bending over and scooping her up in my arms. She perches her little elbow on my shoulder while still chatting with her friends. The party goes on much like this. I’m never made out to feel like an outsider or someone who shouldn’t be here. Baker accepts my heart and soul without a second thought.

“Okay, girls.” Teale claps her hands to get everyone’s attention. “You can go out to the gym and play on the trampolines and mats for an hour.”

“Yes!” Baker squeals in my ear. “Hunter, can you take these shoes off me please?”

“Of course, Darlin’.” I set her on a table and slip off each one of her black, shiny shoes.

She hops from the table hyper-focused on the gym and playing with her friends. Baker shocks me when she grabs my hand, dragging me along. I follow her into the entrance of the room. There are mats covering the entire floor with several trampolines, a foam pit, balance beams, and various other gymnastic equipment.

The dozen little girls scatter, squealing in delight.

“Hunter, can you jump with me?” Baker drops my hand and stares up at me with a hopeful plea in her eyes, and her little fingers crossed together in a praying gesture.

“Sure, Darlin’.” I tap her nose, then take off my boots.

I find a cubby hole to put my wallet, pocket knife, and cell phone in. I feel her before I see her. When I stand up and turn, Teale is behind me. She blushes a light pink when she’s been busted staring at my ass. Without thinking, I grab her by the hip and tug her to me until our chests collide in a familiar dance.