The Country Duet(11)

A dim light radiates from Teale’s desk. Her head is down, her face is entranced by whatever is on her MacBook. I fold my arms over my chest, studying her for long seductive seconds. There’s no mistaking the concern and worry coating her features. I know she does the books for her Dad while going to nursing school part-time. It makes me wonder if there’s something wrong with the shop. Immediately, I feel like shit for filling out my time card for tonight’s work. Business is business and Frank isn’t making ends meet so I’m not going to volunteer my time, but I would to take that look off of Teale’s face.

“Your momma ever teach you that staring is rude?”

My vision focuses in, only to realize Teale is staring up at me and the lid to her MacBook is closed. I shrug, not answering her, struck by the sweet dimples that frame her smile.

“How’s your nutskis?” She smirks.

I shake my head and walk closer to her. “You have a book with corny dick jokes?”

“Maybe.” She shrugs.

My stomach decides to take part in the conversation by growling loudly.

“You hungry?” I ask on a whim.

“Not really.” She stands up slowly with her black skinny jeans hugging those legs perfectly. “But I could use a friend right now.”

“You ninja kick a guy in the nuts and now we’re friend status?”

“I get it if you can’t roll with a badass like me.” She walks beside me out to my truck.

“Hop in, and I’ll begin lessons on earning my badass badge from Teale University.”

She giggles, jumping in, but as soon I start driving her sorrow seeps right back in. She said she needed a friend and I’ve learned over the years that sometimes silence is the best comfort when with a friend.

“Only joint open.” I pull into Denny’s.

“It’s fine. I mean, it’s nearly midnight so you can’t expect much, and at least we will beat the drunks from campus.”

“Not much of a party goer?” I ask her as I hold the door of the restaurant open for her.

It strikes me that I know nearly nothing about Teale, besides she drives like a bat out of hell and has a whole dictionary of terms for a guy’s genitals.

“In high school, but grew out of that phase quickly.”

We follow the hostess to a corner booth, settling in on opposite sides.

“You grow up around here?” I ask her.

“You writing a damn book?” she spits back quickly.

“Yep, and I’m not into mysteries.”

The waitress interrupts us, taking our drink orders. It’s not very gentleman like, but I swear my little gut is eating my big one right now, so I order mozzarella sticks and a chicken fried steak right after my drink order.

Teale orders a coffee, then begins picking at her over-sized, baby blue sweater.

“Grew up in California with my mom. Just recently moved back here with my Dad.” She peers up to me. “They divorced when I was sixteen. Dad moved here, transplanting his business. I was always in his shop growing up back in California.”

So many questions want to spill from me, but I sense Teale doesn’t want to talk about it. A broken home is something I’d never be able to relate to anyway.

“I grew up in a small town in Southern Idaho. Have two younger sisters and was raised on Sweetwater Ranch.”

“Let me guess.” Teale sits up a little taller with excitement, since the heat is off her. “Star quarterback, hometown hero, and all around good guy?”

I smirk. “Close. Safety all-star, three-time State Champions, hometown hero, and all around good guy who’s handsome as hell.”

This earns me a good belly laugh from Teale. “I mean, you’re not humble at all!”

I smile wide. “Look at these dimples and sparkling blue eyes, I mean, really? I’m damn near irresistible, and you haven’t even seen the gun show yet.”

“Fine. You’re not doing too shabby in the looks department. And the gun show? Do I even want to ask?”

“You either. I’m selling tickets next week to the gun show if you want in,” I reply, taking a drink from my soda. “I was just teasing about my looks. Believe it or not, I am pretty down to earth.”

She points at my drink. “Did you know that Mountain Dew makes your nuts shrink?”

Thank God, I just swallowed my last drink or she’d be wearing it. We chat for the next hour with most of the conversation revolving around me. She peppers me with questions about horses, cattle, and if cowboys really wear spurs. It’s easy to talk about ranch life. Teale’s not wanting to open up and I’m fine with that.

“You always want to be a nurse?” I ask on the drive back to the shop.

“Meh. Not really. It’s a great occupation with lots of possibilities.”

“If you could be anything you wanted, then what would it be?” I ask her.

“To erase the person who got me here today.”

That admission takes my breath away. I don’t push or pry. We ride in silence the rest of the way to the shop. Teale jumps from the truck, turning back to me with a kind smile.

“Thanks, Hunter, really needed a friend tonight.” Her smile is there, but a lonely one. “And hope your jiblets make it to live another day.”

I smile the whole way back to my apartment.