His lips tightened into a flat line and his fingers grasped the steering wheel showing his white knuckles.
“I mean, I appreciate it but...”
“Babe,” he snapped, and whipped his head toward her. “You nearly got fucking plowed down by a minivan. I’m gonna need a minute here to get myself in check. I’m seconds away from turning back around, finding that asshole, and beating the piss outta him.” He turned back to the road and lowered his voice. “He coulda killed you.”
“Oh.” She sunk back into the seat never taking her eyes off of him.
They continued west toward her trailer. She always hated that saying silence is deafening. It never made sense to her until now. The silence was deafening. But she would give him what he needed. His admission had left her speechless anyway. She peeked over at him. His left arm was on the door while his right steered. The music was low. This man was so damn confusing.
During the ride she stared out the window. Cedar Bluff, Nebraska. It sounded pretty but it really wasn’t. Lots of dirt, land, corn, and cows. At one time, there were a lot of small family farms but they had since been bought out by larger farms. It had become a non-producing small town. It was just another casualty of the American dream. Sadie always thought she’d get out of there. She used to dream about packing up and heading somewhere exciting. But dreams cost money. She may have had the dreams but she didn’t have the money. Just another small-town girl stuck in Cedar Bluff.
She saw the dirty cracked sign coming up on the right. The Bluff Carriage Homes. She rolled her eyes. Carriage Home was a fancy way of saying trailer park. She lived in the back section. There were about sixty trailers. Most were owned. The others were rentals like hers. Stone pulled into her spot and the truck pulled up behind them. Home at last.
She opened her door to get out but she was stopped by a large hand grabbing hers. Not rough or hard but stern. “I’ll get your bags. You just go inside.”
She stumbled a bit with her words. “Oh no, you don’t have to…”
He interrupted with a grin on his face. “I said I’ll get them. Now get your sweet ass inside.”
Her jaw dropped. Did he just call her ass sweet? She should be offended. She should be outraged. But she wasn’t. All she could think was that Stone thought she had a sweet ass. She could see it in her head, feminists everywhere were shaking their heads. But she didn’t care.
She slowly got out, walked up her small deck, and unlocked the door. She always locked her door although it was pointless. The lock was broken. Just a wiggle and a hard shove and anyone could get in. Someone did, three months ago. Nothing was taken, there was nothing to take. The manager had promised her a new lock. She was still waiting.
Home.
“Hey, let’s get inside, girl.” Sadie heard from behind her.
A light touch to her back pushed her through the door. She walked in and turned on the kitchen light to find Roxanne. She refused to call her Brunette Barbie anymore. She seemed really nice and genuinely concerned back at the store.
“Hey, uh, thanks for helping me out back there. I don’t know if it was shock or what…” Sadie felt embarrassed about the situation. “…but I appreciate it. So, thanks.”
She smiled big. “You’re welcome. We didn’t formally meet in the store, I’m Roxanne Barrett.”
She smiled back. “Sadie Wallace.”
She had a glint in her eye as she let out a chuckle. “Oh, I know.”
Stone came in with the bags and laid them on the counter. She watched as Roxanne looked around. She could only see the kitchen and living room combo from where she stood. There wasn’t much to her place. All used furniture and some trinkets here and there. Sadie wondered what she saw. She expected to see disgust in Roxanne’s face but she didn’t, all she saw was curiosity.
“Rox, give me a minute here, will ya?” Stone asked.
She looked over to Stone and then to Sadie. She had a small smile on her lips.
“Yeah, sure thing.” She walked over to Sadie and grabbed her for a hug. Sadie immediately froze. She couldn’t remember the last time a stranger hugged her, if ever. It was so awkward.
“It was awesome meeting you, Sadie. Wish it had been under different circumstances.” She leaned back out of the hug and grinned at Sadie. “Let’s get together soon. Maybe we can meet up for lunch and do some shopping.”
One of Stone’s girlfriends wanted to hang out with her? This was so strange. She looked over at Stone to find an amused look. Well, she wouldn’t be rude.
“Uh yeah…okay?” It was a statement posed as a question. She was so confused.
“Great! I’ll be in the truck. Take your time, Stone.” She winked at him as she walked out the front door.
She was planted in the kitchen, near the counter, not moving, trying to roll over everything that just happened when Stone came closer. She stepped back against the counter. He reached around and gripped the counter behind.
She inhaled. “So, well, thanks again. I don’t want to keep you and Roxanne. She’s great by the way. She’s really nice.” Sadie continued to ramble. “I’m sorry for what I said back there. You know, about being your side piece.” She cringed when she said it. “You guys uh…make umm…a good couple.” She sounded like a complete idiot. Hopefully, she sounded believable.
His lips came close to her ear. “We’re not a couple, Sadie.”
“Oh, I just thought she was one of your girlfriends the way you guys were together and everything.” She was back to blundering words.
He pulled back from her ear and leaned down until they were eye level, still whispering. “I’ve known Rox since she was five. She’s Ethan’s little sister, and mine, in
