Page 5 of Homesick
“Of course, babe. Let me make sure Colton is okay staying with Milo before I head over.”
“Tell Colt he’s my favorite human in the world and give Milo lots of kisses for me,” I say before hanging up the phone.
My best friend had her son ten months ago and I’ve only seen him twice. There’s nothing that makes you feel shittier than not being able to be there for your friends when they’re going through huge milestones. Thankfully, I have time to make up for it.
* * *
After thirty minutes of debating what to wear to Honey Grove’s finest dive bar, I’m finally ready to drown my sorrows. I’ve already got a head start after finding a bottle of vodka still stashed under my bed after a particularly rough Christmas last year.
I give myself a once-over in the mirror I’ve had since elementary school. I can still see the stains of a middle schooler experimenting with make-up for the first time.
I quickly undo the French braid in my hair from this morning and let soft brunette waves fall over my shoulders. I usually don’t let it get this long, but my last trip to the salon resulted in some rough layers that needed time to grow out. That’s what I get for letting one of their new hires give me a haircut, but I’m a sucker for a discount.
I settle on a clean pair of jeans and a cute red tank top that’s slightly cropped. I decide to wear my old cowboy boots that have a small heel. I’ve been gone for so long I feel the need to wear anything that will help me blend in. I’ll do anything to avoid unwanted attention.
I hear a soft knock on the door while applying some dark brown eyeliner to make my blue eyes pop.
Out of habit I yell, “Yeah?”
My mom takes that as an invitation to enter and opens my door. She comes into my small room and takes a seat on the twin bed.
“Your father is upset you didn’t come down for dinner.”
“Yeah, well I’m a little irritated with him right now, too.”
“So, you ran into Blake then.”
It’s clear she knows why I’m upset. She saw me at my lowest point after Blake broke up with me. She knows how he used to affect me. It’s been six years, but the wound still feels raw for some reason.
She instantly spots the bottle of vodka chilling on my nightstand and then lets out the kind of sigh that’s followed by a long speech. Hopefully she’ll spare me the monologue now that I’m in my mid-twenties.
“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you, hun, but I distinctly remember you saying you didn’t care and didn’t want to know the last time I mentioned him.”
“Ugh, I know. I just didn’t expect to be ambushed like that. I haven’t seen the guy in six years and I sure as hell didn’t expect to see him for the first time while covered in cow shit.”
She begins to chuckle to herself, but immediately stops when I give her the look.
“Honestly, I think this is a discussion you need to have with your brother. Now that he who shall not be named is working at the vet’s office, he’s been doing house calls for the farm. He’s really been helping us out around here.”
Working at the vet’s office? When Blake and I were still dating he was planning on becoming a registered nurse. I guess things have changed since then.
I’m about to respond, but then I hear an obnoxious beep come from outside and Emma has once again rescued me from a conversation I don’t feel like having right now. I just moved back and the last thing I want to do is talk about him. I just want to let loose a little before I have to come to terms with my situation.
“Well, that’s my cue, Mother,” I say as I grab my purse and give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’m going out with Emma. I’ll be back later tonight.”
As I race downstairs, I see my dad about to head out the door to do some late-night chores. I give him a kiss on the cheek and let him know where I’m going. Thankfully, Chris and Ashley have already left.
“Be safe! And call us if you need a ride,” I hear my dad yell from the front porch.
I see Emma grinning from the driver’s seat, and it feels like we’re sixteen again, saying we’re heading to the movies when in reality we’re on our way to drink cheap beer near some gas well in the middle of nowhere.
“Hi hunny,” Emma greets me as I hop in the passenger seat. “Are you cool with going to the Rustic Inn?”
I laugh because we both know it’s the only bar in town. I also internally cringe after thinking back to earlier today when my mom suggested I get a job there. Maybe it’s not as bad as I remember.
“Thank you for going out with me tonight. I just need a fun night out after these last few weeks.”
“Well, I don’t know if the Rustic Inn compares to anything in Cleveland, but they’ve really cleaned up the place in the past few years. You might even say it’s cute now. That might be pushing it, though.”