Page 8 of Hard to Love

“I’ll go help myself to a drink. Thank you again for inviting me.” With a nod, I walk toward the bar.

Scanning the party, I still don’t see anyone I know. Only about twenty or so in attendance, so I’m gonna stand out. Great. This is going to end horribly; I just know it. I decide to order a little something to calm my nerves. Looking at the bartender, I ask for a shot.

“Jose, straight up. And can I get a bottle of water? Thanks.” Tossing the tequila back, I talk myself off the ledge again.

I face the crowd to see my best friend, finally. He’s standing facing me but talking with a woman. Red shorts and a cherry-print shirt. Her hair is piled high with a body that makes men like me foolhardy. My knees go weak, but before I can run, he spots me.

Calling to me over the crowd, he seems happy to see me. I can’t help but wonder for how long? “Hey, what’s up, man? Good to see you.”

I’m not sure how I get over to them, but I reach my hand out about the same time she turns around, stunned. “Good to be here. I’ve spoken to your mom and Chord already. I was wondering where you were. Invite a guy to a cookout but forget one important thing. Like what to wear.”

Standing there, trying not to be obvious and stare. I have word vomit. I can’t stop talking. Shifting my eyes between the two of them. I’m still shaking his hand.

“Sorry, man. I wasn’t thinking. Besides, you usually wear jeans and a band shirt.” Looking me up and down like I’m a unicorn.

“I own nice shit; I just would’ve preferred to look like everyone else.” I’m getting angry, and it’s not because of my clothes.

She stands there next to me, silent as a church mouse. Mouth hanging slightly ajar, eyes narrowed. I was expecting wide-eyed shock, not narrowed eyes. This is going to end badly; I just know it.

As if remembering his manners, my best friend finally introduces me. “Oh, man. I’m sorry. Hardy, this is my little sister, Thayer. Thayer, my best friend, Hardy.”

Thayer’s not responding; she’s pissed as hell. Stunningly beautiful. The tension is so high, One gets fidgety. Pursing her lips in discontent, all hell is about to break loose. So I break the silence. The rage in her eyes as she stands there seething is unfathomable.

“It’s good to meet you. I can’t believe we never met growing up.” Shoving my hand out in front of me like an idiot. She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. I have; I’m crazy as fuck for being here.

“I don’t remember you. How are you two friends? Since when?” Thayer fires question after question, sounding baffled with a red face. She’s so damn mad; this isn’t good.

“Thayer, chill. Hardy and I went to middle school together. After his grandmother passed, he moved away. But we stayed in touch through the better part of high school. He’s a little younger than me but still four years or so older than you,” One explains.

“Yeah, I moved around a lot. One has always been a true friend. My only friend. No matter where I was or what was happening, he was there when I needed him. Can you understand now?” One cocks his head to the side like he’s trying to figure out my statement, but he’s not the one I want to understand. Thayer stands there, just glaring at me.

“Hardy’s a great guy, Thayer. He’s my head foreman; you’ll be working together when we’re on the same site.” Thayer’s eyes cut to her brother and then back to me. Suddenly, she juts her hand out to take mine that has hung there this whole time.

“Nice to meet you. Thank you for coming.” She whirls around, running in the opposite direction. This is so fucking messed up; I’ve been a damn fool.

“Sorry, man. Thayer’s been weird all day. She was out all night drinking. It pisses me off because she doesn’t do that shit. Christy couldn’t even tell me if she made it home safe. So I went by her new place early this morning, but she wasn’t home. So my question to her—where the hell she’d been?” One is angry as all fuck.

Can’t say I blame him; Thayer was entirely too reckless last night. If he even knew how bad it was, all hell would break loose right now. So I’ll not be the one to tell him.

“So, where were you last night?” I ask as we walk toward the grill. He looks away as he answers me.

“Running. You?” Two words, one question, which I prefer not to answer.

“Home.” Lifting my water to my lips, I take a drink but hold it there so I can look at his sister without him knowing.

“Thayer, come help Hardy while I get the other food,” One directs as he takes off toward the house.

Thayer looks as though she could kill me with her glare alone as she walks over. Never saying a word, she just stands there watching the grill. I scan our surroundings to make sure no one is within earshot. Never looking at her, I speak quietly.

“Thayer, listen. I know you’re angry. I guess I should have told you, but it was too late by the time I put two and two together. Please tell me you understand?” Pleading her to think about this situation was not the way to go at the moment.

She rounds on me with her claws out; my heart breaks because her words don’t match the tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t you dare fucking talk to me? Don’t you ever assume what’s best for me? You don’t know me, and you never will. Stay the fuck away from me, do you understand?”

Fuck my resolve; I just want to hold her. Tell her anything she needs or wants to hear. I need to make the tears she’s about to shed dissipate. Tell her I want to be with her. But before I can, she delivers the gut check.

“Besides, what would my family think of us? No wonder you didn’t want to be with me; I’m not slutty enough.” Who the fuck does she think she is?

“I don’t know about that; you were more than willing to be fucked on the hood of your car last night in the parking lot of that club. I think you might be more my type than we first thought. Which bothers you more? That I didn’t fuck you or that I wouldn’t fuck you, Thayer? I’m thinking you just need fucked one good time so you can see how the other half lives. Is that the reason you came slumming? Preppy, rich assholes can’t give you what you need?”