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The scene in front of me turned red as my blood boiled. My eyes went back to Maddie Mae. Her laughing in my brother’s arms. My memories of her soured but only for a moment.
Sky said, “Fuck, I should’ve known. I should’ve seen it. In my defense, you two don’t look anything alike. You don’t look as old as him.”
“I keep out of the sun,” I said as a way of explaining.
“Not that. Bubba looks really old, like mid-forties.”
“I’m mid-forties, love.”
“He just looks different. I guess he’s had work done and it didn’t take.”
“Not him. I’ve had the work done. In prison I had my nose bashed in, broken a couple times. Cheekbone broke. I got it fixed. Maybe a bit extra.”
Sky looked surprised.
I motioned to the two of them laughing and having a good time. “Not to look younger per se. Just different. What? Am I supposed to go around looking like a crooked version of that?”
“It’s not that, either. Maybe it’s the dad jeans and plaid shirts he usually wears. It’s like he’s classically handsome for an older man and with the beard and tattoos you’re more of the rocker, the bad boy.”
“You can say it. Bubba’s prince charming, and I’m the villain, love.”
Bubba and Maddie Mae were heading our way. Sky turned her back to them. It was dark enough, they wouldn’t notice her. I leaned back on the bar like I didn’t just about throw up thinking I’d done the unthinkable. The fact I’d just been inside Maddie Mae’s daughter had to be set aside.
“Beau, I see you brought out half of Nashville.”
“Brother,” Bubba greeted me.
Recoiling, I hated when he called me that. My brothers were at Royal Road. “What do we owe the pleasure?” I asked him, but my eyes were on Maddie Mae. She’d aged really well although her blonde hair was bleached now instead of natural. Fuck. Sky dyed hers black. Seeing Maddie, I realized Sky would look almost just like her if she had a softer jawline and lighter eyes. Maddie had worked to keep in shape and where she didn’t overflow, she was much more tone than her daughter whose slight waist and curves flowed naturally.
“Beau, it’s been so long,” she whispered.
Her lips parting, her voice made her presence all too real. I tried to hold it in, the anger, but it busted out. I all but growl, “What are you doing here, Maddie Mae, after all these years? You were supposed to wait for me.”
Speechless, she opened and shut her mouth.
Bubba rocked on his heels, shining his pearly whites. He loved that I snapped at her. “Maddie wanted to see your fine establishment. Royal Road. I’ve talked about it a lot. And we’re celebrating. I’m not sure if you’ve heard?”
“What?” I ask him with my eyes still locked on hers.
“I won Best Country Song tonight.”
Hell, I half expected him to tell me they were engaged. “I didn’t hear. Congratulations,” I told him, still looking at Maddie. “You didn’t answer me. Why didn’t you wait for me?”
Screwing her lips, she didn’t say a word. A tear ran down her cheek.
Bubba caressed her face. “Hey, babe. You okay?” His arm slipped around her waist, and he hugged her to him. She buried her sweet face in his chest.
I tore my gaze from them. “Orpy, cut the music.”
The music stopped. I heard him complain about my brother being here to Sky who still secretly sat at the bar on the next stool. “’Bout to watch the Jerry Springer Show, darlin’.”
Sky didn’t get the reference. Fuck, she was that young. If Maddie was crying now wait until she heard I fucked her daughter.
Climbing up on the bar stool, I ignored Opry’s smart mouth and made my announcement. “Brothers, friends, Beau Strick’s in the house. I hear his song, “Harleys and Heartache” won Best Country Music Song tonight. Amazing, since he’s never been on a Harley, and he doesn’t have a heart.”
The crowd laughed.
“Anyway, next round’s on him.”
