American Honey

Looking past Finn, I stand a little taller on my own with Wes at arm’s reach.

I holler to the table of bitches, “Don’t worry, drunks who have peg legs can walk just fine. Oh, and Kara, Finn loved grabbing it while he fucked my brains out the other night.”

“That’s enough,” Scarlett whispers and takes my hand.

Finn lurches forward to help, but Wes instantly stops him.

“Enough,” Wes warns.

Even through my drunk haze, I see the unspoken brother code spoken and Finn walks away. Walks right back into the crowd he’s supposed to be with. I will not cry. I will not feel. I will go back to the Tess, who never has the chance of being hurt.

“Let’s go,” I say, turning to Wes and Scarlett.

I hear the two whispering behind me and know all too well they are discussing my well-being and I don’t even have enough energy or willpower to fight or argue with them. The last two shots are on fire in my belly and working their magic on my feelings. Numb.

“Who’s driving?” I ask, tossing the keys up in the air.

?

?I’ll drive you all home. I have a buddy who can come pick me up.”

“Thanks, Wes,” I hear before climbing into the backseat of the truck.

The whole ride home, I sit in a daze, half aware and the other half way too fucking gone to care at all. It takes everything inside me not to giggle at Scarlett’s normal conversation with Wes. I know the girl way too well and know beyond any doubt she’d rather have his dick in her mouth than talk about tomorrow’s weather. It’s easy to get lost in their conversation and the idea of a typical relationship.

“How long are you here for, Scarlett?”

“Just the summer with Tess. Neither of us are one hundred percent sure what we are going to do with our degrees or where we will go.”

“And your degree is in?”

“Accounting.”

“Tessa’s?”

“Nursing.”

“I can see that. She seems like a real genuine person from everything Finn has told me.”

“He talks about her?” Scarlett asks.

“Since the day he met her in our dad’s office. He says he can’t explain it, but there’s something about her.”

“Did he tell you about her leg?”

“I had no idea until tonight. I guarantee you Finn is going batshit crazy right now. As soon as I drop you girls off I’ll go find him.”

“Why?”

“Finn is the family member who has a heart of gold. He wouldn’t talk bad about his worst enemy. That’s why Kara is always leeching around him. Call it a good or a bad quality, but that’s him. There’s two things Finn has always wanted: Granddaddy’s farm and the love of a woman. Finn was only six when we lost our momma. Drives Dad nuts because he’s as genuine as her. Not cutthroat like the Evans’ side.”

The truck comes to a halt and I can tell by the yard lights that we are outside Will and Tommie’s three-car garage.

“Finn’s an ass,” I mumble and make my way out of the truck not stopping to listening to Wes or Scarlett argue with me.

Making my way in the house, I notice Scarlett stays behind in the truck. I crack open the door to Tommie’s room. I don’t want to be alone right now.

“Tommie,” I whisper.