I thought Huntleigh might cry when Ghaston covered the three of us in mud. She, Kinnley and I. That whole backyard was staring in amazement. Milo walked over and asked if I wanted to take him up on those shorts or not? Sure. Why not? So, while Huntleigh hosed off herself and the dog, before she put him in his room. Milo showed me to the bathroom, handing me a pair of swim trunks and telling me, I could wash my clothes. I reminded him that I lived next door, I could just walk home and grab some clothes. I’m pretty sure he was far past tipsy. Dude was cool though.
Though I hadn’t taken long in the bathroom, I walked out and Huntleigh was talking to a few new faces I hadn’t met yet. Or rather two people. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that her two unexpected guests were her parents? She didn’t seem unhappy to see them but rather surprised and warry of them.
“No, it’s just that you didn’t text me back and tell me you were coming so I didn’t know?” Huntleigh explained.
“It’s your housewarming, why wouldn’t we come?” The woman says, unfortunately right as I walked out. Shit my bad. “Oh, is this the neighbor?” She asks nicely. “I’m Ella, Huntleigh’s mom.”
“Connor, and yeah, sorry. I would shake your hand but – I rush to free my hand. “There we go. Nice to meet you.”
“Connor, you can set those on the couch if you want.” Huntleigh sighs. “You two can stay but – she sighs and scratches her head. “Um, Leo and Elloise will be here later tonight. They were able to get Eric to cover the shift so that they could make it. And you know that most of everyone here knows that Micky is my brother. And Jake is already drinking so play nice, okay?”
“Okay, we know how to behave.”
“Mhm.” She sighs as she directs them toward the backyard. “Fuck.” Huntleigh mutters downing her drink.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask her hesitantly as she grabs a bottle of liquor straight from the freezer and takes a drink. “Are you alright?”
“Nope, just pretend you didn’t hear that?” She sighs, wiping her chin and offering me the bottle, I take a sip with her. “I’m sorry.” She smiles.
“Don’t be. Never a party without some family drama.” I smiled, setting the bottle on the counter and standing beside her, this felt like I’d known her for years.
“We might as well call the fire department, and the police invite them too…” She laughs as she takes another sip. “This place is going straight to hell tonight.”
“Nah, come on, it’s not that bad. Yet.” I shrug trying to lighten the mood, remembering how torturous every family event has always been for me.
“Why are you still here?” She smiles though her eyes were tearing up. “Do you like trainwrecks?”
“Meh, I like cute neighbors with a flare for drinking a little too much sometimes and that might be a touch of a control freak. Just a touch.” I smile, leaning onto her shoulder. She was beautiful. Chaotic, and stressed but beautiful. She laughed a little slipping her arms around me and resting her head on my chest. My arm resting against her back and the world fell away for a minute. Her breath was warm against my skin.
“Is this, okay?” Huntleigh asks.
“It’s perfect.”
The moment was short lived as Drew came barreling in and almost fell. Had it not been for the counter he would have faceplanted. It took him a second to register. And then he started laughing. And oohing. It was a mixture.
“Ooohh okay! That’s for sure a moment!” Drew laughs. “Milo, Bell, Amy, Micky! They’re having a moment!” He yells through the house. “Did I ruin it?” He asks as he takes the bottle of vodka. “Shit you had the good stuff in the freezer? You didn’t want to share?”
“Not with everyone.” Huntleigh laughs. “That’s for late night writing sessions. Plus I’m sharing my good whiskey what more do you want from me?” She smiles.
“Did you share with him?” He asks with a furrowed brow.
“Mhm.” She nods. “What’s up?” She asks, taking the bottle back from him after he pours some in a glass.
“I came to check on you after your parents gave me a minute. You good?”
“Mhm, what were they talking to you about?”
“My parents and how if you and Cowboy here get serious, then I can’t take you as my date anymore. I know, I know this. Let me enjoy my freedom while it lasts. Also, they think you’ll blow it with him to keep me around. Apparently, I’m holding you back.”
“Bullshit. I dated that one guy. And Kat.”
“That’s what I said! Kat was nuts for cheating on you.” His eyes widen and he looks between me and Huntleigh. “Was that a secret?”
“No, we just haven’t talked about stuff like that yet, we’ve only hung out a few times.” Huntleigh shrugs. “Plus, the minute Kat shows up, you know Bell and Amy are going to be mean to her. Right…I am friends with a few of my ex’s. I should have warned you.”
“I mean I thought that the, you being friends with him was a give away for that?” I shrug. “I don’t have an issue with that. I’m related by marriage to two of my exes.”
“You are?” Huntleigh and Drew both ask, both grinning awkwardly.
“Yeah, I dated two of Elijah and Alice’s cousins. It’s weird I know. I wasn’t in a good place. I also dated Trent’s sister.”
“Not your friends’ sister?!?” Drew gasps.
“You dated your friends’ sister!” Huntleigh says.
“It’s different! I became friends with my girlfriend’s brother. I didn’t go for you after me and him got close.”
“He’s got a point, plus, you’re younger than Kinnley, and Trent’s sister is older than him.”
“That’s weird logic but okay.” Huntleigh sighs taking another straight shot.
“What’s going on in here?” Bell asks as she walks in. “Are we hiding? Oh, the good stuff, baby drinking isn’t going to make them behave.” Bell says softly with a smile as she takes the bottle and pours a glass.
“Did they get to you too?” Huntleigh laughs.
“No, they’re hanging out with Kaden, Landon, Harry and Lorren.”
“Oh god, you didn’t pawn them off on Harry and Lorren?”
“No, they offered because Braden is taking Micky to go get a few things, and to cool off.”
“Oh god, what did they say to Micky?” She asks panicked.
“They didn’t say anything to him, but you know how he gets when you and your relationships are brought up…It’s fine, okay? Problem solved. We’ve got it.” Bell sighs, sipping her drink.
“Oh my god. Can we like fake cancel or something?” Huntleigh asks, leaning over and resting her arms on the counter in front of us.
“Won’t work, Milo already tried it.” Drew sighs pouring another glass.
“They’re going to cause a problem when Leo and Elloise get here. And fuckin god help us when Jakes date gets here.” Huntleigh sighs, facepalming. “I’m so sorry Connor this shits going to get wild. Not in a good way.”
“It’s okay honestly, I can try and help you where I can, just direct me.”
“You’re a guest.” She sighs. “This is supposed to be fun.”
“Fuck that, if he wants to help let him help. We’ll put you to the test. We’ll call on you when its time. Just keep doing what you been doing brother.” Drew laughs.
Well, if there was one thing this group did it was speaking their mind. We followed them all out or I tried as Bell grabbed my arm and pulled me to stay behind for a minute as Drew and Huntleigh walked ahead of us. Asking me to keep an eye on Huntleigh for the rest of the night. They could handle the situation with the parents as long as someone was kind of keeping tabs on Huntleigh, seeing as I wasn’t shitfaced like the rest of them, and I wasn’t prone to the ‘picking’ that mister and misses Ellsworth were known for, and I seemed to have a pretty good head on my shoulders. She was entrusting her friend to me.
“It’s not about a fucking test, or whatever Drew said, it’s about keeping that one on her feet and healthy, okay? We can manage the rest if you can just keep an eye on her.” Bell’s lighthearted air was gone.
“Okay. I’ve got her.” I smile, going to catch up with Huntleigh, who was cracking open a seltzer.
“God you’re so pretty.” She says, as she takes a minute to study my features, giving me a minute to admire her.
“You’re stunning. Are you sober enough for that swim?”
“Hell yeah, none of it’s hit yet. It’ll hit all at once later. So, this is my forewarning and apology for anything I may or may not say.”
“Apology and warning accepted.” I smiled, offering her my hand to walk with her to the pool. “Ladies and homeowners first.” I say as she stands beside the handrail. “I can hold your drink if you want?”
“Please.” She smiles as she hands me her drink, unbuttoning her shorts and sliding them off, maybe she wasn’t feeling it yet, but she was a little wobbly on her feet. I grab her arm, keeping her up. “Thanks.” She laughs.
“No problem.”
“Gross! You’re watching my sister take her shorts off!” Jake yells from over by the grill.
“Shut up and mind your business!” Drew yells back. “If I were you, I’d be more concerned about Landon catching a show!”
“EWW!” Huntleigh says as she walks into the pool taking her drink back as I follow her.
“Yeah, EWW why would I be looking at her? I have Jake right here!” Landon laughs.
“I refuse to accept you as my brother-in-law!” Huntleigh says. “It’s Tyler or no one! I’ve been planning that wedding since I was fifteen.”
“Rude! Tell your sister to quit being mean to me.”
“Nah, man, she’s right, my husband is Tyler, I don’t want to have sister husbands.” Jake shrugs as he preps to shotgun a seltzer.
The water was perfect and Huntleigh was even better. We spent a few minutes in the water alone, before Drew and Milo came back. Both cannon balling into the water and almost knocking Huntleigh off her float. Pretty sure they did that on purpose. Then Abby came and sat on the edge to talk to us.
“So, you are the cute neighbor she met the day she moved in?” Abby smiles, a sly smile.
“I am. Everyone’s been telling me how cute I am today? Now, I wonder if that has anything to do with the beautiful neighbor I have?” I tease her gently as she sips her drink trying to be all inconspicuous. Though she wasn’t very good at that. Her face gave her away.
“Oh, she texted and told us everything. First day.” Abby tells on her with a grin and Huntleigh splashes her.
“I told you that in confidence!”
“What did you tell her?” I asked, leaning on her float with her. “I’m curious, I promise I’m not going to tease you or anything.”
“Lips are sealed.” She locks her mouth and throws away the key.
“She said you were SEXY and she wanted to – Drew starts and Huntleigh dove off her float to go shove her hand over his mouth and shut him up.
“Shut up Drew!” Huntleigh yells as he tried to push her away. Getting his mouth unhanded for long enough to finish his thought.
“She wanted to go for a ride that truck, and she’d let that one fuck up her life.” He cackles.
“You brat!” Huntleigh exclaims in shock and horror.
“I know, I been a bad boy. You should really punish me.” He can barely get the words out through the laughs as her parents’ stare in horror. “I didn’t even say the part –
“Don’t listen to him! He’s drunk.” She says quickly as she shoved his head under water.
“I mean she did…” Abby trails off. “She did complement the truck and your hair. She also said you were like” She kisses the air. “Chefs kiss. She said you were chefs kiss.”
“I’ll behave now, but she said a lot more. Come to the garage later and I’ll tell you.” Drew says as he pushes his hair out of his eyes, laughing and trying to get the water out of his eyes. “She tried to kill me, you saw that.”
“I didn’t see it.” Milo laughs.
Huntleigh and I shared the float, leaning on it and talking as Abby, and the boys talked. We talked about our likes and dislikes. Our favorite foods and musicians. How we grew up, and where. She’d moved a few different times but always stayed around the same spot and well, technically, Cas and I grew up in a rural town in North Carolina, I was born in Florida though. And the ranch has always been home but there were a few years that we lived up north with mom’s family while our parents sorted things out. By third grade though we were back in Florida all the time. At least until I left home, and I did that in 2015.
We were both that person that was easy to talk to but struggled to feel seen. She was someone who struggled with health conditions and it made her feel invisible or visible for all the wrong reasons. I could kind of relate to that, not with health but with the way of everyone still sees me as that troubled kid, not the man I fought to become. In Huntleigh’s eyes she wasn’t an inspiration, she was just a girl, and that was something I could really relate too.
“Who’s playing Volleyball with us?” Milo asks as he throws the ball into the water. “Can we put you and Huntleigh down for a match?”
“Duh, I have to put Drew back in his place.” Huntleigh laughs.
“Oh god they’re playing opposing teams, I want Bell on my team!” Milo yells. “I don’t know how well Connor plays but I fear Huntleigh’s rath. I need a protector.”
“I’m not bad.” I laugh. “Are you good at this, then?” I ask her with a raised brow.
“I’m okay, but I have a bone to pick with Drew.” She smirks.
“She’s vicious! And me and her on the same team we’re the reigning champs, usually girls against boys and they SUCK!” Bell smiles as she walks into the water. “I’ll be on their team just this once to protect our little babies from getting demolished in front of the new guy.”
“Who’s going to be their third though?” Drew asks.
“I’ll do it!” Abby says as she slides off the edge into the water.
“Okay, how’s that fair, two guys over here and a Bell and two girls and him?” Milo says trying to do the math.
“It balances, I’m sure I can keep up.” Abby says with a shrug.
“She can definitely keep up.” Huntleigh agrees. “And I’m sure Connor can too. But Drew I’m gonna kick your ass. I’m taking the lucky shark tooth back!”
“You wish! I won it fair and square!”
“A lucky shark tooth?” I ask confused.
“Please hold” Huntleigh says. “Amy! Get the comp playlist ready! And hit play in a count down please!”
“Okay bet!” Amy yells back then she did a countdown and I think I fell in love.
As soon as the beat dropped on Taylor Swift’s “…ready for it” the game began. And boy was she not joking about gunning for Drew. Those two had a score to settle and they weren’t letting up. But man could that girl play a game. And the smack talk? She was wiping the floor with him. I was kind of just floored like what the fuck? These two are friends, are we sure? They were both being pretty rough, but damn did that make it a fun game. Huntleigh and our team won. Concluding our time in the water temporarily as Huntleigh was freezing and she wanted another drink.
“Fair and square, you get it back.” Drew sighs, handing her a leather cord with a shark tooth on it. “Damn, I’m going to miss that thing.”
“You’ll get it back next time.” Milo sighs. “It did you well, at least for two weeks this time.”
“My precious.” Huntleigh does her best Gollum impression. “I’m holding onto this baby for a while!”
“It’s –
“Don’t say that!” Bell rushes to shut me up. “It’s a sacred tooth whoever is in possession of the tooth is king of the group and best at the craft. Huntleigh has held possession the longest out of all of us, she even bested Amy at drunk karaoke once. She’s an anomaly!”
“She is…” Amy says walking over as they adorn their queen with her metaphorical crown.
“Who qualifies for the competitions?”
“Only us five.” Milo says. “Micky, Harry and Lorren if they wanted to but they think it’s lame.” He shrugs.
“Fascinating.” I laugh, as Huntleigh pulls me and Abby in for a winning selfie and soon to be followed by a selfie with the losing team as well.
As we sat by the fire allowing Huntleigh to warm up and warming ourselves up, the rest of the guests arrived. Everyone was kind of all in their own respective groups, people by the fire and over by the grill, still some people in the pool and even some playing games here and there. Everyone was having a good time and enjoying the evening. Celebrating the night. It was Huntleigh’s time to shine. This was her party. When you looked around you could see the impact she had on everyone, how she was just a girl with a big heart and this was her world.
When dinner was finished, it was potluck style and that was what the tables were for. Everyone had a seat. No one felt left out. You made your plate and found your seat. Braden and I got to sit with Huntleigh and Kinnley towards the end of the table. It was a mega feast, honestly, I hadn’t seen a meal like that as a back yard barbeque since my parents’ funeral. Except instead of everyone crying and arguing. Everyone is laughing and joking with each other. Part of me really did wonder if my parents were looking down on this and laughing thinking to themselves, “he used to complain about these things, and look where he is now”. This really did feel like a full circle moment.
Hello lovelies! If you made it this far to the end of the post don’t forget to like and comment and or subscribe if you feel like it! I am still trying to reach my fifty sub goal before the end of the year and hey, tomorrow is Stormy Ville’s birthday so I wanted to remind you all that, there is going to be something special available to my subscribers only on the site. As I plan to make the first four parts of this series in its original form of Appalachian Romance available to everyone subscribed to Stormy Ville. I wanted to give a special thank you to all of you. Not just my subscribers but everyone who reads and stops by. Though I do intend to give a little extra love to the subscriber base as well, just to make it something special 🙂
Again I can’t believe it’s been six years tomorrow and thank you all so much it means everything! I hope you all have a lovely day or night whenever you’re reading this and as always, stay safe, love hard and protect your peace <3
xoxo Hails.
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