I felt someone nudge my shoulder.
“Come on, let’s get out of here and hit the fields,” Billy said.
Margie and Peggy started jumping up and down, and then they took off for Billy’s car.
The fields were what they’d started calling the west pasture of the ranch. We would all hang out there and either shoot the guns or just sit there and drink. Billy always parked the car far enough away so that he and Margie could stay behind and have sex while the rest of us hung out. We’d been going there for the past six months whenever everyone came home from school, but it seemed like we’d been doing it every night for the last week. Ever since we’d gotten back from Austin, I’d been attempting to drink Emma away.
I stood up and felt a little dizzy. “You driving? I think I’ve had too much to drink.”
Billy laughed. “I’ll have Margie drive your car, and I’ll follow.”
I nodded my head. “Sounds good. I’ll wait in the car.” I made my way over to my car and crawled into the backseat.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lying there before I heard Margie get in the car and start it up.
“Margie, Margie, Margie, let’s go get drunk,” I said.
I slowly felt myself falling asleep. As I drifted off, all I could see were Emma’s beautiful gray eyes looking into mine while she was sitting on the quilt under our oak tree, smiling at me.
Why, Em? Why didn’t you keep your promise?
My eyes snapped open when I heard the car door shut. I slowly sat up and tried to adjust my eyes. It was dark out, but the full moon lit up the oak tree perfectly. Why in the hell did Margie park here?
I slowly made my way out of the car and called out, “Marg, why in the hell did you park here?” I looked around and couldn’t see or hear anyone. “Where’s Billy?” I spun around and didn’t see them.
“Margie? If you and Billy want to sneak off, fine, but don’t leave me here! I don’t want to be here.”
“Why not? This is my favorite place on the ranch.”
The moment I heard her sweet voice, my heart dropped to the ground. I turned around and saw Emma leaning against the tree, holding the quilt. I was so happy to see her, and my first instinct was to walk up and kiss her.
“Emma? What are you…why are you here and not in Austin?”
Austin.
Philip.
The hurt rushed through my body again, and I took a few steps back. “What happened, Em? Your boyfriend break up with you before y’all could ring in the New Year together?”
I couldn’t see her facial expression, but I could tell she stiffened up.
“I hope not. I was kind of hoping we would celebrate it together.”
I let out a laugh. “You brought your boyfriend to Mason?” I pushed both hands through my hair and then leaned over. I felt sick to my stomach. I put my hands on my knees and took in a few deep breaths. “Fucking great,” I whispered.
I jumped when I felt her touch my shoulder. I stood up and took a few steps away from her. I couldn’t handle her touch right now. I couldn’t even handle the sound of her sweet voice.
“I didn’t have to bring him to Mason. He lives in Mason, and we’ve been apart for too long.” She reached her hand out toward me.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Emma, what in the hell are you talking about? Philip doesn’t live in Mason.”
The corner of Emma’s lip rose, and then she smiled at me. She slowly shook her head and said, “No, Philip lives in Austin with my aunt and uncle.”
Jesus, is it possible for the trees to be spinning around me?
“What?” I asked as I leaned back against my car. “Why does he live with your aunt and uncle?” What type of messed-up relationship does she have with this guy?
Emma slowly started to unbutton her white shirt as she took a few steps closer to me. “He lives with them because they are his parents.”