Chapter 10
Rhiannon's Point of View
I was half-way impressed; Nicki wasn't one to really care about anyone but herself. The other half of me was embarrassed beyond all belief.
"Nicki, seriously?" I shook my head at her.
"Yes, seriously Rhiannon. This boy needs to know these things." She said taking a bar stool beside him. "Wait," she said before taking a bite, "what is he doing here so early?"
"Did you not listen to the voicemail I left you?" I said to her. She shook her head and pulled out her phone.
"Well lookey there, one new voicemail. Let's listen, shall we?" she put the phone up to her ear and listened to the message. "Oh, wow." She said after it was finished, "that's classic. Stranded at a cabin. Nice move Scotty-boy." She said nudging Scotty in the arm.
"Thanks," Scotty responded, "I think? It really was an accident though." Nicki raised an eyebrow at me.
"It really was." I told her. "But I am more interested in hearing about your night."
"Oh, didn't do anything much. Just drank a bit, danced a lot. Woke up in some Channing Tatum look-a-like's bed." She said with a shrug.
I gave her a stern look. "Nicki…" I chastised.
She threw her hands in the arm in innocence. "Hey, according to the guy we didn't do anything. Apparently he found me half-way passed out on a couch at the club, offered me a ride home and when I couldn't tell him where I lived, he just took me back to his place and let me crash there."
"Uh-huh," I said taking a sip of my coffee. "I'm sure that's what happened."
"It probably did, the guy gave me his number and everything. Said to give him a call if I needed a ride home ever again." She said back to me.
"Okay, whatever. So, Scotty. What do you have going on today?" I felt bad leaving him out of the conversation.
"Oh, I just have to run some errands in Raleigh today. You can go with me if you want. Then we have that bonfire tonight if you still wanna go." He said to me.
"Yeah, I still want to go with you tonight. And what kind of errands?" I asked.
"Nothing too big, just have to get some fittings done." He answered.
"Oooo, shopping with country boy. Sounds fun." Nicki said.
"Nicki, be quiet. Yeah, I'll go with you Scotty. Do I have time to clean up?" I asked him.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't have to be there at any certain time." He said to me.
"Alright, cool. I'm gonna go clean up. Scotty, eat as much as you want. Nicki," I said pointing at her, "Be. Nice."
She raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm not promising anything, but I'll try my best." With that I pointed at her one last time, reinforcing my command and went to clean up.
Nicki's Point of View
Wow, I thought to myself as Rhiannon walked into her room, that girl has got it bad for the boy. I looked him up and down as he watched her walk away too. He looked like her type, cute smile, good height, country.
"So," I said to him once I hear Rhiannon's shower start up. "I was serious about what I said earlier. You hurt her, and I'll hurt you. I don't have friends. But that girl in there is my best friend and if anyone, not just you, where to ever hurt her, make her upset, make her anything short of obliviously happy, I will show them no mercy. Do you understand me?"
He looked at me, the smile had left his face. "Not only do I understand you, but I feel that very same way."
I normally wouldn't have believed that, he's only known her a few days. But, something in his eyes made me believe it. "Alright, good." I said to him. All of a sudden his phone went off.
"Crap," he said, "forgot to call momma when we got here." He answered the phone. "Hey momma, I'm over at Rhiannon's apartment." Pause. "Yeah, she made me and her roommate breakfast." Another pause. "Yes ma'am I remembered. She's going to go with me. We'll probably get lunch somewhere here in town." Another pause. "Um, sure, I'll mention it to her." Another pause and a laugh from Scotty. "You have point, I'll offer it to her. Love you too. Bye." Then he hung up and shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What's up?" I asked him.
"Oh," he said looking at me. "Nothing really…let me ask you something though. I just want to know if I should even bother asking her."
"Asking who what?" I said looking at him cautiously.
"My mom wants me to ask Rhiannon if she wants to join us at our cottage over Memorial Day weekend. Do you think I should even ask her? Or do you think it's too soon?" he asked me.
I thought about it for a second. "Normally I would say yes, that it was too soon. But, since you two are not the normal couple and seem to be falling for each other already, I say go ahead and ask her. She'll probably say yes."
A smile spread across his face. "You think she's really falling for me?" he said.
"Oh geez" I said rolling my eyes. "Yes, I do." People in love make me sick, I thought to myself.
"You do what?" I heard Rhiannon say.
Scotty's Point of View
Oh gosh, I thought, please don't let her have heard what we just said.
Luckily Nicki came to the rescue. "He couldn't believe I hate country music." She said putting our plates up. Rhiannon came walking into the kitchen wearing khaki colored shorts, a cream colored tank, and her sperrys. Her long brown hair was still slightly damp, but braided off to the side like she did this morning. I don't know how she manages to look amazing all the time.
"Yeah," I said. "Just doesn't seem right to me."
"Uh, huh" she said. "Sure that's what y'all were talking about. Don't worry, I'll get it out of one of you."
Nicki laughed. "Won't be from me sweetheart. Well, I'll see y'all later. Have fun, Scotty, remember what I said." With that she walked from the room.
I chuckled as I shook my head. "You ready to go?" I asked Rhiannon.
"Yeah, you?" she replied. I nodded my head in response. She grabbed her purse and we were out the door. Once we got down to the truck I remembered what Momma wanted me to ask her.
"Oh, hey. I almost forgot. While you were getting ready my mom called." I said. "She wanted me to tell you that since the bonfires usually last so late you can stay in the guest room at our house tonight. You can go to church with us and all that tomorrow too."
"Alright," she replied. "Sounds good. We'll have to stop back by here later so I can get a bag ready."
"Yeah, that's fine." I said pulling out of the parking garage. "We'll go run these errands, and then we'll get something to eat and then we'll get ready for the party."
"Sounds like a plan." She said grabbing my hand. I had left it sitting on the middle console, hoping she would take it. We drove through Raleigh in silence, just listening to the radio. Every now and then I would point out a cool place I thought she would like. We finally made it to the shop.
"Jackie's Bridal shop?" she asked as I opened her door for her.
"Yeah, I have to get a fitting done for my suit I'm wearing to the CMT Awards here in a few weeks." I said as we walked towards the shop.
"Oh, okay. That makes sense." She said as we walked into the shop.
"Scotty! How are you?" I heard as the door closed. I had been coming to Ms. Jackie for a while now to get fittings done.
"I'm good Ms. Jackie and how bout yourself?" I said giving her a hug.
"Oh, I'm still dancing as they say. Now, who is this pretty little thing you have with you?" she asked looking at Rhiannon.
Rhiannon extended her hand before I could answer, "My name is Rhiannon. I'm Scotty's errand buddy for the day."
"Now I can tell you ain't from around here, cause everyone knows in my shop we don't shake hands, we hug. Now come on over here!" Ms. Jackie said pulling Rhiannon into a hug.
"Oh," Rhiannon said as she was released. "My bad, I should've guessed that."
"Well now you know! Scotty, I assume you are here to get fitted for your suit? I picked out something real nice for you this year. You are gonna love it!" Ms. Jackie said pulling me back to the dressing rooms. She pushed me into one and told me to put it on.
"I assumed you haven't grown much since last year so I just used the same measurements from then." She yelled over the door. "He does look like he's gained a little in the belly though." I heard her whisper to Rhiannon who responded with a giggle.
"Hey!" I yelled, "I heard that!" I put on the suit she picked out for me. It wasn't really a suit, more of a casual outfit. She had me a pair of jeans, a white button down shirt and a brown vest that went over it. This would be nice and cool for the warm weather Nashville always had and the awards. I stepped out of the dressing room to see what they thought.
"Well dagum, I think I did a pretty good job. If I do say so myself." Ms. Jackie said. "What do you think?" she said to Rhiannon.
"He cleans up pretty nice. The vest looks like it needs to be taken in a bit. And he's probably supposed to roll the sleeves up ain't he?" She said back.
"Very good eye, little miss! You sew?" Ms. Jackie said as she came over to me and started pinning the vest.
"Yeah, my grandma taught me to embroider when I was young, then when I was older I taught myself how to hem and make clothes. I actually made this top." She said back, giving me a smile.
"You don't say? Alright Mr. McCreery, you can go on and change. Oh, wait, I almost forgot to ask, do you like the outfit?" Ms. Jackie said.
"Yes, Ms. Jackie. It's amazing. Thank you." I said as I stepped back into the dressing room. As I changed I heard the girls talking about different kinds of stitching and sewing stuff. I stepped back out of the dressing room, leaving the outfit behind.
"Thank you again, Ms. Jackie. I love the outfit." I said giving her another hug.
"Oh, it's my pleasure hun. You know anytime you need anything you give me a call. Same goes for you too, Miss Freed." She said as she gave Rhiannon a hug.
We left the shop and got back in the truck. "Alright," I said. "It's 11:30 and I'm starving. Ready to eat?"
Rhiannon laughed, "Yeah, I guess I could. Even though we just did."
"That's was like…" I counted in my head, "three hours ago though."
"Calm your horses!" she said throwing her hands in the air, "I didn't say we couldn't! I was just pointing out that we ate not too long ago. If you wanna eat, let's go eat."
"Good," I said, starting the truck. "Cause I don't know if I could keep seeing you if you were trying to keep me from my food. We have a special relationship, me and my food do."
Rhiannon doubled over laughing before grabbing my hand and saying, "I wouldn't dream of it."