Friday

The woman had been gone when he'd come in for breakfast that morning to Jasper's disappointment. It was weird, he had thought, how easy it was to miss someone you had just met well... just remet. That was the topic of his thoughts for the majority of the morning. Just who was she, this woman who in two days had turned everyone he knew against him. Who had managed to take over all of his thoughts? Who he was already dreading leaving after the wedding. Why couldn't he remember her when it was becoming increasingly clear she had played a significant part in his life.

It was well into the afternoon, he and Peter had finished all of their work for the day, and Jasper was laying the grass in the backyard racking every corner of his brain for some idea of who she could be when his mama called him over. He moseyed on over to where Lilia Whitlock was weeding in the small, well-kept potato garden behind the house.

"If you've got nothing better to do, you can help your mama tend her garden."

"Yes, mama." He obliged, kneeling down to pull at the offending weeds sucking nutrients from his mother's beloved potatoes.

"You're distracted today." I came as a statement, not a question, a mere observation. "Wouldn't have anything to do with a certain houseguest bein' out for the day, would it?"

"It might."

"I thought that might be the problem; you got it bad." His mother chuckled with a knowing look.

"That obvious?"

"You're many things, son; subtle is not one of them."

"Any chance you'll tell me who she is and what exactly I did, considering you think I need to marry her?"

"You made this mess; you can clean it up."

"Thank's mama, you've been very unhelpful." He sighed, slowing his work; even mama refused to help him. He'd thought her insistence that he end the game and give her grandchildren would work in his favor. Her refusal was like a punch in the gut. He once again found himself wondering what exactly he had done.

It was then that Jasper's phone buzzed in his pocket, indicating a text; pulling it out, he looked down to see it was a message from Maria.

"your girl wants to know if you wanna go for drinks with us in a bit?"

"Hmm, maybe if she texts to ask." It was a joke; he desperately wanted to go having missed her all day. But he also hoped her phone number might reveal a Snapchat profile or Facebook contact.

"so you can use her number to look her up on social? Nice try, dumbass, not letting you off that easy. I'm telling her you said yes, be ready in an hour. You're driving."

Of course, she had seen right through him. Maria was smart. He sometimes wondered why she'd bought a bar in her hometown rather than finishing her psych degree. But that was neither here nor there; Jasper had plans in an hour. Plans he had to admit, he was damn excited about as an enthusiastic smile crossed his expression.

"Sorry mama, I gotta go get ready to go into town."

"Have fun with our little miss." The small woman smirked from her spot at the edge of the potato garden.

"How did you know..." He cut himself off midsentence, understanding what his mama was talking about. "Not subtle? Okay, I get it."

His mother was right, but he couldn't find himself able to care much as he ran inside, rushing straight to his room to change. He picked out his nicest going-out clothes, making sure he looked his best; he took the time to style his hair in a presentable way. Sure this wasn't a date, but it couldn't hurt to make a good impression.

Once he decided this was as good as it was gonna get, he ventured downstairs to find his sister. She'd been kicked out of her room by, in her words, an overly excited fashion crazed pixie who can't take a joke. Not wanting to sit around listening to his sibling wine, especially when he was still a bit upset with her for the previous night, he grabbed his guitar and went outside to play a few bars while he waited.

He popped open the tailgate of his truck and began to strum out one of his favorite country songs allowing himself to get so lost in the mystery his life had become that he didn't notice when the object of his thoughts leaned up against the tailgate next to him.

"Hey, you." She greeted. "When did you start playing guitar?"

Few years ago, went through a rough patch awhile back. Pete suggested it, though it might help me channel my feelings in a better direction." He'd thought the idea was stupid initially but had quickly taken to the instrument finding it a calming way to redirect his focus. He felt everything with such full force, jumping headfirst into joy, love, and at the worst time of his life, an all-encompassing sadness. He'd taken to the guitar frequently after that.

"Sounds like he's been a good person for you to be around." He offered a grunt in response. "You play beautifully." She commented when he offered nothing else.

"Ma'am?" He looked down at her, filled with a sudden need to communicate his thoughts on the matter at hand. "When I was younger, I liked competing in everything. Seems to me you knew me back then. When I ran into you a few days ago, that's what this started as; a game. But I want you to know I'm not playing for fun anymore. I really do like you."

"I feel the same; don't suppose I'm allowed to change the rules... or just tell you who I am?" Her question was hopeful.

"Oh no, It is becoming very clear to me I messed something up. I need to piece this one together on my own." He smiled down at her. "And believe you me, I will." It was a promise; he appreciated her eagerness to end the game, but like mama had said. He'd made this mess; he needed to clean it up.

"I'm counting on it." Her smile was sweet, hopeful; it reaffirmed his dedication.

"Ready to go, little miss?" He asked as he hopped off the tailgate, closed it, and opened the passenger side door with a little bow that resulted in a musical giggle from the woman; a sound Jasper instantly knew he couldn't get enough of.

The ride to the bar was uneventful; they sat listening to the radio's top 40 country station in otherwise silence. Jasper occasionally proposing a random name, never correctly.

Drinks with Riley and Maria were more fun than usual; the new old girl was genuinely fun. She seemed to love dancing, singing along to the jukebox, laughing loudly at every joke. She had a quick wit, always ready with a sassy response leading the conversation rather than following. Every time she smiled at him, he felt lost, glad he'd come that night.

Eventually, Maria and Riley needed to leave, leaving the pair alone at a tall table in the corner. He enjoyed the teasing flirty conversation they had; he was taking random shot in the dark guesses at her name. Frequently evoking that cute giggle he liked from the woman.

"Amanda?"

"Nope."

"Ariel?"

"Still no," She giggled.

"Excuse me, darlin'." He looked up at the sound; Hayden, a high school classmate of his, had approached their table. Hayden was the charming popular type that the girls had always gone crazy for. His stomach dropped at the words he directed to the woman. "It's good to see you around here again, Al. Would you be interested in getting dinner sometime?"

"Oh, it's great to see you too, but I've actually kind of been talking to someone." Hayden, who didn't seem too disconcerted by the news, tipped his cowboy hat to her, turned, and left.

However, Jasper was crushed by her words, "So, you're seeing someone?" he asked, dreading whatever her truth may be.

"Of course, see I've been talkin' to this real annoyin' cowboy I used to be friends with. I would really like to go out with him, but he doesn't seem to remember my name."

"You like me?" It was an instant relief; he was fully aware of his goofy smile but didn't care. This woman, who he was quickly falling for liked him; it was more than he could have hoped for.

"Quite a bit, actually." She confessed breathlessly.

"Then let me take you out." He pleaded, wanting an official date with the woman.

"What's my name?"

"Well, Al," He teased. "Now I've got two letters. Alicia? Alison? Alex? Am I getting close?"

"Not even a little bit." She laughed, seeming completely at ease. Quickly though her demeanor changed, she was trembling slightly as the color drained from her skin. "Time to go." It came as a whisper, as though she was terrified of being heard.

"Everything, okay? I'm not bothering you, am I? I can back off."

"No, no, you're fine. I'm having a lot of fun. Just, someone walked in I do not want to deal with. Could we maybe check out another bar?"

"Of course, let's go. You shouldn't have to be uncomfortable." He stood and offered a hand, not liking the idea of this amazing lady feeling any sort of unsafe if there was something he could do to prevent it. He took her just down the street to another of the numerous bars in town.

"You still look a bit shaken," Hed commented as they walked inside a crowded dive bar. "What can I do to help?"

"Talk to me." She responded, leaning against one of the back walls tucked away in a corner, trying to control her breathing.

"About what?" He leaned next to her.

"Anything, if you could do anything in the world right now, what would it be?"

"I'd kiss you." It was probably a stupid thing to say at the time, but the honest words flowed off of his tongue.

"You can do anything in the entire world, and you wanna kiss me?" She asked, astonished.

"Is that so crazy?"

"No," She stood contemplatively for a moment. "I'd let you." She turned to face him, causing his breathing to stop momentarily at the reality of what was happening.

"You sure?"

"Yeah," Her voice came out breathless as she leaned in. When their lips met, he thought he might melt. How couldn't he remember this woman? He couldn't believe he could forget someone like her. Everyone was right; he was an idiot. Leaning against that wall, her lips on his, her hands tangled in his hair, felt like heaven on earth. He rested his hands gently on her small hips; he wanted to hold her there so afraid that she might disappear. No one had ever tasted so sweet or felt so perfect in his arms; there was no doubt in his mind after that kiss. He loved this girl.

She pulled away, her breathing labored as she rested her forehead against his shoulder with her eyes still shut tight.

He held her like that for a few minutes before realizing something wasn't right. "Hey, you're clutchin' my shirt pretty hard there. Everythin' okay?"

"Not really." She pulled away with a blush, causing him to immediately miss her presence. "I was just thinking about the last time I talked to you."

The idea of thinking of him, causing her to act that way, didn't sit right; his chest tightened in a confusing type of regret. "Whatever I did, I'm terribly sorry for causing you any amount of pain."

"You don't even remember what you did. But it's okay; it's all in the past. Let's go get another drink." She grabbed his hand, pulling him over to the bar. Despite her cheerful words, it didn't feel okay.

She had placed her order and jumped onto a barstool when he spoke from where he stood leaning against the counter. "I get that it's all in the past, but you really seemed hurt. I like ya a lot, and it tears me up thinkin' that I did anything to cause ya' distress. Can ya at least tell me what I did?"

"You always were such a sap when no one was looking." She let out a little giggle. "You didn't do anything wrong Jas, I liked you, and you didn't like me back." She turned to face him with a smile. "But you like me now, so until you remember me and change your mind, it's all okay."

"I can't imagine you're anyone I could stop carin' about."

"I really hope that's true, Jas."