Clear Blue Sky Ch. 4
Evie just finished setting up the backyard. Looking at all the chairs and tables, this was the first time anyone from her new life in L.A. would be coming to her home. Well, that's not true, Hondo came by one or twice with his mama. But everyone else, they always invited her to their home or out to the bar they were meeting at. She was a bit nervous, but she knew that her house was on point, one of the many benefits of saving money since she was little kid, and getting a scholarship, she had the money to buy the house of her dreams.
Once the fire pit was lit, she headed back inside to the sound of the bell ringing. Walking past Mandy, "What else is left to get done?" she asked, making her way to the door.
"Everything is done Cricket, you got the burners outside for the food trays, just need to transfer some of the food into them so we can just sit and eat!" Mandy was excited, she was going to see who her sister was working with, and over course, and they were going to meet her friends from home, it was going to be great night.
"OK. I'll be right there." Opening the door, she could see the smiling faces of the Kay family, "Annie, Deacon, welcome, please come on in."
Annie gave her a big hug, "Oh wow, your house is beautiful," holding her growing belly.
Deacon looked around, he couldn't help but smile, "She's right, it's beautiful."
Stepping aside and showing them where they could put their desserts, "Thank you." Stepping towards the open concept kitchen where Mandy pulling out the biscuits, "Annie, Deacon, this is my big sister Mandy, Mandy, this is Deacon and his lovely wife Annie. They have 3 kids, who I'm assuming is with their nana?"
Shaking their hands, "Oh, pleasure meeting ya'll." Seeing that Annie was pregnant with another, "Congratulations on this little one too."
Hearing the door again, Evelyn left them to talk, she figured that Mandy would chew off Annie's ear about babies and put David to work.
Standing outside her door, was Rocker, "Hey, come on in." Stepping aside, she could see that he was looking around. Taking a moment to enjoy his body, he was wearing dark wash jeans, and nice t-shirt.
Rocker looked at her home, it was big, and open. But what caught his attention was the fireplace, it looked like something from a mountain cabin. "This is beautiful. How'd you manage that?" he asked.
Laughing, "Actually the wood for the mantle is from my barn." Lightly touching it, "I wanted to bring a little piece of home to my new home." She could see her sister and Annie staring at them, leaning over, watching them. "My sister is staring at you. I think if she wasn't married, you'd be in trouble." She was only half joking.
Looking down at her, "Flattering, but no thank you." His eyes roamed over her, she was wearing a deep red tank top that showed just the right amount of cleavage and her jeans were nice and tight. Needing to adjust himself a bit. He followed her towards the kitchen.
Heading over to the kitchen, she re-introduced him to his sister. Watching her sister make small talk with her friends made her smile, at least they were getting along, her mind was pulled by the doorbell ringing.
Opening the door was Mumford and his wife Nikki, and behind them was Luca, Tan, Chris, and Travis, Honey, and Max. But what surprised her most, was when Street knocked on the door, "I'm so glad you made it." She said to him.
Greeting everyone, she introduced everyone but as she got to her Max, he lifted her up and spun her around.
"Missed you, Cricket!" he said.
Laughing at him, "Missed you to lug head, now please put me down." As her feet hit the ground, she went around making sure everyone was introduced, once she finished that round, Hondo walked in with his mama.
Smiling at the crowd, she felt like this was something familiar, her family and friends always found a reason to get together and enjoy each other.
Making sure everyone had their drinks Mandy got their attention, "Alright, seems like everyone is here, let's head out to the back and get some grub," looking at Travis and company, "we made our greens." Knowing that they loved home the Powell girl's food.
Evelyn found herself between Rocker and Luca, letting her sister sit at the head of the table, saying a quick blessing over their food, everyone dug in.
Hondo damn near moaned around his food, between the ribs, greens, cornbread, yams, and creamed corn, he'd died and went to heaven. "Dixie, why didn't you tell me you could through down like this?"
Looking at her sister, they shared a smirk, it was Mandy that answered, "Hondo, Cricket is full of surprises."
Travis laughed, "Now that's the truth, little cricket has a deep well of secrets!"
Hiding her face under napkin, she pointed at her old friends, "Shush. I work with these people."
Rocker nudged her with his giant leg, he looked at the trio, "Oh do share," he felt her poke his side, "at least a couple things."
Turning to him, "Trader!" She could see that the everyone from her job was curious, letting out a deep sigh, she looked at her friends, "Go ahead. They won't stop bugging you."
Max looked at her and the evil smirk that crossed his face, Evie knew she was going to move to Mexico. "Once upon a time, in a far away town of Bell Buckle Tennessee. There was a little girl, who we shall call Cricket…."
Downing her whiskey, "I hate you." She muttered. She could feel Rocker looking at her, turning her head, he tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
"You love me. Any who, little cricket was tired of being told she was too small for jumping off Dead Man's Cliff, which is about 75 ft from the water mind you… she decided to take a running start and flew off, as she came down, she didn't hold onto her bikini top, and well, let's just say we saw a lot of cricket that day." He said snorting.
Placing her head on the table, she couldn't help but laugh, wiping her face, she lifted her head, "Hahaha. Hilarious. I mean we could always talk about you, and that time you drank way too much shine." Giving him a pointed look.
Luca snorted, "How old were you?"
Mandy laughed, "16. Cricket has always been tiny. Hell, for the longest time we thought she was a midget."
Shrugging her shoulders, "I'm a giant in my mind people." Feeling Rocker wrap his arm around her, she looked up at him, "Not everyone could be the size of a moose."
Hondo laughed, "Tell me another," he said looking at her sister.
Looking around the table, "OK, Mandy gets to tell one, then the embarrassing life of Cricket is done! We clear?" she said looking at the table. Happy to see that they all agreed.
Street smiled at her, "So, how did cricket become your name?" he asked her.
Travis snorted, "Well because she was small, but also, crickets are superfast and can jump really far, Evelyn here, is deceptively fast and strong."
Mandy laughed, "OK, I got a good one," giving her sister a pointed look, "we grew up on the Bell Buckle Mountain, our farm was close to 600 acres of fields, trails, and anything a wild child like cricket could want." Taking at sip of her water, she could see that Evie knew what she was going to tell them, "Remember I love you, Cricket."
"Lies." She muttered.
"So, Cricket had a real nasty habit of sneaking out and riding her horse at all hours of the night. One night I got the bright idea of following her on one of her adventures, turns out my dear sister had a thing for skinny dipping in the creek!" Laughing at the memory of her hiding behind her horse.
The sound of shocked laughter made her want to crawl into a hole but looking around she could see that it wasn't being cruel or mean, it was just a good story to be told.
"OK, well now that we know horribly embarrassing things about me, let's move on to the Q&A portion of the evening! Please." Grabbing the bottle of whiskey, she poured herself a drink.
Chris snorted, "I have a few!" Looking at Luca who was staring at her, "Why swim naked?"
Taking another shot, "I could give you a million stupid answers, so the truth is why not." Looking around the table, "Next question."
Luca grabbed her hand, "What did you enjoy about riding at night?"
Feeling a little weird that he was holding her hand, she could only smile, "Riding under a blanket of stars is an experience everyone should have at least once." Gently pulling her hand out of his. "Next."
Annie laughed, "It's for the both of you girls, Can I please get the recipe for these biscuits? Please." Her eyes big and begging.
Mandy and Evie shared a look, and in unison, "Yes."
As the night progressed, she leaned into her chair, seeing that the trio was getting up, "Where ya'll goin?" she asked.
Honey smiled at her, "It's time for the fun part of the night."
Rocker leaned over, "What does that mean?" he asked. Curious as the rest of them.
She could see that they were all looking at her as they left the backyard, "It means, ya'll are about treated to a ho-down." Sighing, she could see Mandy was bouncing in her chair, pointing at her, "No."
Standing up, "You can't tell me no, or your niece or nephew, plus I'm older than you. I'll sit on you." She threatened, walking into the house.
Jack laughed, "She use to sit on you?" Trying not to choke on his beer.
Sparing a glance at him and the table, "Oh yea. If she wasn't pregnant, she would tackle me. Why do you think I got so fast? My sister may seem all sweet and dainty; but don't let those doe eyes fool you. She's mean as hell."
Hearing the last part, as she walked out with a guitar, she smiled ever so sweetly at the table, "It's very true. I am a lady, but I will fight you like a man. I take after daddy." Handing her sister, the guitar, "You know what I want Cricket."
Everyone stood up as the trio came back outside; they situated around the firepit, Evie sitting next to Travis, and she could see Rocker was across from her.
Letting out another sigh, she looked over at Travis as he held his, "How you want to start this?" Knowing that her sister demanded a few of her songs.
Strumming the guitar, he set the tone. Following behind him, hearing Honey break out the fiddle. And Max his harmonica.
Laughing, she started singing. (Untamed: By Cam)
By the time she hit the last note, she looked at her friends who were staring at her, "What?"
Hondo clapped loudly, "Girl, who knew you could belt like that?"
Blushing, "Weren't you listening earlier, deep well of secrets."
Rocker stared at her, his feelings for her just growing, "You're amazing Evie!" Looking at the rest of the band, "You are all amazing."
Blushing at him, "Thanks Rocker." A part of her was thrilled that he enjoyed hearing her sing, but she didn't want to let it go to her head.
Chris really wasn't into country music, but this was pretty good, and it was fun sitting around a fire listening, "Hell yes, what else you got Cricket?" she teased.
Looking up at her, she couldn't help but smile, "Really? OK, new rule, Chris and ONLY Chris can call me Cricket, everyone else ya'll stuck with my name."
Hearing them grumble she just smiled at Chris. Evie looked towards Travis, "You're turn fearless leader!"
Travis laughed at her, "Alright, keep up Cricket." he teased. Soon he was belting out the song he and Evie wrote together. (Northern Redneck: Aaron Lewis).
Mandy was so happy, she it felt good to see her sister sing and play her guitar, while she knew that her heart belonged to technology and things of that nature, it was good that they had some things in common.
Clapping loudly as the song ended, she looked at the group, "They wrote that before Evie went off to Vanderbilt." She said very proudly. Her eyes found Rocker, she noticed that he hasn't taken his eyes off her the entire night, neither had Luca, she wished that her sister could see what everyone else did about her, but she was always a little self-conscious; and it didn't help when Tommy damn near broke her in college.
Putting the guitar down, she smiled at her sister, "Twister, are you proud of me?" she asked in a teasing tone.
Street was curious, "You call her twister? Why?" Trying to figure it out. He looked around, seeing that everyone else was having the same look on their faces.
The answer came from Honey, "Oh ya'll do not let this calm demeanor fool ya. When Twister get's something in her head, watch out, cause you're either gonna help or you're in her way. She's an F5 twister."
Mandy sat up proudly, "Don't you forget it, Honey." Looking at her sister, "Of course I'm proud of you. While I miss you dearly, and wish I had someone to go riding with, you've built a beautiful life out here, and you've seemed to have found another family." Trying to keep herself from getting too emotional, especially in front of company, she turned her head, "I'm glad that you have them. Or I'd hog tie you and drag you back to the mountain."
Smiling at her, she just nodded, sparing a look around the fire, "OH, she's not kidding, she's pretty mean with a rope. I still have the scars on my ankles." Lifting up her jeans she showed them off.
Luca coughed, "Damn," looking at Mandy, "Why would you do that?" asking partly because he was a little upset another very curious.
Drinking her water, "You gonna tell him or am I?" Keeping eye contact with Evie.
Tilting her head back, "OK, so, I may have stolen her prom dress and went riding in it." Hearing their gasps, "Eh, I was a shit head when I was younger." Feeling eyes on her, "So, when Mandy found out, she jumped on her horse, and well chased me and roped me like a steer." Shrugging, "Lesson learned, do not touch her clothes without permission, and definitely do not ride a horse in them."
Mandy pointed at her, "Don't forget it!"
Hondo was surprised to hear all this, "Wow. OK, what other crazy stuff happened on that mountain?" he asked them.
Smiling at him, "We don't have that kind of time Hondo, but I will tell you one more thing," sitting up straighter, she pulled out her knife, and throwing at the post across the yard hitting it dead center, "daddy made sure his little girls could handle themselves with our guns and knives." Smiling at all their shocked faces.
Travis laughed hard, "Ya'll looking super impressed, but honestly these two wild ones here," pointing to both the girls, "they are just the girls next door."
Rocker very carefully moved his leg, he didn't need anyone seeing his hard on. Leaning over to her, "And I thought you couldn't fight?" he teased.
Looking up at him, "I can't. But I can shoot and throw a knife great. So, I still want lessons."
Hours later, people trickled out of her house, only one left was Rocker, he was currently helping put the tables back in the shed. He made it so much easier since he was able to lift 3 at a time. Not even feeling guilty that she was staring at him, she watched as his arm muscles stretched and flexed under his shirt. She eventually started to feel like some kind of pervert, she grabbed the remaining chairs.
"Thank you so much for helping me. I would have gotten to in the morning, but this makes it so much easier." Looking up at him as he shut the shed door.
He had no idea why, or even what made him have the courage to do it, putting his hand behind her head, he brought his lips down on hers. He could feel that she was stunned, but soon she opened her mouth and let him in. Damn near diving into her mouth, she tasted of whiskey and an undertone of vanilla. Using his other hand, he pulled her body closer to his, he wanted her to be touching him.
Tilting her head to give him better access to her lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, his kiss was strong and dominate, his tongue demanding control of the kiss, and she was more than happy to give that to him. As he pulled away to look at her, she had to keep her whimper to herself.
Rubbing his thumb against her cheek. "You're most welcome Evelyn." Knowing that it was late, and he was on-call tomorrow, "Go on a date with me Evie. Please."
All she could do is nod. "Yes. I'd love to." She was almost shocked that he was asking her out, perhaps it was a dream, either way she wasn't going to say no.
Smiling with his dimples, he kissed her again, "Good. I have to get to bed, I'll text you tomorrow." Taking her hand, he walked through her house and opened the front door, before he walked out, he kissed her again, "Good night, Evelyn."
Barely able to keep the goofy smile of her face, "Night Donovan." She was rewarded with another dimpled smile. She watched as he jumped into his truck and drove off, finally shutting the door. She leaned against the door, touching her lips. "Wow."