Right On The Money Honey - Michael Hardy

THIRTEEN

"I woke up in my boots this morning, fell asleep in my boots last night, had a feeling that I'd run out of warnings. Girl, I couldn't have been more right

And, I knew I wouldn't have to take the time putting 'em back on when I'm sober. Yeah, I knew you'd be pissed off over me and I'd just be hungover. Girl, I knew I'd open my eyes I n a house fit for a dog. Knew I'd need 'em come the daylight so I didn't even take 'em off naw...

I woke up in my boots this morning..."

Michael belts out in the booth, his hands wringing together while he shifts his weight from foot to foot. He wrote this song a few days after Liz left for Plano and finally got around to finishing it when his brain was able to think about something other than that heart broken look she gave him.

Morgan helped him out with the words, let him bounce his ideas off of him but Michael did most of the heavy lifting.

"Man, that's a great song." He says, taking a sip of the coffee in his hand. Michael shuts the door to the booth behind him and picks up a bottle of water. "How're things goin' with her?"

"Back to normal, I guess." He shrugs. "She's still kind of upset but I mean, I get it." He sighs as he sits on the leather couch. "It's just nice to have her home with me."

"I bet." He smiles, sitting next to him. "Y'all're my favorite."

"She's pretty great. Especially for comin' back after what I did. I have no idea how the hell she forgave me."

"Me neither." Morgan nods before he turns and his face gets dark and serious. "If you ever hurt that girl again, I will kick your ass to the goddamn moon, got it?"

Michael nods and swallows hard. His best friend just threatened him but he definitely deserved it. "Got it."

He pulls back and kicks his foot over his knee, one hand around his empty coffee cup and the other on the back of the couch. "Remember what I said about bustin' your ass to keep her? Now, you gotta work ten times as hard. You broke her trust and her heart, you gotta get that trust back. She won't forgive that easy if you fuck up agin."

"Morgan, there isn't gonna be an again."

"Better not be."

+++

"Hey." Liz whispers, her hand rubbing across Michael's bare shoulders. "You up?"

He hums back, taking a deep breath in. "Huh?"

"You awake?" He nods, half asleep. "Michael..." Her hand goes to his chest then down to his hip. He hums again, his eyebrows raising as he stirs. "Wake up." Liz pulls on his shoulder and turns him on his back, sliding onto his lap.

He finally opens his eyes and smiles sleepily at her, tucking his arms behind his head. "Mornin'." He smirks, rubbing his eyes. "Whatcha up to, baby?" She just starts pressing soft kisses to his neck and down his chest. "Liz..."

"Shh." She presses her fingertips to his lips as she sinks herself down on his length.

He moans sharply, gripping her hips tightly. "Shit." Liz's cell starts going off but she just ignores it, her long dark hair cascading down her inked back while she rocks her hips.

Her cell starts ringing again and she whines as he stops. Liz picks it up, running her hand through her hair as she answers it, leaning forward against Michael, chest to chest.

"Yeah."

"Liz, it's Rhett."

"Rhett? What's up?"