Out of the Blue

Honest Questions

The wooden porch swing went back and forth with ease. I swung my feet along with it, barely being able to touch the ground below. The light blue cushions the most comfortable thing, like sitting on clouds. I would spend my days here if I had a swing like this.

 I was extremely proud of myself for not letting the tears that were threatening earlier to flow. However, my chest felt heavy. 

The sound of yelling coming from the Dawg House, or whatever it was called, causing me to look in that direction. The soft light coming from the open doors brightening the dark night sky. It cast against Brantley's facial features, allowing me to see him leaning against the wooden beam of the porch. His gaze never leaving me. 

"It's a beautiful house." I spoke up over the chirping of the crickets in the distance. 

"Thanks." Brantley responded, obviously but humbly proud of his accomplishments. There was another collective booing at the baseball game that rang out. And then quiet. "You didn't quite answer my questions from before." 

"That's because you put me under the firing squad." I scoffed.

Brantley ignored my eye roll that I was hoping he wouldn't catch and continued, "So what are you doing now that you are in Tennessee?" 

"I am in between jobs right now. Marketing was not doing it for me anymore." I felt a little embarrassed as I finally said that out loud. 

"Nothing wrong with that." He must have sensed my shame because he changed the subject. "What about dating? Anyone special?" 

"We're not doing this, Brantley." I stated, getting annoyed. 

"It was an honest question, Lex. You are sitting on my front porch after all. You are the one that decided to come here and see me." Brantley raised an eyebrow at me. 

I mean, he was right. But he didn't get the privilege of knowing my entire life story since I left right now. Not after everything that went down. I stopped pushing myself on the swing and stood up. It was getting late and the wine had worn off. A headache was looming even though I only downed two large glasses. I was quite the light weight. 

"Lex..." Brantley began. 

"I should really go. It is getting late and has been a very long day." I cut him off, starting my way down the stone steps. 

"Lex, wait." Brantley was hot on my heels. 

I turned around abruptly and raised both of my eyebrows to signal him to continue. 

He sighed heavily, "Come by tomorrow? I want to take you somewhere." 

He was really pushing the fact that I actually came by to see him tonight. I didn't quite trust him completely, which broke my heart. I once trusted him with my life. He was my safe place. And now. Now I could barely get through a conversation with him without feeling like I needed to bolt. 

I rubbed at my forehead with my left hand. I was tired. Very tired. And usually I don't like to make hasty decisions when I am feeling this way. "Fine." I answered looking down, swallowing. I peered back up at Brantley. "What time?" 

His face softened a bit, like he was even surprised at my answer. "8 am."

"B, you know I'm not a morning person." I laughed, shaking my head. 

Brantley smiled as my laugh rang out. "Ain't that the truth." 

We stood in silence for a moment before I nodded my head and made my way back over to the rest of the guys watching the end of the baseball game. I let my eyes roam around for Kolby. After a minute, he looked my way, lifting his head up. 

"Home." I mouthed, pointing toward his truck. 

Kolby didn't even hesitate. He pushed himself up off the couch and said goodbye to everyone. I gave a small wave, even though I didn't even say hello to any of them when we arrived. 

Brantley walked with us to the rusty old truck, saying goodbye to Kolby when we hopped in. "And I'll see you tomorrow." He replied through the open driver's side window. 

Kolby looked over at me, raising a thick eyebrow, smirking. I brushed him off with a wave of my hand and told him to get to driving. It was time for me to lay wide awake in bed all night and contemplate canceling on Brantley.