Surrounded

Intro

"Boys Back Home" - Hailey Whitters

     She'd always loved the calm of the forest, but the heavy bass of the music wafted through the air as the warm breeze caressed her bare legs and the strands of hair escaping her ponytail tickled her face. On the outskirts of the party, it was easy to forget where she really was. The cool metal of the old truck bed under her thighs, though, was able to help ground her in the present. Sighing, she leaned her head back against the tool box and closed her eyes, allowing herself to inhale the scent of the bonfire smoke and her mind finding comfort in the sound of crickets and cicadas. That was, until she heard the crunch of gravel growing nearer to her location. Only once she felt someone lean against the truck bed did she open her eyes to investigate. Lifting her head, she first glimpses short blonde hair and blue eyes staring back at her intently. A chiseled jaw moves as his deep drawl sends a small shiver through her. "You okay?" he questions, holding a fresh long-neck out to her. 'I'm fine, just overstimulated. Thank you," she accepts the beer and sinks the lime before taking a hearty swig. He brings a large, calloused hand to rest on the side of her face, allowing her to rest the weight of her head in his palm. Closing her eyes once again, she sighs and relaxes into his touch. Hearing a gentle cough, they both glance up to find another joining their reprieve. The other man lightly hops up to sit on the tailgate by her feet. His sky blue eyes gazed at her knowingly from under his mop of wavy brown hair. She reached up and gently ran her fingers through it, tussling it to the side of his forehead and a small smile formed on her lips. She wasn't sure what she'd done to be graced with the men who loved her, but she was positive that she'd never feel complete without them.

     Sighing, she admitted, 'I suppose we should get back.' The two men nodded in agreement, the brunette helping her to her feet and the blonde helping her down by the waist. The trio made their way back to the fire and the throng of people surrounding it. As she approached, she found herself scanning the crowd for her other loves. Coming to a stop beside the man she could recognize even with a blindfold, she looked up and found his dark eyes beaming down at her at the same time she heard him chuckle at her and his big hand came to gently rest on her lower back reassuringly. She leaned into his side and his beard tickled her face. Scanning everyone around her, her eyes landed on that familiar caramel brown under short dark hair, she admired his smirk and the way his large body swayed as he stalked his way over to her. Now with her men beside her, she was able to relax. Holding her head high, she took a deep breath and allowed herself to rejoin the festivities.

     Jolting awake, Laura had to shake her head at herself. She didn't know why this particular dream was the one her subconscious chose to play on repeat, but she had to admit that she wouldn't mind it coming true. She easily recognized the men from her dream, the blonde was a man she'd met the most recently, a police officer by the name of Roland. He was kind to her when she was giving him her witness statement on a fatality accident that had happened in front of her, even comforted her. He now checks up on her regularly to meet for coffee and see how she's doing. The brunette with the striking blue eyes was a man she'd known since she was a babe, Asher. Their mothers had gone to school together and they grew up side by side in their small town. He'd tormented her before things seemed to suddenly change and he started acting as her protector when the bullying started. Then there was Arlo, the man she could recognize just from his presence alone. He had always felt like home to her, from his hugs and pep talks to his unabashed flirting. And Marcus, with his broad shoulders and bear-like walk was popular with all the girls, but he certainly never saw little Laura as anything more than a sister.

     Rubbing her eyes, she tossed the bed covers aside and padded toward the shower. She turned the knob to cold so she could shake off these feelings about men who would never reciprocate them. She'd never feel that she was pretty, intelligent, or competent enough to receive any of their romantic attention, nonetheless that of them all.