Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

7

7:30 am. That's what the bedside alarm clock says when it goes off and wakes Hazel. What the fuck? She had not set that, it must have been preset. She climbs out of bed and taps the coffee tin under her bed with her foot. "Morning, Cathy," she says. The house is quiet and she is not surprised Austin and Evelyn must be very tired from their day yesterday. Coffee, she needs coffee so she makes her way downstairs to the kitchen and is met by Linda who is cooking again.  "Good morning, Linda," Hazel says bee-lining it for the coffee pot. "Oh, good morning, Hazel. I thought you had died with how late you slept in," she says smiling. Hazel frowns. "So I am not the first to wake? I thought Austin and Evelyn were still asleep," she says. Linda throws her head back and cackles loudly. At this rate, Hazel should charge her entertainment fees. Geez. "I don't think Austin has ever slept past 4 am and Evelyn is like her father. They have both left - Evelyn to sort out her calves and Austin to do what Austin does. He has already pulled your car out of the mud and towed it out back," Linda says.

Hazel looks out the kitchen window and sure enough there her car is. "He brought your bags in too," Linda says, and the points to the corner of the kitchen when Hazel looks at her. "Well that's good, I can get out of this t-shirt," Hazel says picking up one of her bags. Austin had thrown a threadbare t-shirt at her last night when they had gotten back. Now that she looks at it, it does not leave much to the imagination. She holds her hands across her breasts - poor Linda has already gotten an eyeful of her nipples. Nice. "Hey...um...I am not the mess of a girl I look like right now. I have a marketing degree and a liberal arts degree," she says trying to defend herself even though she is well aware Linda has said nothing demeaning against her and she is holding her breasts to hide her nipples but neither woman is acknowledging she has no panties on. Shit.

"You look like a clever woman, a half-naked and exposed clever woman so I would suggest you go and get dressed because breakfast is at 8 am and so in the next ten minutes this kitchen will be full of farm hands, a busy young cowgirl and a grumpy cowboy," Linda says without turning around, but she is chuckling to herself. Hazel hears a truck rumbling in the distance so she wastes no time in dashing back up the stairs to her room. "Cathy, I fear I have come unprepared," she says pulling the coffee tin from under the bed. "Evelyn is no ordinary nine year old and Austin, well...the man does not like you - to put it bluntly. I think I am going to have to tread carefully here," she says as she rummages around in her bag for clothing. There is a sudden burst of noise that comes from the kitchen, stomping of boots, laughing, scraping of chairs, and the clatter of plates. Hazel finishes getting dressed and then walks downstairs. The kitchen is a buzzing hub of men, mud, and stetsons. They all stop and look up at her as she walks in. Most she recognizes as the same men from last night. They all put down their utensils and wipe their mouths as they look at her.

Evelyn hops off her chair and comes running to Hazel. "You are still here! Come on, I will introduce you to everyone," she says grabbing Hazel's hand and pulling her closer to the table. Three cowboys are sitting on either side of the table, Austin at the head - grumpy, and another cowboy she has never seen at the other head - even grumpier. "This is Ace, Jack, Josh, Amish, Ellis, and Matt," she points to each cowboy. They each raise their hand as their name is called and give her a small smile. "That's my grandad. He will insist you call him Mr. Post," Evelyn points to the older grumpier version of Austin. He tips his head but offers her no welcome. "And then my dad, Austin. You remember him right?" Evelyn says. Austin does not offer her even a nod he just stares at her blankly. Well, this is not awkward at all. "Everyone this is Hazel and she is going to stay for my birthday!" Evelyn says. Linda and the cowboys give a little cheer and then start eating again. Cowboy Mr. Post says nothing and also starts eating again, but he does catch Hazel off guard by giving her a discreet wink. Austin leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. "When was this conversation had, Miss Evelyn?" he asks. "I told you last week that I would like to invite a friend for my birthday," Evelyn defends herself. Austin frowns at her. "You did not know her a week ago. You may invite the friend you had in mind a week ago. Not her," he says and points at Hazel.

Evelyn pouts and shakes her head. "I have changed my mind. I would like Hazel to come to my birthday. I think I have a final say seeing as it's my birthday," she says. Austin stands and puts his stetson on. "No. Contact your friend," Austin says. "But, dad-" Evelyn starts but Austin shakes his head at her, cutting her off. "You," he points at Hazel then flicks his head toward the back door, "outside," he says then opens the door and points outside to drive home his point.  Hazel looks around for any possible support but everyone suddenly seems very interested in their breakfast, including Evelyn. She can see she is going to get no help at all. She sighs and follows Austin outside. He says nothing to her but walks down the stairs and toward her car so she follows him silently. Is she walking to her death? All she can see are Austin's broad shoulders and the back of his neck as he walks with his head down. Panic sets in - he is going to tell her to leave but she needs to get to know Evelyn...she wants to get to know Evelyn, yes for Cathy but also for herself. She is fascinated by Evalyn - she wants to know her. She needs to do something.

She runs around him and cuts him off. Austin stops abruptly and looks at her, unimpressed. "I...uh...I was," she stumbles, she has no idea what she is going to say. Austin is very intimidating and his glare is making her shit her pants. Is he planning on killing her? No one would find her on this ranch, it's massive. "Look, I am sure you know I am a city girl, but I am also a writer and I need a place of quiet so I can focus... that's why I was out here in the first place. Your place is perfect," she says hoping the desperation in her voice is heard by him.

"This is a ranch not a fucking B&B."

"I get that and I will do ranch things."

"Ranch things?"

"Yes. I will milk a cow or something."

"This is a ranch, not a fucking dairy farm," he says and walks around her. She turns and runs around him again, putting her hands on his chest to stop him. Are his pecks made of fucking steel? Shit. "I know that...ok, I didn't know you don't milk cows here, but you can show me ranch shit. You can show me a lot of things," she says focusing in on her hands and how they lay over the curves of his pecks. Austin does not answer so she looks up at his face. He is looking at her and she can see he is contemplating her words. She can tell that he wants her to stay but is too dam stubborn to back down. She takes a small step back, she can't tell him the truth she knows he will send her away immediately but she can offer him a sliver of truth. Hazel can see the cogs in his head start turning.

Hazel looks past him and can see Evelyn stalking toward them with such determination it's enduring.