Dial Drunk - Post Malone

56

Austin slips out the kitchen door while the house is still asleep. They had all slept at his mother's house, all curled up on the lounge floor. They are all feeling a little raw and need the comfort of family. Grassy's loss has hit them all very hard. "Hey, Mocha," he says softly rubbing his father's old horse when he pushes his snout into Austin's face. The horse is half dead and roams around the yard like a pet, too old to be ridden. "How are you even still alive?" Austin whispers then lights a cigarette and sits down on the grass as Mocha flops down next to him. "Don't die on me now. I do not want to have that conversation with Mama just yet," he says poking the horse. He hears footsteps behind him and looks over his shoulder. It's Colter and so Austin groans internally. He needs to apologize to Colter, but he still doesn't know how to. Does he even know Austin had a conflict with him?

"Hi," Colter says when he gets to Austin. "Hi," Austin says back and then holds up his pack of cigarettes. Colter takes one and then sits down next to Austin. "I am going to head out soon. I just wanted to say thank you for inviting me to say goodbye to Grassy, this is a very private family-only moment. I appreciate it."

"You were like family to him, that man adored you...you are still like family, I know Levi needed you here too...you guys are close."

"Levi...she...she told me what your issue with me has been all these years..."

"If you lie and tell me you never had feelings for her..."

"No. I had feelings for her. I was blown away the first time I met her, her beauty, her smile...her sweet heart. I caught feelings pretty quickly. But, then she spoke of you and I understood there was no chance for me. She lit up at the mere mention of you. She was in love, real love. Soon my feelings faded into friendship and now that's all there ever will be between us."

"I convinced myself you were trying to take her from me. That she would leave me to be with you."

"I ain't one to step on another man's turf. But, I was worried about her and she is my friend so I supported her at the risk of pissing you off...she needed me."

"I am grateful she had you. I did more damage by own hand than you could ever have done, Colter."

"It was hard to see her in so much pain and not hate you. But, she could not help loving you so I knew there was a light in you...I saw it too, to be honest."

"It would have made sense for her to be with you. You are the better man...I always looked up to you. I still do."

"Why do you do that? Why do you slate yourself so much? Are you not your father's son?"

Austin snaps his head toward Colter and looks at him. He is holding Austin with an age-old cowboy stare. The one that looks right into your soul. The type of stare his father had.

"We grew up in the same area, Austin. We were raised with the same values. My grandfather and father knew your father and used to speak of him, they still do. They respected him and always said he was a good man, he had his troubles...but, he was a good man. That is how he is remembered. So I ask you again, are you not your father's son?"

Austin clenches his jaw because his emotions are raw and they bubble to the surface without warning. Knowing his father is not just remembered as a drunk or a wasted opportunity, but for the man he really was means more to him than Colter could ever fathom. He is proud of his father even with all his faults and he is proud to be his father's son. "Yes. I am," Austin whispers. "Then be the man he believed you would always become. Be proud of who you are and of the battle you have fought and won. That sweet little lady needs a good man, a confident man, who trusts himself with her," Colter says and then stands putting his hand out and shaking Austin's hand. "See ya around. Watch out for my next album, it will smash yours off that podium...with the help of your girl, of course," he says with a grin then turns and heads off to his truck.