The Write Stuff

Chapter 14 All Jacked Up

A ping from my phone wakes me up. With my eyes feeling like piss-holes in the sand, I have to feel around for it on the nightstand. There's several missed calls and texts from Daniel. "Ugh....just leave me alone." I mumble into my pillow and toss my phone back on the nightstand.

I reach over to the other side of my bed, but Caleb's not there.

I drag myself out of bed and take a shower. All I can do is stand under the showerhead and let the hot water run down my body.

It doesn't do much to help so I go to the kitchen to find some coffee. I'm elated when I see someone has already made a fresh pot.

I blow softly into the hot cup and walk over to the big patio doors. Caleb is sitting in a lounge chair with a guitar. "Mornin'!" He says with a smile.

I force a little smile back as I grab a chair to sit next to him. "I didn't know you played." I said motioning to the guitar in his lap.

"Yeah, I do." He says strumming a few chords. "That's my job. I fill-in playing guitar for different artists while they're on tour."

"Hm. Well, that explains why Denny said your career has you traveling a lot." I say sipping my coffee.

Caleb sets his guitar down and turns to look at me. "Are you okay, Kerrigan?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I guess I will be." I don't really know if I will ever be okay, but I do know that I'm going out tonight and I'm gonna get white girl wasted.

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"WOO! Sing Sweet Home Alabama!" I yell to the cover band playing at Sally's Honky Tonk. I know I'm being obnoxious, but I don't care. I want to get drunk and lose myself for a few hours.

I stand up to yell at the band again, but someone grabs my arm. "Come on, Kerrigan. It's time to go."

I try to wiggle my arm free and look up to see Caleb. "Aw shit....Dad's here to bust me. Am I grounded?"

He rolls his eyes. "I think you're full Kerrigan. I'll drive you home."

Caleb doesn't let go of my arm until I'm in his truck. Most of the way home, we ride in silence.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

Caleb shrugs. "Because I care. Why are you here? What do you want?"

I close my eyes and let my head drop. I feel like there's more behind that question than just conversation. Why am I here? What do I want?

"I wish I knew." I sigh. "I thought all that I have right now in Nashville was what I wanted, but...now I don't know."

"That's the nice thing about living life. You can change your mind." He says with a smirk. "Do you know that I'm a nurse?"

"Um....what? I ask.

Caleb laughs at my reaction. "Yeah, I'm an RN. I loved taking care of people, but I wanted to do something different. I guess you could say that I changed my mind. I keep up on my nursing license in case I decide I want to go back to it."

"Pull over!" I yell, grabbing for the door.

Caleb laughs. "Hey it ain't that big of a shock, is it?"

I shake my head. "No. I need to puke!"