Run Wild Horses

Chapter 4

Are you one of them girls
That peels off the Bud Light label
Just might run a pool table
Roll your eyes if I call you an angel
Ain't you one of them girls
I ask you to dance, you say no
Just to see how far I'll go
Your song comes on and your eyes close
That's when I know, yeah

You got your heart on lockdown
Got a wall I gotta knock down
Kinda wanna do a shot now
Come on, now

And you one of them girls that ain't tryna meet nobody
You're just here for the party
If I'm wrong, then stop me, yeah
You're one of them girls that ain't handin' out your number
You like to make us want ya
You like to make us wonder
If you're one of them girls

Ryan had really annoyed me. He was rude and obnoxious, obviously drunk, but I wasn't about to excuse him. Everyone kept telling me he's really a nice guy, but for some reason, he had taken an instant dislike to me or something. I really didn't care. The feeling was mutual.

He was still glaring daggers at me as I continued to talk to Alex. Was the problem Alex? Or just me? Despite it all, I was having a great time. I was making friends, I was socializing. I was being me. I felt like I could actually breathe again.

Alex was very attentive. I liked him. I know I said I had no desire to meet someone, but I definitely wouldn't mind getting to know him better. He was so sweet, offering to fix me a plate of food, he made sure I always had something to drink in my hand and made sure I had sunscreen on so I wouldn't get burnt. I began hoping that maybe he just might ask me out, and if so, I might just say yes.

Courtney had taken several photos and tagged everyone that was here on Instagram. After, I began getting follow requests from everyone, even from Ryan. I accepted them all. This was a fun group of people, and I actually felt like I belonged here. The guys (most of them anyway) were funny and friendly. The girls were all nice and welcoming. Everyone was relaxed and it was so far removed from my life in Louisiana of stuffy cocktail parties and boring fund raisers, and even worse, medical conferences.

The sun was just starting to set over a beautiful North Carolina evening. The sky was muted shades of pink, purple and gold. I was exactly where I wanted to be. It was everything I expected. I laughed as I splashed in the pool with Alex. The more time I spent with him, the more I liked him. He was a lot of fun. He was flirty, but sweet at the same time. Super cute, but not full of himself. Unlike someone else, who's name shall not be mentioned. Someone who was still glaring at me. Glaring at me and Alex. What the hell was his problem.

I took the last sip of the water from the bottle in my hand, and made a face. I had only had one, maybe two beers, and was mostly sipping on water. I was tired of water. I had enough water. Was I the only one not drinking? "I think I could use a real drink." I said to Alex, as I was about to climb out of the pool to make my way to the makeshift bar that had been set up. Of course Ryan was there, still watching me, sipping on a glass filled with amber liquid.

"Hey Blaney, why don't you get this pretty lady a drink." Alex called out to Ryan.

"So, what ya drinking? Wine? White Claw?" He smirked. Was he judging me? No way was I letting him continue to get under my skin.

"Actually, I prefer whiskey." I replied, eying the bottle by his side.

"Hmmm. A whiskey girl. Can you actually hold your liquor?" He poured a glass and handed it to me, then poured another for himself.

I took a long swallow from the glass, relishing the burn of the smooth whiskey down my throat and into the pit of my stomach.

"I'm a Cajun girl. We drink whiskey for breakfast." I downed the remaining contents and set the glass down with a thud. "Can you hold yours?" I met the challenge in his blue eyes and nodded my head at the empty glas, indicating I was ready for a refill.