I took a few steps back. “Please, don’t explain it to me, Emma. I saw the two of you through the window. It was really touching, seeing y’all holding hands.” I looked at Philip, and he acted like he wanted to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance. “Take care of her. She deserves the world.”

I quickly turned and started walking out of the restaurant.

“Garrett!” Emma called out after me.

I picked up the pace, and by the time I got outside, Raymond was jumping into the car and starting it. I could hear Emma pleading with Margie and Billy to get me to stop and just listen to her.

“Margie, please! You know I would never—”

Billy was pulling Margie by the arm, and he pushed her into the car and jumped in next to her.

“Wait! Garrett, wait and let her explain. She said it wasn’t what it looked like,” Margie said.

“Drive, Ray,” I said.

“Garrett, please,” Margie said.

I slammed my hand down on the dashboard and yelled, “Drive, Ray! Margie, just stop! You saw what I saw. They were holding hands and having a grand time. There is nothing for her to explain.”

Raymond backed the car out, and right before he pulled away, I glanced back at Emma. She was standing there, crying, and the jerk had his hands on her shoulders while he was saying something to her.

I looked straight ahead and said, “Head back to Mason, Raymond. I never want to set foot in Austin again.”

New Year’s Eve

I downed another beer and gave the empty bottle a good throw as Billy and Wayne argued about something. I was well on my way to getting drunk, and I didn’t care. Emma had tried to call me every day for the last few days, and each time, I’d told Mother to tell her I wasn’t around. I’d seen the worry in my mother’s eyes.

She would hang up and ask me, What happened in Austin, Garrett?

I would say the same thing each time, My eyes were opened, Mama, to my true future.

“Hey, Mathews. Why the long face?” Anna purred as she walked up and looked down at me.

She was wearing a pair of tight pedal pushers and a black shirt that was tied just above her midsection. I licked my lips as I took in her body.

Wayne leaned over and said, “Don’t do it, Garrett. You know you’ll regret it the moment it happens.”

I grabbed another beer and continued to stare at Anna. I could take her around the corner and screw her brains out, but it wouldn’t help me forget about Emma. It could give my poor dick some relief, but that would be about it.

Anna leaned in and put her lips up against my ear. She whispered, “Let’s bring in 1958 with a bang, shall we?”

I pulled back as I looked at her and shook my head. “I might be on my way to drunk, but I’m not drunk yet.”

She gave me a dirty look and stood up straight. She smoothed back her hair and looked at me like she hated me. “Your loss, jerk.” She spun around and made her way over to the next poor guy she was going to attempt to sleep with.

I felt someone nudge my shoulder.

“Come on, let’s get out of here and hit the fields,” Billy said.

Margie and Peggy started jumping up and down, and then they took off for Billy’s car.

The fields were what they’d started calling the west pasture of the ranch. We would all hang out there and either shoot the guns or just sit there and drink. Billy always parked the car far enough away so that he and Margie could stay behind and have sex while the rest of us hung out. We’d been going there for the past six months whenever everyone came home from school, but it seemed like we’d been doing it every night for the last week. Ever since we’d gotten back from Austin, I’d been attempting to drink Emma away.

I stood up and felt a little dizzy. “You driving? I think I’ve had too much to drink.”

Billy laughed. “I’ll have Margie drive your car, and I’ll follow.”

I nodded my head. “Sounds good. I’ll wait in the car.” I made my way over to my car and crawled into the backseat.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lying there before I heard Margie get in the car and start it up.

“Margie, Margie, Margie, let’s go get drunk,” I said.

I slowly felt myself falling asleep. As I drifted off, all I could see were Emma’s beautiful gray eyes looking into mine while she was sitting on the quilt under our oak tree, smiling at me.

Why, Em? Why didn’t you keep your promise?

My eyes snapped open when I heard the car door shut. I slowly sat up and tried to adjust my eyes. It was dark out, but the full moon lit up the oak tree perfectly. Why in the hell did Margie park here?

I slowly made my way out of the car and called out, “Marg, why in the hell did you park here?” I looked around and couldn’t see or hear anyone. “Where’s Billy?” I spun around and didn’t see them.

“Margie? If you and Billy want to sneak off, fine, but don’t leave me here! I don’t want to be here.”

“Why not? This is my favorite place on the ranch.”

The moment I heard her sweet voice, my heart dropped to the ground. I turned around and saw Emma leaning against the tree, holding the quilt. I was so happy to see her, and my first instinct was to walk up and kiss her.

“Emma? What are you…why are you here and not in Austin?”

Austin.

Philip.

The hurt rushed through my body again, and I took a few steps back. “What happened, Em? Your boyfriend break up with you before y’all could ring in the New Year together?”

I couldn’t see her facial expression, but I could tell she stiffened up.

“I hope not. I was kind of hoping we would celebrate it together.”

I let out a laugh. “You brought your boyfriend to Mason?” I pushed both hands through my hair and then leaned over. I felt sick to my stomach. I put my hands on my knees and took in a few deep breaths. “Fucking great,” I whispered.

I jumped when I felt her touch my shoulder. I stood up and took a few steps away from her. I couldn’t handle her touch right now. I couldn’t even handle the sound of her sweet voice.

“I didn’t have to bring him to Mason. He lives in Mason, and we’ve been apart for too long.” She reached her hand out toward me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Emma, what in the hell are you talking about? Philip doesn’t live in Mason.”

The corner of Emma’s lip rose, and then she smiled at me. She slowly shook her head and said, “No, Philip lives in Austin with my aunt and uncle.”