The Lucky Five - By Arow Jones Page 0,45

a welcomed cup of hot coffee. “So, the Rodeo?” I didn’t ask her when I told Scott we were going. I didn’t want to give her a chance to say no.

“Yup.” I already have an idea forming in my head. She’s going to hate it but she needs it just like she needs me. I hand her the cup back. “Thanks. I have some things to do but we’ll talk during the week.” I kiss her on the cheek before I leave. She’s probably wondering why I left so quickly but the thought of her face lighting up when she sees my surprise made me want to grin like crazy. I wasn’t going to be able to hide it from her if I kept standing there looking into her beautiful eyes.

I’m already on my phone before walking into my office. “Yeah, I’ll send you the specs. Have it delivered before this weekend.” When I hang up I see Chase leaning against the door jam. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He scratches his head. “I’m taking off soon.” I get up, shake his hand with one hand and pull him into a hug with the other.

“Take care man. Everything will be okay. We’ll see you next weekend.”

“Yup, see yeah.”

The week passes by quickly. I wish I could see the look on the Lily’s face when her brand new dually truck arrives. It’s similar to mine but a newer model with a computerized touch screen panel, navigation system, and satellite radio, fully loaded with features that aren’t even out yet.

The dealership called me this morning to let me know the truck has been delivered. By the end of the day I haven’t heard from her so I call her. It goes to voicemail. I leave a message to let her know I’m thinking of her. About an hour later she sends me back a text.

Lily: Sorry, field trip

JT: Where?

Lily: In town

JT: Oh yeah?

Lily: paint, grain, wood

JT: For what?

Lily: so many questions

It suddenly dawns on me that she hasn’t mentioned how she got those supplies. It could only have been the truck but she hasn’t mentioned getting the truck either. I feel a little hurt but it’s not like I gave her a choice.

JT: in what?

Lily: a truck

JT: what truck?

Lily: geez, gotta go

What the hell? I call her but she doesn’t answer. Fine. If she doesn’t want to answer her phone I’ll just have to talk to her in person. I walk over to her place ready to rip into her for playing games with me but she’s not there.

I knock on the door. “Hello?” Maybe she didn’t get the truck after all. There is no answer. I sit on the porch swing and wait.

Ten minutes later I hear music blaring. Lily drives the red truck up the driveway. I can see her and Kenny singing to the music. Watching the huge grin on her face melts my anger away. I want this look on her face all the time.

She park and gets out, doing a little spin, still singing to herself. She so beautiful and completely oblivious to me standing right in front of her. When she sees me she stops and drops the bag she’s holding. Her mouth hangs open in embarrassment. I pick up the bag.

“You dropped something Sugar.” I know she loves it when I call her Sugar. This is exactly why. She’s the sweetest thing in my life and I can’t live without her. The realization is like lightening in my chest. It’s electrifying me, giving me the giddy up to make her mine. I take her hand and pull her back to the truck. “Show me your new truck.”

“Um, okay.” She bends towards me and kisses me on the cheek. “Thank you JT. I know I should be mad but I can’t. You’ve always been there for Gramps and me, even if I didn’t know it, so thank you.”

I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and lean down to kiss her lips. “Anything for you.”

Twenty One

Before dawn breaks, I drive to JT’s. When I get there I honk my horn. It’s the day of the Rodeo. He tried to talk me into staying the whole weekend but I refused. I didn’t want to spend the money on a hotel room. Kenny has to stay behind. We agree to go for the day and come back late tonight.

He walks down the fronts steps holding two travel mugs. I’m glad someone was thinking. My head is a little foggy. “Ugh! Thank