Read Online Under the Dusty Sky (Holloway Farms) by Allie Brennan - Free Book Online
Authors: Allie Brennan
Tags: english eBooks
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happens every year I assume.
“ As per tradition, everyone usually sings our Graceland Holloway a birthday tune, but this year is a special year.” Les holds the mic and reaches for Gracie’s hand. She smiles a grateful and shy looking smile. She would be so great in L.A. That smile is perfect. Perfectly and meticulously crafted.
“ This year, Gracie turns sixteen so we should all sing extra loud for her.”
Les starts singing, and soon there’s a big chorus of happy birthday, and Gracie looks over her shoulder at me. I’m not singing. I don’t sing.
Gracie says thank you and winks at me on her way down the stage. I can feel my resolve fading, my ability to say no wanes with every sultry look, with every slip of that accent. She may not be experienced in the way she wants to be, but she sure does know how to wear a guy out. Especially in that dress.
I watch her make her way through the crowd. She knows exactly how to work people, how much to give, how much contact, how to smile, how to act. Her persona changes so fluidly, so effortlessly. She would fit perfectly in my world.
My heart hammers, and I almost miss a chord in the chorus of the song we’re playing. I don’t want someone to fit into my world. I want someone who is real.
I can’t stop watching her as she dances to every single song. Les wasn’t kidding when he said she likes to dance, and she can definitely dance. It makes me want to dance with her. To show her I can dance. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to prove something to anyone before.
***
We finish the set, and I unplug the guitar. The last song was particularly fast, and I struggled to remember it. It’s weird how I can remember the chords to a song I played years ago but can’t remember what I learned in school only last month. I make my way outside for air and suck in long deep breath. I still can’t get over how clean the air is. Dusty, yes but clean. I walk the grounds until I find a small stable and duck inside. I don’t really feel like talking to anyone, and I’m the new guy in a small town. I can imagine I’ll be forced to talk.
It’s dark, and I can’t see much in the little stable except from what is illuminated by the silver moon. The long corridor is swallowed by darkness and only about one or two stalls are visible. There’s a snorting sound in the distance of a horse that's not happy I woke it up. A shadow passes through the light, and I spin around to see Gracie backlit in silver. She smiles at me and steps into the stable. I instantly know I’ll give her anything she wants. She has me cornered. And wearing that dress. I’ve heard of strong men. I’m not one of them. Not with Gracie.
“ What was that?” She laughs as she approaches me. She steps in. Close. I can smell her. Straw and apples and fresh air.
“ What was what?” I shrug even though I know what’s what.
“ You never said you were a musician.”
“ You never asked.” Which is true. I haven’t really thought about it. She's never asked me anything about myself. She doesn’t even know where I’m from, but she’ll come on to me no problem. The public Gracie, the one that hides and schemes and manipulates. The one that doesn’t care about how her actions affect others. I don’t like that Gracie. Right now, that's clear, but her face lit in the moonlight reminds me of earlier.
The private Gracie that reads poetry, that doesn’t take any shit, and wears beat-up sweatshirts and ponytails. The one that lets loose her accent when she’s pissed and squeals when she’s excited. The one that smiles with every muscle in her face. That Gracie is irresistible.
I can’t handle that I never know which one I’ll get.
Gracie leans against the wall next to me, and we look at each other. Half her face is shadowed, but I can see her thinking. It plays across her face until she finally opens her mouth.
“ So are you in a band? Famous?” She grins. Fake, flirty Gracie. I look away.
“ No,
“ As per tradition, everyone usually sings our Graceland Holloway a birthday tune, but this year is a special year.” Les holds the mic and reaches for Gracie’s hand. She smiles a grateful and shy looking smile. She would be so great in L.A. That smile is perfect. Perfectly and meticulously crafted.
“ This year, Gracie turns sixteen so we should all sing extra loud for her.”
Les starts singing, and soon there’s a big chorus of happy birthday, and Gracie looks over her shoulder at me. I’m not singing. I don’t sing.
Gracie says thank you and winks at me on her way down the stage. I can feel my resolve fading, my ability to say no wanes with every sultry look, with every slip of that accent. She may not be experienced in the way she wants to be, but she sure does know how to wear a guy out. Especially in that dress.
I watch her make her way through the crowd. She knows exactly how to work people, how much to give, how much contact, how to smile, how to act. Her persona changes so fluidly, so effortlessly. She would fit perfectly in my world.
My heart hammers, and I almost miss a chord in the chorus of the song we’re playing. I don’t want someone to fit into my world. I want someone who is real.
I can’t stop watching her as she dances to every single song. Les wasn’t kidding when he said she likes to dance, and she can definitely dance. It makes me want to dance with her. To show her I can dance. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to prove something to anyone before.
***
We finish the set, and I unplug the guitar. The last song was particularly fast, and I struggled to remember it. It’s weird how I can remember the chords to a song I played years ago but can’t remember what I learned in school only last month. I make my way outside for air and suck in long deep breath. I still can’t get over how clean the air is. Dusty, yes but clean. I walk the grounds until I find a small stable and duck inside. I don’t really feel like talking to anyone, and I’m the new guy in a small town. I can imagine I’ll be forced to talk.
It’s dark, and I can’t see much in the little stable except from what is illuminated by the silver moon. The long corridor is swallowed by darkness and only about one or two stalls are visible. There’s a snorting sound in the distance of a horse that's not happy I woke it up. A shadow passes through the light, and I spin around to see Gracie backlit in silver. She smiles at me and steps into the stable. I instantly know I’ll give her anything she wants. She has me cornered. And wearing that dress. I’ve heard of strong men. I’m not one of them. Not with Gracie.
“ What was that?” She laughs as she approaches me. She steps in. Close. I can smell her. Straw and apples and fresh air.
“ What was what?” I shrug even though I know what’s what.
“ You never said you were a musician.”
“ You never asked.” Which is true. I haven’t really thought about it. She's never asked me anything about myself. She doesn’t even know where I’m from, but she’ll come on to me no problem. The public Gracie, the one that hides and schemes and manipulates. The one that doesn’t care about how her actions affect others. I don’t like that Gracie. Right now, that's clear, but her face lit in the moonlight reminds me of earlier.
The private Gracie that reads poetry, that doesn’t take any shit, and wears beat-up sweatshirts and ponytails. The one that lets loose her accent when she’s pissed and squeals when she’s excited. The one that smiles with every muscle in her face. That Gracie is irresistible.
I can’t handle that I never know which one I’ll get.
Gracie leans against the wall next to me, and we look at each other. Half her face is shadowed, but I can see her thinking. It plays across her face until she finally opens her mouth.
“ So are you in a band? Famous?” She grins. Fake, flirty Gracie. I look away.
“ No,
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