“Bobby said he’d be waiting by the door for us,” reminded Leslie. Who felt a little too intimidated to get out and knock on the door.
“Good Lord,” Holly observed. “What a house!”
“That house must be over 20,000 square feet inside.” Said Carl, adding a guy’s perspective. “Wonder if they need any insurance?”
“Would you hush,” Holly responded, slapping his shoulder. She and Leslie giggled.
“There he is.”
Bobby rushed out. His mother was standing at the door – she smiled and then waved at the car. Leslie and Holly smiled and waved back.
Carl got out of the car and extended his hand, “Hey Dude. I hadn’t seen you in a while.”
“Not since we beat you guys down in the City championship.” Bobby smiled, poking at Carl a little.
“Now, I could’ve gone all night without hearing that,” replied Carl as he opened the back door for Bobby.
Bobby gave Carl a friendly pat on his shoulder, “Thanks, man.”
Jumping in the back seat with Leslie, Bobby gave her a greeting kiss, “You look really nice.”
“Doesn’t she?” Holly agreed.
“Would you guys knock it off?” Leslie blushed a little.
* * * * * * *
When the four of them arrived at Maynard Lake, there was already a huge crowd. There were a couple of keg stations set up already.
“Carl, let’s go get some beers,” Bobby said. “You ladies want one?”
“Absolutely.”
They hurried off laughing together.
“Carl and Bobby seem to get along well.” Leslie said.
“Oh yeah, most jocks naturally get along like that.”
Leslie stood by and watched Holly speak with and smile at what seemed like a dozen people – all in just a few minutes.
“You sure know a lot of people here.”
“Leslie, I grew up here,” said Holly. “I’m sure that things would be the same for you in Hollister.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
The guys returned with fresh beers.
“Would you like a tour of the lake?” Bobby asked Leslie.
“Would love one!”
* * * * * * *
As the evening moved along, the flowing beer tasted even more wonderful, and the music sounded even better. Leslie had never danced so much in her life. She and Bobby had really connected in a way that Leslie couldn’t even have imagined. They slow danced and held hands.
Holly saw that sparkle again in Leslie’s eyes. “Wow, they’re really into each other,” she said to Carl.
“Isn’t that the truth,” laughed Carl. “Let’s join them!”
It wasn’t just feeling connected with Bobby that made Leslie feel great. What she was feeling at the party was even bigger than that. She was beginning to feel a warm embrace from the community too. That was also a new experience for her. Her hometown never made her feel that way.
She had met countless people at the party, made new friends and couldn’t feel any happier.
“Where did Holly go?” Leslie asked Carl.
“I believe she’s talking to one of her distant cousins over there.” Carl answered.
“Okay.” Leslie acknowledged.
She then told Bobby, “I’m going to powder my nose.”
“Need some help?” Bobby joked.
“No, I’ve gotten pretty proficient at it over the years.”
Leslie did her business in the crowded ladies room. She made her exit and turned up the path to the table they had been using. She then heard a familiar voice that made her cringe.
“I guess y..you’re preased with yourself!”
She turned to see Musher standing there. Tina was standing alongside him – she had a very concerned look on her face. It was all too apparent that Musher had too much to drink.
“Pardon?” she answered, not really knowing what else to say.
“Bobby just doesshn’t know your your real deal .. the r..r..real story ‘bout you!” Musher slurred as he stumbled forward.
Tina began pleading with him, “Rick, let’s go home now. You’ve had too much.”
Leslie just stopped and stared – concerned about what Musher might do or say next.
“You jusss wait, missee, “Musher added. “I knnnoww somethin’ on you … “
“I’m sorry,” Tina said, as she hurried Musher away.
Leslie returned back to the table. Bobby could sense that something was bothering her.
“Leslie, what’s wrong?”
“I just ran into your cousin. He’s pretty wasted.”
“Did he say something mean to you?” Bobby demanded.
“He was just being himself,” Leslie said in an ‘as a matter of fact’ tone. She really didn’t want to stir up a family feud between them.
“I need to put him in his place.”
“Tina is with him. She pulled him away and apologized.”
Bobby seemed to be content with that – for the moment anyway. He then changed the subject.
“Hey, I got something that you guys may or may not be interested in doing.” Bobby said. He motioned them forward.
Leslie, Holly, and Carl perked up and stepped forward. Bobby first glanced around and then showed them a hash pipe in his partially closed hand.
“I’m sorry if this kind of thing offends any of you, but I thought I’d offer anyway. This stuff I have is pretty amazing.”
“Doesn’t hurt my feelings,” Holly confessed. “I’m all for it.”
Carl chuckled and nodded his head in agreement.
Then they all looked at Leslie. Not waiting to be a wet blanket, she blurted out, “Fine by me!”
“This way,” Bobby urged, leading the way.
They walked for a few minutes and found themselves in a clearing that overlooked the lake. Although they couldn’t see the party, which was around the knoll, they could plainly see the party’s lights reflecting keenly off the water. And of course the music from the band was more than loud enough.
Bobby fired up the hash pipe and passed it to Carl. He looked at Leslie, “Don’t feel that you have to smoke it just because of us, it’s okay if you don’t want to.”
“Oh no, I’d like to smoke at least a little,” Leslie answered. “It just doesn’t take very much for me.”
Bobby gave her a smile of understanding.
“Carl, have you ever been at this spot?”
“I’ve been here at the Lake many times, but never here. It’s really nice.”
“Me and my crazy cousin actually brought chainsaws and weed eaters up here one day and carved this place out. Very few people know it’s even here.”
“You guys did a nice job,” Carl complimented – ever the salesman.
Before long, the four of them were feeling light headed and giggling.
“Goodness,” Holly confirmed. “You were right about that hash. Which way is the trail anyway?”
“There’s only one way you can go!” Laughed Carl.
“Give me a break, I’m a little lost here.”
The four of them laughed hysterically as they fumbled their way down the path. Everything was a punch line all of a sudden.
And as jocks tend to do, Bobby and Carl began talking trash about the championship football game in which they played against each other.
“Of course you won!” Carl said, raising his voice in a fun way. “You got that late flag that helped you win.”
“Hell, I had to do something with my allowance,” joked Bobby. Both of them laughed.
They finally got back to the party site and found their table.
“I’m ready for a beer,” said Carl. “Anybody else?”
Immediately there were three nods of agreement. Bobby rose up to go with him, but Carl motioned him back down, “Keep your seat, old man. I got this.”
Bobby smiled, “Okay.”
Bobby sat down with Leslie. He put his arm around her, pulling Leslie
closer.
She felt so nice to him. They turned and looked into each other’s eyes. It was a wonderful moment. Feeling great and seeing the refection of the big campfire in each other’s eyes.
Bobby softly stroked his hand across Leslie’s warm, soft cheek. She slowly caressed his hand and kissed it warmly. With her other hand, Leslie gently pulled his face to hers. They kissed one another in the most loving way they ever had to this point.
This was a moment that neither would ever forget. Although they said no words, they communicated their feelings in the plainest, yet most simple way possible.
“W..we..ll, ain’t you two made foorrr ea,,each other?” came that aggravating voice again.
Leslie sighed and felt a pain in the pit of her stomach. Oh no, she thought.
Bobby knew the voice all too well. And he knew the voice when it was drunk too. He slowly rose and turned to face Musher. The look on Bobby’s indicated that he was more than disgusted with his cousin.
“Mush, why don’t you just move along? I think that would be best.”
“I’ll mm .. move along when I’mmm ready to.” Musher replied. “I’mm still tryin to figurre out what you see with dis bitch anyway.”
“I told you once and I’m not going to tell you again, quit calling her a bitch!”
“Well .. wha .. whae’er you wanna call her, I know somethin’ bout her that you don’t”
“Whatever.”
“Besides … th.thought she was pi ..pissed at you ‘bout that hooker.”
Bobby gritted his teeth, he glanced over at Tina. The worried look on her face was begging him not to let the cat out of the bag. Musher still didn’t know that Bobby knew he’d hired the hooker.
“She was pissed at me, but she was kind enough to forgive me.”
Tina mouthed a relieved ‘thank you’ toward Bobby. He nodded.
By this time, more curious people had started to gather around. Maybe they’d see a fight!
“Ha ha ha … hee-hee,” Musher started laughing.
“What’s so damn funny?” Bobby demanded.
“You du..dumb shit. You don’ even kkknow, do you?”
“Know what?!”
“Your L ..Leslie is a freakin ORPHAN! She gr.grew up in an.an orphanage!!”
“What?”
“B..bet you didn’t know, ddid ya? … ha ha .. hee-hee … leave it to ol’ Mu.Mush to look adder you.”
Bobby turned to see a concerned Leslie staring back at him, “Is this true?”
She looked at him, tears began to flow down her cheeks, she tried to speak and couldn’t. Finally she slowly nodded and whispered, “yes.”
Leslie then darted past him, and said “yes” again, much louder this time as her voice was breaking.
Holly walked up to Musher, looked him in the eye and warned, “You bastard, if you’re here when I get back, I swear to God I’ll slap those teeth down your throat!”
Holly then ran after Leslie.
Bobby stared back at Musher and then down at the ground – his mind trying to process the last few minutes.
TO BE CONTINUED …..
Find Out What Happens to Leslie
Leslie’s Confession (Book 2) – Has the latest news ended Leslie’s relationship forever? How will Leslie overcome her admission? Find out in Book 2 what her confession is and how it will affect her life and those dearest to her.
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