Don't Tell Me

"Dude, no. There is no way in hell I'm letting you drive my truck, I'd rather stay sober for tonight." I told my brother. I would let him drive back home tonight, but he just totaled his own truck... For the second time.
"Come on. Yours is nicer anyway."
"That's because I take care of my truck," I set a few cases of beer in the bed before going inside for more.
"Aren't you gonna get in trouble for taking dad's alcohol?" Jared followed me back into the house so I decided to put him to work and he would carry out the rest of the cases for me.
"Dad gave up on trying to keep me out of the beer years ago. Have you talked to mom lately?"
"Nah she's been busy with her boyfriend."
Our parents got divorced when we were 16. It was a pretty mild deal. My mom told my father to keep the ranch. Keep the truck. Keep everything. The only thing she wanted was to see us as much as she could, but didn't want us to have to change schools. Neither of us knew exactly why they broke up, but they were still friendly. Never fought or said anything bad about each other behind their backs.
Four years later, dad was happily single and mom was dating someone on the Colorado Avalanche executive board or something like that.
"Just because you hate the Avs, doesn't mean you can be upset with mom for dating their general manager."
"Coach. When was the last time you even went into Denver to see her?"
"I'm going tomorrow," I grabbed a sweatshirt and and slipped on a pair of old, muddy boots, "You know what? We're taking the jeep. You can drive."
"What made you change your mind?" He laughed as we started to move the alcohol from the bed of the truck to the back of my jeep.
"That beer looks really good," I laughed as I climbed in the passenger side of my own car, "We have to pick up Angie before we head out though."
My twin pulled out of the garage and headed down the dirt road. My hair was flipping around in the wind and I turned up the music. We were almost to my best friend's house when my dad called.
"You know, next time you steal all my beer, you could at least leave a few for me."
"Sorry, dad."
"Hey, ask him when my truck is going to be done," Jared started pushing at my shoulder when he realized who I was talking to.
"When is Jared's truck going to be fixed?"
"When he can pay for it himself, or three weeks. Which ever comes first."
"Ahhh things are so much better with your top off!" Angela yelled as she hopped in the back seat.
"What was that?" My father questioned.
"Angie's talking about the jeep."
"Is that your dad?" I nodded, "Tell Papa Benson his favorite non-child says hi."
"She says hi," Jared tried to turn up the music but I swatted his hand away. I'm sure dad would be calling him later. They had plans to go out on the trails tomorrow.
"Stay safe tonight. Call if you need rides."
"We have a DD. Thanks dad. Love you."
"Love you too, but seriously. Stop taking my beer."
Our usual gathering spot was 20 minutes from Angie's house so we had a while to go. She tossed me a can and opened one for herself. I turned up the music and started singing along to Kacey Musgrave's new song.
"Girl we ain't friends, we're just neighbors. There ain't nothin' to see here. Go back to your trailer.."
"You nosy bitch!" Angie yelled and the two of us burst into laughter, "Best part of the song right there."
"You two really are something else," Jared shook his head and laughed at us, "Aaron coming tonight?"
"Uhh..." I tried thinking of what he said he would be doing tonight, but couldn't remember the last time we talked.
"Shouldn't you know if your boyfriend is going to be at a fire or not?"
"Yeah probably. He's been out of town or busy. Not too concerned right now."
We got to the spot to find a field full of trucks and a fire already started. It wasn't even 9 yet, but almost everyone was there. I grabbed another tall boy and sat on the tailgate of Jared's best friend's truck.
"Hey Maggie, haven't seen you in a while," Clint grinned as he almost knocked my drink out of my hand.
"Yeah I've been up in Colorado Springs doing that whole college thing."
"Ahh yes. College. How's that going for ya? Still in ag business?"
"It's good. Yeah. Gonna hopefully take over the ranch someday. How's the rodeo circuit?"
"Great. I'm doing pretty well actually. Ridin' broncs. Pickin' up girls," I rolled my eyes. Typical cowboy.
He went to go talk to some girl and left me alone on the back of his pickup. I watched the people I grew up with catch up, even though most of us went to Colorado Springs or stayed around Denver. Angie was talking to one of our former classmates. The one she's had her eye on for a while now. Jared was over with one of his best friends probably talking about his truck. People came up to me every once in a while, but they left me alone for the most part.
It was almost 10 when I decided to start up some music in the jeep. I would've used someone else's vehicle, but I had the best sound system and the top was off so I really had to go with my own.
I was in the middle of arguing with my brother when two jacked up trucks pulled up.
"Who are they?" I asked Angie. Three guys filed out of the first truck and three out of the second. They were all fairly attractive
"I don't know but I call the blonde one," I rolled my eyes. Like half of them were blonde.
"It's a bunch of Avs," my brother mumbled. He clearly wasn't happy with the way that they showed up. Since we kind of started this, I decided I would be the first to talk to them. I left my brother with the music and made my way to the guys.
"Hi there. I'm Maggie Benson, uh I'm really surprised that y'all found our fire spot but you're more than welcome to stay. I hope you brought your own drinks," I turned to go back to my post on Clint's truck.
"Wait," The pretty blonde on called out, "We haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Gabe Landeskog."
"Nate MacKinnon," He was the blonde with a baby face. Couldn't be older than 17.
"Jamie McGinn." He's definitely the oldest.
"Ryan O'Reilly." I probably won't remember him.
"Tyson Barrie." He's definitely the shortest.
"I'm Matt Duchene," There was something about him that I couldn't put my finger on, but I wanted to know more.
"Well boys, it was nice meeting you. Have fun, but know that all these lovely ladies have fathers that can shoot a gun and mothers who are a better shot," I winked and went back to grab another drink.
"Dude. That guy has been staring at you all night," I could see Duchene look at me from across the fire.
"Right."
"Hey, we need more pallets," Clint yelled to no one in particular.
"We have some at our house!" I yelled back.
"Wanna go get them?"
"Yeah. It'll be a good hour but uh, I can't drive."
"I'll take you," Matt joined the conversation, "I've only had one."
I shrugged, realizing that I didn't really have a different choice. I grabbed a case of beer and climbed in the passenger side.
"You plan on drinking all that while we're gone?"
"No, smartass. It's for my dad," I laughed, "I took his beer and I feel kinda bad. Uhh.. Go back to the main road, take a left. Drive about twenty minutes and then take a right. There's a big sign that says "Benson Ranch" can't miss it."
"So, are you a college student?"
"Yeah. Up at Colorado State. Studying ag business. I'm on the rodeo team and a part of an agricultural sorority," I told him, "My mom is also dating Patrick Roy."
"So you know I'm a hockey player?"
"Yeah. My brother told me. He played in high school. Quit after he blew out his knee. Now he team ropes up at CSU with me."
I got to know him a little better on the way to my house. He was actually a pretty chill guy. Seeing him on the street, you never would have thought he was a hockey player. Or the least bit country.
"You want anything from inside?" Matt shook his head no, "Alright. I'll be out in a few to help you with the pallets."
I grabbed the beer and put it in the garage fridge. I walked inside to see my dad watching an episode of what looked like House of Cards.
"What are you still doing up?"
"I can't stop watching this damn show. Why are you back? It's not even midnight yet. Are you even drunk?" Ahh the relationship I had with my dad. It was great.
"We had to get pallets so I brought you back some beer."
"We as in?"
"Matt Duchene. Pro hockey player that your son does not like."
"Your twin doesn't like anyone who is not on the Ducks or named Mario Lemieux. Where's Aaron at?"
"No idea. Probably out screwing that girl who beat me for the buckle last year."
"You're still with him, why?"
"He's hot and I don't think he's actually cheating on me. Bye dad. I'm going to mom's tomorrow so if I don't see you before then, I'll see you in a few days."
I got outside and the pallets were already loaded into the back of the pickup and Matt was patiently waiting inside.
"I was going to help you, ya know," I tossed him a bottle of water and opened a can of Pringles.
"I did just fine. Even tied them down."
I rolled my eyes and bit off a part of a chip, "Alright pretty boy. Let's see if you can get us back. Oh my God. I love this song."
I reached to turn up Glen Templeton's new single.
"Baby got a ball cap on," I belted out, "Sure knows how to pull it off. Sun outta them hazel eyes. Looking so good but she don't try."
"You can sing too?"
"Yeah but I'm probably not gonna quit my day job."
As soon as he put the truck in park, I jumped out, Pringles in hand. Clint, Jared, and a couple other guys started taking out the pallets and stacking them in the middle of the circle of trucks.
I looked over to my jeep when I saw a familiar truck parked next to it and a pair of brown eyes met mine.
"Aaron!" I ran over to him and jumped in his arms, leaving Matt to find someone else to talk to.
"Hey babe. I was wondering where you were."
"Oh we were running low in pallets so Duchene took me to my house to get some more," I grabbed another drink and leaned against the back of my car.
"How did hockey players crash our fire?"
"I don't know, but Angie has eyes for the blonde one," I nodded over to where she was standing. I could tell she was flirting with him from over here. I could also tell she was giving a number to Matt.
A little bit of jealousy clouded my mind. I had to keep telling myself that I had a boyfriend and even though I make jokes about him cheating, he probably wasn't.
"I really hate to say this, but I have to leave pretty soon. I just wanted to see your beautiful face. Lunch tomorrow?"
"I'm going to my mom's tomorrow. How about breakfast?"
"Sounds fantastic. I'll pick you up around 7:45," He leaned down to kiss me, "I love you."
"Love you too," I waved at him as he drove away.
>> Bring me another tea
I rolled my eyes at Angie's request but grabbed what she wanted and an extra for me. She was standing with three of the hockey players. The three more attractive ones, to be honest.
I stood in between Gabe and Nate so that I could watch Matt. He made me wish I didn't have a boyfriend. I wanted to know every inch of him.
I needed to know every inch of him.
I guess Brett Eldredge wasn't the only one falling in love to the beat of the music tonight.

Notes