Chapter Text
🧚🧚🧚
Waverly was staring at the door. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she had been wiping the same spot on the bartop and watching the door for the last 30 minutes.
Waiting.
“Babe!” Champ Hardy called from across the bar, pulling her from her thoughts. “Another round over here!”
She was definitely not waiting for Champ, nor was she his babe. At least not anymore. She broke up for the fifth and final time with the boy-man two weeks ago.
Sadly, he had yet to accept it.
“I’m not your babe, Champ.” Waverly started pouring the drinks and placing them on the bar. “And come get them yourself. Rosita is busy.”
Waverly Earp had been working at the family bar, Shorty’s, since she was old enough to wait tables. She didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t what she wanted to do all her life.
Her aunt, Gus, owned it and talked about letting Waverly take over someday. She loved Gus, but she wasn’t interested. She just hadn’t figured out how to tell her aunt yet. Her dreams didn’t include being a barmaid.
And while she wasn’t interested, she was still serving drinks behind the bar at Shorty’s and dealing with Champ and guys like him.
“You’re looking smoking hot today.” Champ winked, grabbing the drinks. “How about me and you go up to your room, and I’ll show you how much I like it.”
Blinking in disbelief, Waverly fought the urge to hit him like she did a few weeks ago when he told her to turn off her brain. She silently cursed the small town of Purgatory and its limited dating options. If she had grown up somewhere else, surely she wouldn’t have been stuck with this idiot for so long.
He was a good-looking guy, with muscular tattooed arms and a nice butt. His smile was a little too wide and bright, but it was probably trying to compensate for his brain — which was neither wide nor bright — which was the problem, or at least one of the many problems she had when she dated the boy-man.
“Champ, we broke up.” Pointing toward the stairs, she shook her head. “There will be no going upstairs to my room ever again, and I really don’t need you to approve of anything when it comes to me. Got it?”
He leaned on the bar, smirking. “You know you’re going to come begging for me to take you back. You always do, so why don’t we skip to that part?”
She and the doofus dated all through high school, and off and on over the last few years. They had broken up and gotten back together a few times, but she never begged him for anything. Well, that’s not true. She begged for an orgasm every time they had sex, but that never happened.
“Move it, Champ.” Chrissy Nedley shoved him out of the way and sat on the barstool, slinging her dirty blonde hair in his face. “Waverly isn’t doing you anymore. Thankfully.”
“Whatever.” Champ huffed and walked off.
Waverly watched him, eyes narrowed, wishing he would trip; unfortunately, nothing happened.
Sighing, she turned to look at her best friend.
She and Chrissy had been friends all their lives. What was the saying from Forrest Gump ? They were like peas and carrots. Different, but perfect together. Chrissy was the Fire Chief’s daughter, and Waverly was the daughter of a drunken asshole who took off years ago. Neither had a mother, Chrissy’s for reasons beyond her control, whereas Waverly’s mother took off even before dad did. Like all her family did.
Waverly blamed a lot of things on her runaway family, including trying to make things work with Champ the Chump. She just wanted someone to stay with her for once in her life.
Chrissy had told her over and over again to dump Champ. That she deserved better. When it finally happened, she was Waverly’s biggest cheerleader and supporter.
“Thank you,” Waverly mumbled. “But just so you know, I wasn’t going to take him up on the offer.”
She was wiping down the bar again, avoiding eye contact with Chrissy.
Waverly wasn’t going to take him up on the offer, but if she had, it wouldn’t have been the first time. She was afraid if she looked in Chrissy’s eye, disbelief might be lingering there.
“Oh, I know.” Chrissy grabbed Waverly’s hand, squeezing it. “I know you’re done this time.”
Nodding, Waverly looked up and smiled. She didn’t know what she would do without Chrissy. She was more like a sister to Waverly than her own sisters.
At least Chrissy had been there over the years, unlike Wynonna and Willa. At least she stayed.
Willa, the oldest Earp child, left when Waverly was young. She ran off with a guy named Bobo and rarely found her way back to Purgatory, and that was mostly okay with Waverly. Willa wasn’t nice to her growing up, and not much had changed since they became adults.
When Waverly was young, Willa would torture and tease her. Now, whenever she visits, Willa makes snide remarks about Waverly’s lack of a career, lack of a decent boyfriend, her lack of a life.
“Heard from Wynonna lately?” Chrissy asked as if she could read Waverly’s mind.
Wynonna was the middle Earp child and Waverly’s favorite person on the entire Earth.
Wynonna was wild and free but always took care of Waverly. She read her bedtime stories and beat up anyone who hurt Waverly, including Willa.
Wynonna was her everything.
And then she left.
Like everyone else.
On Waverly’s 16th birthday, Wynonna told her she needed to go. She said she was suffocating under the watchful eyes of the people of Purgatory, and she didn’t want to do it anymore.
They had judged her carefree lifestyle and her careless drinking. They all said she would grow up to be just like Ward Earp — a worthless drunk.
And Wynonna was afraid they would be right. She needed a change.
She promised to come back and take Waverly with her. She promised that she would call and be back for all the important things. She promised she would still take care of Waverly.
Wynonna made lots of promises before she walked out the door, but she never kept any of them.
Well, that’s not exactly true. Wynonna did text or call on occasion.
“Nope.” Waverly poured Chrissy a glass of white wine and placed it in front of her. “I haven’t heard from her in weeks. She's probably off doing somebody and forgot about me.”
Picking up the drink, Chrissy scrunched her nose, and her lips turned down into a frown. “She’s done lots of somebodys and never forgotten you. She’s probably working or something.”
Waverly snorted. “You know Wynonna doesn’t work. Whatever. It doesn't matter. I’m used to her being gone. It’s no big deal.”
It was a big deal.
When Wynonna left, Waverly moved in with Gus and her Uncle Curtis. They took her in and loved her as best they could, but they weren’t Wynonna. Waverly longed for her sister. No matter what she said.
“You know that’s not true. You miss her.” Chrissy tilted her head. “When is Gus coming back?”
Curtis had passed away years ago. Between her aunt and uncle, he was the heart, and she was the hand. He was kind, caring, and compassionate. He loved bigger than the size of his heart while Gus worked hard, expected much, and loved with rules and responsibilities.
Waverly shrugged her shoulders and pulled another beer for a customer. “She’s in the RV, riding around the country with one of her friends. Who knows. Since my classes don’t start for a couple more weeks, probably not until I go back to school.”
Go back to school, meaning start online classes. Waverly stayed in town. She was almost positive it wasn’t because she was waiting for Wynonna to come back and get her. Almost.
‘Hey, Waverly!” Pete York was suddenly standing beside Chrissy, grinning. “I heard you broke up with Champ.”
“No.” Waverly’s lips were pursed and she was shaking her head violently. “I’m not ready.”
Pete shoved off the bar and mumbled something about trying again later, but at least he walked away.
Every guy in a 10-mile radius had asked Waverly out since she broke up with Champ. It was starting to get annoying.
“You know,” Chrissy said, spinning the engagement ring on her finger. “Pete isn’t that bad.”
No, Pete was all Purgatory, and Waverly wanted none of that. There was not one, guy or girl for that matter, in Purgatory, that intrigued her.
“Not interested.”
And really, Chrissy was engaged to the only decent guy in town. She and Perry dated all through high school, broke up during college, and then found each other again as soon as he moved back.
“Waves, Chrissy.” Rosita walked behind the bar and sat down a tray of clean glasses, touching Waverly’s shoulder. “I’m going to take a break. Need anything?”
“I’m good.” Waverly smiled and watched as Rosita walked through the backdoors.
“What about Rosita then?”
Chrissy knew Waverly was attracted to women too. She was open about her sexuality, even if she had yet to act on it. Champ may be a cheater, but she wasn’t, dang it.
“No. We kissed once, and there were no sparks.” Waverly shrugged again. “We’re better as friends.”
Chrissy hummed and took a sip of her wine.
While she never encouraged cheating, Chrissy always tried to get Waverly to look around and see what else might be available to her.
“Who do you think would provide that spark you’re looking for?”
Looking around the bar, Waverly tried to think if anyone in the bar could provide the fire that she read about in books but hadn’t felt in real life. She may love to read about history and ancient languages, but she loved romance novels too.
She loved romance.
“I don’t know.” Waverly moved around behind the bar, taking care of other customers. “I don’t think there is anyone here.”
“Oh!” Chrissy grabbed her purse, and pulled out a pen and notepad. She was a reporter at the local paper and was always prepared in case of a story. “Let’s make a list of the things you’d like to find in a mate.”
“You can’t write about me in the paper.”
Chrissy rolled her eyes. They had this discussion tons of times. Waverly was in the paper a lot growing up. She was voted Nicest Person in Purgatory, and she was head cheerleader and valedictorian. She had been in the paper enough, and she didn’t need Chrissy writing some matchmaking story about her.
“Of course not,” Chrissy frowned. “This is only for you and me. We’ll call it a wish list.”
Waverly leaned against the bar, thinking. She had made a similar list when she was younger, but it ended up being something about Wynonna coming home and finding someone who would never leave her.
She ran her fingers along the bar top and sighed.
What could it hurt? It wasn’t like Waverly wishing for love would actually make it happen.
“Okay.”
Chrissy squealed and danced in her seat. “Okay. What is the second quality you are looking for in a partner?”
Looking over at the list, Waverly tried to pull it close to her. “What did you put as number one?”
Chrissy covered it with her hand, huffing. “They have to be gorgeous, of course.”
Looks aren't number one on Waverly's list. Hell, looks aren’t even on her list, but she let Chrissy have that one. It wasn’t like Waverly would mind if this perfect mate was hot.
“They have to be kind and considerate.”
Chrissy started writing on the notepad. “Got it. Gorgeous and kind. What else?”
“Funny.”
Placing the pen on the bar, Chrissy blew out a long breath and tapped Waverly’s hand. “Waves, I know all the basic stuff, and everyone says ‘a good sense of humor.’ Tell me what you want.”
Waverly thought about it for a few seconds before she started clicking things off with her fingers.
“I want someone with soulful brown eyes. When they look at me, I want to feel like they know me. I want someone who treats me like I’m not some dumb bimbo just because I look alright in a short skirt and crop top.”
Waverly did far more than look alright in short skirts and crop tops. She had long brown hair, hazel eyes that turned into crescent moons when she smiled, and she had been hit on more times than she could count.
“Respectful. Got it,” Chrissy interrupted. “Go on.”
Waverly twirled around behind the bar and smiled. “I want someone who can dance and will watch documentaries with me.”
“Good in bed,” Chrissy nodded. “That’s very important.”
Chuckling, Waverly swatted at her friend. “I didn’t say that, but, yeah. It would be nice to have an orgasm with someone else in the room.”
Chrissy dropped the pen and covered her mouth. “Oh, Waves, I’m so sorry.”
“Stop it.” Waverly’s lips turned up into a smirk.
“You know that.” She pointed toward Champ. “Never gave me one, and it’s not like I have any other experience.”
Chrissy picked up the pen and started writing again. “I’m moving that one up the list. What else?”
“I dunno.” Waverly picked at the towel laying on the bar, twisting it in her hands. “I want someone who will love me and never leave. I want someone who wants me to love them and never leave.”
Covering Waverly’s hand with hers, Chrissy smiled softly. “I think you’re going to find that person.”
Waverly sighed longingly.
Chrissy pulled the piece of paper out of the notebook, folded it, and sat it in front of Waverly.
“Oh yeah, I forgot why I’m here.” Chrissy pulled Waverly in for a hug over the bar. “Happy birthday! We’re having dinner and drinking tonight. You only turn 21 once. Jeremy and Damon are meeting us here. Don’t even try to get out of it. It’s happening.”
At least her friends remembered it was her birthday. Waverly hadn’t heard from any of her family, specifically Wynonna.
She was actually looking forward to hanging out with her friends. Rosita was covering for her, and Doc was working the bar. No matter what, she was going to have fun.
“Sounds good.”
Waving as she walked out the door, Chrissy winked. “See you tonight, birthday girl!”
After Chrissy left, she picked up the note and opened it, running her fingers along the lines. She read the last sentence, trying to fight the tears she knew were there and wanted to escape.
Someone who will love me and never leave me. Someone I will love and never leave.
“I wish.” Waverly folded the paper and roughly wiped her eyes with balls of her hands, whispering, “I wish my true love would just show up tomorrow — and bring my sister with them.”
🔥🔥🔥
Nicole Haught was drinking a beer when she felt a burning sensation on her chest. She placed her hand there and let out a low hiss.
“What’s wrong, Haught Sauce? Too many shots.”
She looked over at that brunette beside her, frowning.
Nicole had been traveling for over a year, from Greece to her current location in New York City, and had done more drinking in the last few months than she had in her lifetime. But this wasn't the alcohol. This was an ache like she had never felt.
She pressed her chest and shook her head. “No. Hey, where did you say you were from?”
Her self-proclaimed best friend looked up from her drink, scrunching her nose.
They had been traveling together for almost a year and Nicole knew that face. It was the ‘unhappy, and I ain’t drunk enough to handle it’ face.
“Purgatory. Why?”
She also knew her friend had no desire to go there, but Nicole did. She needed to get there as quickly as possible.
“I’m going there tomorrow, and I think you should go with me.”
Slamming the shot that had been placed in front of her, the dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty shook her head. “Why in the hell would I go there?”
Nicole didn’t know why, but she knew she had to go, and she had to take Wynonna Earp with her.
She touched her chest again, rubbing it. It was as if her heart was empty, and whatever would fill it, complete it, was in Purgatory, and she needed to find it.
Whatever it was.
“I don't know, but I want to go to Purgatory, and you’re coming with me.”