Kentucky Blues: A Heart Strings Love Affair, #1

By J. Haney

Do you ever wish you were in an 80s movie, where the guy always gets the girl, and the girl always goes through hell but end result is perfect? Yeah well, my life is nothing like that. 

My name is Abigail Greenwood 

I live on the wrong side of the tracks. I don't hang with the cool kids, and I actually have to work for the stuff I want. My cokehead mother won't do shit and my father, well, he works to pay the bills. Today is just one more day before I get out of this shithole town. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Haney
• Release date: Sep 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215431795

Book preview

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This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to any person, place, or theory are in no way intended or to be inferred as fact or reference.

The work is the particular property of the Author. Produced by human intellect and was in no way created or manipulated by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) program. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part or resourced by any entity, now or in the future, in any format without written permission by the Author unless part of a Review, Interview, or public push of the work and specific other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Contains adult situations. 17+ only

Manuscripts and Designs By Human Designers With Licensed Images by

Haney Hayes Promotions

For Deviant Darlings Publications

©2023 Haney

Dedication

This dedication isn’t to anyone in particular, but to all the Abigail’s out there who aren’t sure about much of anything, have been through Hell, but then there’s that one thing that just helps them through life.

Just know no matter what you may be going through someone else has been through it. Always ask for help even if you are afraid to.

It’s a battle, but you can overcome anything with the right people behind you.

~Abigail Greenwood~

Prologue

Victor

V ic? Hey-Vic?

Hearing Angelo, the dispatcher, I quickly wipe the burger sauce off my face with my sleeve, grabbing the CB and answering with my mouth still full. What’s up?

Maybe swallow before you talk? Angelo chuckles.

Hard swallow, voice adjustment. Sorry.

I need ya to run up the mile toward Mac’s. Got a ditcher for ya. The guy sounds all sorts of put out.

I sigh. Another drunk that should have stayed put, I suppose. Yeah, gimmie like ten, call Abi over at Radman’s and let her know not to lock up yet?

Way ahead of ya.

Thanks. Stuffing the last of my burger down my gullet, I toss the fries for the critters and pull the wrecker onto the main road. Amel is one of them little Kentucky towns you never notice till you’re out of it. Corn on both sides and a two-mile strip with one stop light. If it wasn’t for all the cash blowin’ around, it’d probably still be all dirt roads.

My family owns a fleet of tow trucks, and though we’re pretty loaded, my father seems to think my working will help develop my character. Whatever that means.

I see the hazard lights long before I get to the scene. I’d have thought they’d have called the locals, but aside from one flare and the hazards, there’s little movement. As I’m rolling up, I spot two figures moving around. Hell, it looks like they’re fighting.

My window is down, so I hear more than I see.

Dad—dad! Stop. It’s not budging.

This is all your fucking fault. Maybe if you watched the god damned road— The older guy is slurring and barely on his feet as he takes a swing. The kid, who’s probably around my age, manages to dodge it, and the guy lands on his ass.

"Dad—stop. I called Mom."

Yeah? Always with your mother. The little pussy can’t cut the strings.

Wow, is this a domestic I want no part of, grasping my tire iron, cause if this guy swings, I’m swinging harder, I get out of the truck. The kid spots me, and it looks like he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders. Shining my mag light, I approach.

Hey, thank you for coming out.

Sure. Looking at the position of the SUV in the ditch, I already know my night is blown. The rains from this afternoon, plus the ditch angle, are gonna really make this shit suck. Seems it got away from ya, huh? I ask. The kid side-eyes his dad, and I see the short head shake.

From the cut over the dad’s eye, I’d say he grabbed the fucking wheel cause there’s no sign anybody hit the brakes.

Yeah.

You passin’ through and get lost?

The kid runs his fingers through his hair with a short laugh. Nah, just moved into town.

That makes sense. I put out my hand. Name’s Vic, you startin’ at the High School?

Clay, yeah, tomorrow.

You like football? I ask cause I spy he’s sporting a Buckeyes jersey.

Boy bleeds scarlett and grey. His dad tries to get up but fails. You gonna get this car moving or exchange numbers for a fucking playdate?

Wow, and they say I’m a dick.

Sorry, he’s had a few.

That’s usually the case if I’m pullin um outta the ditch. Listen, grab your gear, and once I get it hitched, I can drop you wherever if ya want.

Thanks, Vic, but I called a ride.

That works too. I start to walk away, So if ya need someone to show ya around, find me tomorrow in the quad. I got the deets on all the fine Amel trim. We can toss the ball, and I’m sure you’ll get a number or two. This dude is seriously gonna crimp my game, so it’ll be better to make him a friend instead of a rival.

That’s cool. Thanks.

Sure. My eyes cut back to his dad. I really don’t like how he’s watching, but I got shit to do. The only highlight of this night is gonna be seeing Abi Greenwood, the local girl that practically lives at Radman’s, the garage that takes most of our tows. She may be from the wrong side of the tracks and be covered in axle grease most of the time but seeing her always makes me smile. Too bad she mostly hates my guts.

1

Abigail

Another long night at Radman’s! Geez, I swear I fucking live here most days. Can’t complain too much though, Fred hired me when I was only fourteen. Radman’s is owned by none other than Fred Radman. My mentor. Fred had to scoot out early and of course, I told him I’d close up shop. I am his second in command for this reason. Fred taught me everything I know, from changing the oil to rebuilding an engine. Fred said I picked up everything pretty quick and would make a great grease monkey. That would lead to why he calls me Monk or Monkey .

Just as I’m about to close up, a dispatcher, from Townsend Towing, calls to let me know they’re bringing in a ditcher and the prodigal son in on call Shit! Victor’s a guy in my class and works for his daddy’s towing company, but I so did not want to put up with anyone else tonight. I open the garage doors and wait for him to pull up.

Victor backs in a good thirty minutes later. Got my homework out of the way while waiting on his ass. Dickhead! Grabbing the paperwork, I walk into the shop as I hear a door shut.

Hey, Abi, Vic—the dick—shouts as we come closer together.

"Really? Come on, Vic. You gotta come up with something better than that. Shaking my head, I look over the Mazda SUV sitting in front of me. So, tell me whatcha got for me."

"Now Abi, that was such a loaded question. You know exactly what I got for ya. I can think of many things I can give you," He winks.

"Not happening, Victor. Let’s get this shit over with. I’m tired, hot, and stinky. I need a shower and some food before I can even sleep. Just tell me what’s up so I can see what I can do or if it will need to be left to Fred."

Sorry babe. Jesus, I hate that pet name! Picked this one up out of the ditch. I’d say it’s going to need a whole new front end. Of course, I should leave that to you, you know more about this shit than I do.

What the hell’d they do? Swerve to miss a deer or new in town and just not know their way around? Walking around the SUV, I check everything I can see at a glance. Going to be a lot more than just the front end needing to be replaced from the looks of it.

He hesitates and I narrow my eyes at his response. Didn’t really get the story. Angelo told me to go grab it, so I did.

Alright. Well, I’ve got it from here. I’ll see how much of it I can handle and how much I will have to order. Should have an estimate sometime tomorrow. Just tell the owner to stop by around...Uh...Let’s say six tomorrow evening. My dismissal is the nicest I can give at this point. I’m over the shit.

You don’t want me here, babe?

"First, not your babe, Vic. Second, why in the hell would I want to spend any time with you? You sure couldn’t have been bothered to talk to me when you were out with your buddies. God, why can’t he take a fucking hint? Ya know what...Doesn’t matter anyhow. Please just go, we will always just be secret friends. That’s it."

Victor nods his head then walks out the door. Thank fuck for that. I still have to finish the assessment on this girl and get her worked up. Grabbing a water from the fridge and turning the music up, I shut the garage door and get to work.

Just as I get the SUV that I’ve now come to recognize as a Mazda CX-5 up on the lifts, Life’s A Dance by John Michael Montgomery starts playing. As per usual, I sing along. When everyone is working, they usually wait for me to start singing just so they can embarrass me. Crazy guys just don’t understand. I can’t be embarrassed. Singing is my passion and what will get me out of this shithole town.

2

Clayton

Ireally hated calling mom on her first day of work at the hospital, but I’ve already had to go pick up my old man from Mac’s. It would figure he would immediately find the local bar and get fucked up. Considering we are used to more people and a hell of a lot more city, this place is out of my comfort zone when driving at night. So, low and behold, I ended up in a fucking ditch, all thanks to my father with his need to be drunk and act stupid.

We’ve been here in Amel for less than twenty-four hours and it looks like I’m either on the bus or Mom is driving me now that my car is in the shop. Geez! What a way to start a new school.

Clayton? I hear Mom yell from the bottom of the steps. I’m still unpacking my stuff.

Yeah, Mom? I call back walking over to the staircase, looking down.

I’m heading back to the hospital. I’ll be back in the morning. I left you some money in and breakfast in the kitchen. Your dad has passed out, but he will be up in the morning to drop you off. I’ll call about your car tomorrow to see how much it’s going to cost and when it will be done.

Okay, Mom.

Goodnight, Clay.

Night, Mom. See you in the morning.

Mom’s gone, Dad’s asleep, and I’m still unpacking. Jesus, this is some shit. I’d much rather my dad be asleep anyhow. Anytime he’s awake and I’m around, he’s riding my ass about sports, grades and making sure I keep it all up so I can play either basketball at UK in Lexington, Kentucky or football at OSU in Columbus, Ohio.

I told Mom right before we moved here that I’m happy for the new start. Everyone knows me for my drunk father and my sack score. I know it won’t take long for the same thing to happen here, but one can hope, right?

My room is finished, so time to shower and get ready for tomorrow. I’m not at all ready for a new school my senior year. God, this town is so small that there are like two stoplights and very few actual stop signs.

Showered and in bed, I open a book. I’m working on finishing The Hunger Games. Reading is one of my many passions that nobody knows about. I read every Harry Potter book as soon as it hit the shelf. I suppose, if people actually knew, that’d make me a geek. Of course, I wouldn’t get labeled as a geek due to my looks and being a defensive end.

3

Abigail

A bigail, I can hear my name being called from somewhere in the distance. Maybe if I ignore it, it will be a dream. Tap, Tap, Tap, Monkey. That’s all it takes before I attempt to sit up, and it’s only an attempt because my head clashes with the bottom of the SUV Vic brought in late last night.

Shit! Dragging myself out from under the SUV, I look up into the eyes of none other than Fred himself.

What the hell are you doing under this here Mazda, Monk? Where the hell’d it come from?

Vic brought it in last night before I could close up. I suppose I fell asleep while checking her out, Fred. It’s gonna need some work, but I can start on it this evening. I know you have quite a bit to get done today. Looking at Fred, I notice he has my cup in hand. I snatch it out of his hand and take a big swig.

Oh, she’s all yours. Now, why don’t you scoot along and get showered up so you can get to school, Fred begins to walk off before turning. Oh, would ya quit givin’ your old man a scare? I thought the fool was gonna break my phone this mornin’ tryin’ to find ya. And off he goes.

Forty minutes later I’m showered, dressed, got my face on, and headed to the front office to let the old man know I’m off. Just as I turn the corner, I can’t help but stop and giggle, Fred has always hated anything that has to do with a computer. As a matter of fact, I usually have to deal with all the PC shit.

"Hey Fred, I’m headed to that place we all call hell. I just wanted to let