I shouldn’t accept his offer. I’ve trusted him before and look where it got me. The beat of my stitched-up heart remembers how he shattered it. But I’m so tired. So I swallow down all my doubts and nod my head. “Okay. But call me if anything, anything goes wrong. And if you decide you wanna go home you can call too, just let me know and I can drive back over here. It doesn’t matter if it’s—”
“Alina.” He chuckles. “It’s fine.”
“Right.” I blow out a breath and start backing up toward the hallway, my eyes never leaving Chase’s. “Thank you.”
He smiles and those dang dimples make me smile back. I’m a sucker for them every time.
When I get home, I’m out as soon as my head hits the pillow. I sleep soundly for the first time in years, and I wake up refreshed. I don’t talk to Chase at work, but I feel his eyes on me. It shouldn’t excite me the way it does.
When I get to Daddy’s house that night, Chase is there again. Cooking dinner and then pushing me out the door.
On Friday, while I watch Chase slip Daddy a Dr. Pepper instead of a whiskey, I let myself imagine what it would be like if he were mine.
I don’t hate it as much as I should.
34
Alina
“Want to catch a movie tonight?” Jax asks.
I look over at Becca, sipping on her second mimosa and shoveling pancakes in her mouth. She shakes her head. “Can’t. Have a date.”
“You? Have a date?” I point at her, narrowing my eyes. Becca loves men, but she isn’t the dating type. Growing up, she was a firm believer that commitment of any kind was a waste of time. Now that she’s an adult and still living under her daddy’s—aka the church’s—thumb, that lack of commitment has only grown. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen her go on an actual date in my life.
“Yep.” She looks up, realizing we’re both staring at her. “What?” she mumbles around a mouthful of pancake.
Jax laughs. “You can’t just say something like that and not expect us to need more information. Who’s the date with?”
She swallows, looking down at her plate. “You don’t know him, he’s from Chattanooga.”
I squint my eyes. “What’s his name? How’d you meet him? Come on girl, you know you can’t just leave us hangin’ after droppin’ that bomb.”
She runs her fingers through her curly hair. “His name’s John and I met him online.”
Jax is still chuckling, but his face drops when he sees the glare Becca is sending his way. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“Nope. Not jokin’. I like him, he’s nice.”
“He’s nice?” I exclaim, sharing another look with Jax. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”
“I’m still here.” She throws her arms up. “I just—don’t you think it’s time I start takin’ life more seriously? Try to settle down? We’re gettin’ old as shit, y’all.”
My face scrunches. “Are you feeling okay? What happened to the ‘I don’t do commitment’ Becca?”
“She grew up, I guess.” She grabs her mimosa, downing it before looking around for the server.
“Okaaaay…” Jax says. “So that’s a no from Becca who’s busy getting busy with a man named John.” He swings his eyes toward me. “That leaves you and me, sweetheart. Wanna get crazy tonight?” He grins, leaning his elbows on the table. “Maybe dinner and a movie?”
I smile, but my stomach flops while I try to think of an excuse for why I’m saying no. One that doesn’t involve babysitting my drunk daddy and letting Chase cook me meals. “I can’t. I’m havin’ dinner with Daddy and helpin’ him prepare the guest room for Eli.”
Jax sticks out his bottom lip. “Fine, ladies. Leave me all by myself. A lone cowboy riding into the night.”
Becca snorts. “I’m sure you won’t have any trouble findin’ a replacement for the night. One that will be all too willin’ to give you a ride.”
Jax grips his heart. “That hurts, truly, Becs. I’m more than my gigantic cock.”
“Oh? You a catcher, too?” She raises an eyebrow.
“I don’t speak of private activities.” Jax smiles, winking. “You’ve never been curious?”
“Uhm… no.”
“Never wanted a one-way ticket on the Jackson express?” He wiggles his brows.
Becca gags. “Darlin’, I’d break the train down.”
I giggle into my sweet tea and take another sip.
“Anyway,” Jax shifts his attention to me. “When’s Eli getting here, sweetheart?”
“A little less than a week. That reminds me, Becca, you think your daddy can sit down with them and talk about havin’ their weddin’ at the church?”
Becca’s eyes grow wide. “He wants my old man to marry them?”
“Why not? Eli asked me about it the other day. I’m just the messenger.”
“What’dya want me to do about it?”
My forehead scrunches. What’s the big deal? “Haven’t you been helpin’ around the church since summer break started? I mentioned it and he said to ask.”
Her eyes light on fire, her cheeks going as red as her hair. “So, Eli knows I’d be helpin’ and he still had you ask?” She slams her body against the back of the chair.
“Okay, that’s it, psycho. What happened between you and Eli? You never used to have a problem with him, but anytime I bring him up, you get weird.”
She rolls her eyes, tangling her hair in her fingers. “I don’t get weird. I just think your brother’s a jerk. I never thought he’d come back here, let alone bring a little hussy of a girl wantin’ to parade their love through the town.”
“That’s a little harsh,” I chide. “We don’t even know her.”
She throws her hands up. “Ugh. You know what? I have to go. I need to get ready for my date.”
“With John. The ‘Becca tamer,’” Jax pipes in.
He is so not helping.
Becca sends him a glare and throws her napkin down on the table. “Just for that, you can pay for brunch. I’ll see
