by Casey Peeler
“Thanks, Grandaddy. I love you,” I say as I give him the flowers and a kiss on the cheek.
“Love you, too.”
With that, Emmett and I make our way out the door toward his truck.
Emmett
After hanging up the phone, I throw it onto the bed. Now, what to do to kill time until our date. I just might take a ride to see exactly what we can do tonight. I’m thinking she’s more than a dinner and movie kinda girl, but what?
I walk into my room and grab my phone, keys, and ball cap as Mom yells for me. “Yeah?” I answer.
“Did you talk to her yet?” she asks.
“Yes, ma’am, I’m pickin’ her up at six, but I have no clue where to take her.”
Mom ponders a moment, and then her face lights up. “I heard there’s a band playing at The Shed tonight. That might be fun, and maybe take her somewhere nice to eat, like Smoke?”
“Thanks, Mom, I actually kinda like those ideas.”
“You’re welcome. Just be home by midnight.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I scratch the idea of a ride and decide to hang around the house. As I walk to the barn, I pass Cole who is obviously looking for something. His fishing pole of course, and it’s at the Lowery Farm. Shaking my head, I pull the cover off the four-wheeler and make my way to the woods out back.
After riding around for an hour or so, I return to the house to get ready for the night. Not that it will take long, but the sooner six o’clock gets here, the better.
Cole’s truck is gone when I get back to the house. I wonder if he got to see her, and a hint of jealously races through my veins. I shake it from my head and go inside. I hurry upstairs to shower and get dressed.
Once I’m ready, I turn on ESPN and relax for a little while. That’s when the idea hits me. Flowers! I need flowers! Looking at the clock, I have more than enough time to go and buy her some at the farmers’ market. Grabbing my things, I let Mom know I’m leaving and make my way there.
As I pull into the farmers’ market, the crowds are leaving and the vendors are packing up for the day. I hope I’m not too late. Glancing around, I see a guy loading up flowers onto a truck to head back home. I make my way toward him.
“Excuse me, sir. Do you have time to sell one more set?” I say.
“I just might. Who’s the lucky lady?” he asks.
“Her name’s Raegan.”
He smiles a little wider. “As in Raegan Lowery?”
“Yes, sir.”
“She’s one of the sweetest girls I know. You take your pick. They’re on me,” he says as he continues to load baskets.
“Thanks,” I respond as I begin to look through the baskets. It doesn’t take long for me to decide on a bouquet of daisies. They are beautiful, simple, and remind me of Raegan. “I’ll take these. Are you sure I don’t owe ya anything?”
“Nope,” he replies, and I try to give him some money, but he refuses.
“Thank you, sir,” I say and make my way back to my truck. I make one stop for gas and then head to the Lowery farm. As I pull down the driveway, I try to push my nerves to the side.
Once I arrive at the farm, I walk to the front porch, take a deep breath, and knock on the door. Then, I wait for what feels like an eternity until I come face-to-face with Mr. Lowery and his shotgun. Oh, hell! Pull yourself together.
Chapter 9
Raegan
As we make our way to his truck, Emmett’s hand skims my back and goose bumps rise all over my body. I try my best not to react the way I’d really like to. He opens the door and helps me inside before making his way to the driver’s side.
He places the key into the ignition, turns to me, and smiles as we make our way to dinner. The truck is quiet while Emmett drives, as if neither of us knows what to say.
“So, Em, you gonna let me in on our plans tonight?” I ask.
His eyes meet mine in a glance. “I guess I could. I was thinkin’ ’bout goin’ to eat at Smoke and then maybe checkin’ out the band at The Shed.”
I ponder the idea for a moment, and all I can think about is the way our bodies moved together the last time we danced, so I’m definitely in on this idea of a date. “I think I like that idea, especially the last part,” I say as a wide grin escapes my lips.
“Oh, do ya now?” he questions.
“Yup,” I answer as he takes my hand in his and laces our fingers together.
Within minutes, we are at Smoke. For our quaint, little town, Smoke is the place to go for something Southern yet classy. As we enter the restaurant, the smells of Southern fried foods tickle my nose, and I can’t wait to dig into those fried pickles.
The hostess takes us to a table near the middle of the restaurant. Emmett pulls out my chair for me before taking a seat, and the hostess gives us a rundown on the specials for the evening.
After the waitress introduces herself and gets our drink order, we scan the menu.
“Raegan, do you want an appetizer?” Emmett asks.
“Fried pickles?” I scrunch up my nose and request with a little hesitation.
He takes his hand and throws it over his heart. “Oh gosh, I think you just stole it.” I burst out laughing. “Please, tell me you’re not ordering fried mac-n-cheese? If so, go ahead and call the morgue!”
“No, I’m not ordering fried mac-n-cheese, so I think you’re safe,” I say with a wink.
We order and then enjoy each other’s company before our food arrives.
“You know what, Raegan?” Looking up mid-bite, I finish chewing before placing my fork onto the table. “You are, by far, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.” It was a good thing I’d already swallowed my food, or I would have choked!
“Em, I’m sure that’s not the case.”
“Don’t kid yourself, Rae. I can still remember what you looked like when we were kids, and even though I didn’t want anything to do with girls, I knew there was something special about you.”
“Um, Em, I hate to break it to you, but you used to kiss me and every other girl on the playground, so I’m pretty sure you wanted something to do with us.” His face turns bright red. “Ohmygosh, is Emmett Bridges embarrassed?” He shakes his head. Leaning a little closer to the table, I whisper to him, “I gotta secret. Seein’ ya this way is kinda hot.” I lean back in my chair and wait for his reaction. Never, ever, do I just lay words on the table like that.
“Well, honey, I’ll turn as red as a tomato if it keeps you usin’ words like that.” He sits back and crosses his arms. This is going to be an interesting night.
Emmett
Once we finish eating, I pay, and we make our way to my truck. The way she took my comment so lightly, like she isn’t that pretty, really bothers me. She’s got to know she’s more than just looks in my book, and I’m ’bout to tell her.
“I meant what I said in the restaurant, Raegan. You are the smartest, hardest working, most beautiful, and most caring Southern Belle I’ve ever met. Don’t ever sell yourself short.” I stare into her eyes, and place one small, but monumental, kiss on her perfectly plump lips. It’s times like these I wish I had a bench seat instead of captain’s chairs. When I pull away, she gasps, and I know she feels exactly what I do. I place the truck into reverse before we make our way to The Shed.
During the drive to The Shed, she looks at me and smiles as we listen to the radio. She begins to sweetly sing the harmony to Blake Shelton’s “My Eyes,” and in that moment, my life changes for the better.
“Raegan, I knew you could sing, but, damn.” She just shrugs her shoulders. “Really, Rae, you need to give yourself more credit.”
“It’s no biggie, but I get it from my grandaddy.”
“It is a big deal. Can I ask you something, and you promise not to take it the wrong way?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you feel like you have to be the girl that everyone expects you to be?” I ask as I approach a stoplight. She stops, takes a moment before she speaks, and then says the most honest words
I’ve ever heard.
“Em, over the years, the farm and its responsibilities have grown, and people have come to expect certain things from me. I’m not perfect by any means, but I don’t want to let anyone down, especially Grandaddy. Since I can remember, I’ve done everything he’s asked and I’d hate to disappoint him. In my life, I’ve lost a lot, but I’m also thankful for the support I’ve had over the years. That’s why I do the things I do. I do what is expected, and I do what’s right.”
“Do you ever get tired of it all?”
“Sometimes, but that’s our secret.”
I smile as the light changes.
“Em, wanna know another one?” she questions.
“Shoot,” I reply.
“For some reason, I feel like I can just be me with you. Not the all-American perfect student, cheer captain, granddaughter, or anything. Just plain ol’ Rae.”
I don’t exactly know what to say to that, so I do what any other guy would do. I reply as simple as possible, “I’m glad.” I squeeze her hand a little tighter.
Before long, we are pulling into The Shed. The parking lot is beginning to fill up. I’m not sure which band is playing tonight, but from what I’ve heard, they’re all great.
I hurry around to let Raegan out of the truck. She slides down and turns to grab her purse. I shut my eyes to try to keep the excitement from building as her gorgeous figure turns around and leans into the cab of my truck. Then, she turns to face me.
“Em, are you okay?” she asks.
Knowing I just got caught, I smile. “Yeah, everything is perfect.” She grabs my hand, and we walk to the door.
Pushing open the wooden door, we make our way to the cashier, who is around sixty, but trying to live like she’s still twenty-two. Smacking her gum, she looks at us.
“Two?” she asks for reassurance.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say as I let go of Raegan’s hand to grab my wallet.
“That’ll be ten dollars, Hot Stuff,” she says with a wink.
After paying, Raegan takes my hand in hers. “Come on, Hot Stuff!” I just shake my head.
As we enter the main area, the lights are dimly lit with some type of string lights, people are sitting at tables, the band members look as if they are about to start playing, and several couples are already on the dance floor as the stereo blasts country music through the speakers. I guide Raegan toward a small table off to the side, and we take a seat.
“Have you heard of them?” I ask her as I point toward the band.
“Yeah, do you see that drummer right there?” I nod. “That’s Bobby Parker. He’s about Cole’s age and goes to church with us. You’ll see him in the mornin’.”
“You’re kiddin’ me, right?” I ask.
“Nope. You know as well as I do, people down South go to a good honky tonk on Saturday night and church on Sunday mornin’.”
I stop and think about it, realizing she’s telling the truth. “Yeah, it’s the same in Georgia, too.”
As the song drifts away, the lead singer in the band welcomes everyone, introduces the members, and begins to play covers of new and old country music. We sit and listen for a few songs. When “Copperhead Road” begins to play, all the girls in the place head toward the dance floor. Raegan looks at me.
“I’ll be right back.” She stands and makes her way to the dance floor. Her hips sway to the beat of the music, and as she reaches the dance floor, she tosses her hands into the air and begins to clap on beat, and before I know it, every female in the joint is in unison in a line dance. The Electric Slide has nothin’ on this.
When the song comes to an end, she smiles as she walks back to me. I stand to meet her.
“Rae, when did ‘Copperhead Road’ get its own line dance?” I question.
“Maybe a year ago or somethin’. I’m not real sure.” As the band continues to turn out more country tunes, it doesn’t take long for Raegan and me to find a spot on the dance floor. The playlist from the band is kick ass, and as they get ready to break, they slow it down. I take my arms, pull them a little tighter around Raegan, and we begin to move to the music like the world just stopped spinning.
“Hey, Em, you wanna Two-Step?” she inquires as she burns those deep emerald eyes into mine.
“Sure.”
She takes my hand, and we jump in line with the crowd around us. It’s been a while since I’ve done this, but it takes no time for me to fall right in time with Raegan. She smiles at me, and I know I’m done. It’s taken me all of two days back in my hometown to fall for the girl who’s been in my dreams for years.
As the song ends, I lead her away from the dance floor to the bar area to get a drink.
“Rae, whatcha want to drink?” I ask.
“Sun Drop would be fabulous!” she says.
We take our drinks and notice our table is gone, but that’s not a problem. It just gives me a reason to stand closer to her. After we finish our drinks, we make our way back to the floor. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Cole making his way in with his friends. I toss my head back and give my full attention to Raegan.
Before long, Cole and his friends are making their rounds with the ladies on the dance floor. Raegan looks his way and smiles, and then he makes his way toward us.
“Hey, Rae!” Cole yells over the music.
“Hey! Catch anything?” she asks.
“A few bream and a catfish or two,” he says as he begins to dance with his flavor of the night.
“I’ll expect that for supper tomorrow!” He laughs and forgets I’m standing there. I hate for the thought to enter my head, but I feel like there is something about these two that I just don’t know.
As if right on cue, Raegan places her hand upon my chest and grins at me. When she brings those gorgeous lips to mine, that thought evaporates from my mind. I swear, never in a million years did I expect to roll back into Pleasant Hill and feel like I never left. Raegan is my home, and knowing I wasted all that time with a cheating ex makes me wish I could relive this summer again. Then again, it’s made me the person I am today, and I wouldn’t trade the memories we’ve just begun to build for the world.
After talking to Cole a few more minutes I notice the time, and I know it’s time to get her home. I sure as hell don’t want a shotgun waiting on me when I get back. I place my arm around her waist and whisper in her ear as we make our way out the door.
Chapter 10
Raegan
When Emmett whispers in my ear that it’s time to go, goose bumps rise on my skin. I bite my lip and nod in agreement as we make our way outside. Our ride to the farm is filled with laughter and a desire to constantly touch each other. I hear Dustin Lynch begin to play through the radio, and before I know what’s going on, Emmett has pulled the truck off the side of the highway with the engine running. I stifle a laugh as he runs to open my door and squeal as he takes my hand and pulls me to the ground and into his perfectly rock solid body. We sing to each other while moving to the beat as random cars continue down the two-lane highway past us.
On the final beat of the music, Emmett takes my cheek in his hand, my mind races as he pulls my lips to his, and he kisses me like his life depends on it. This has to be the best kiss of my life. If I thought I saw stars at the field party, I just got caught in an entire constellation. When I’m brought back to reality, I know that in this moment, this boy is going to change my life.
Emmett leads me to the truck and gets back in the driver’s side. He looks my way, and I melt right there on the spot. He puts the truck into drive, and we both can’t erase the grins on our faces. Tonight is a night for the history books. Not only have I had an awesome date, but it’s with someone that totally gets me. I can’t wait to see where the two of us are headed.
As we pull into the driveway, I can’t keep my lips off of his. He laughs and kisses me again before walking me to the door. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I look back at him and smile. I wave to him before opening the front door and closing it behind m
e. I press my back against it as it closes. What has this boy done to me? I must be grinning like an opossum because Grandaddy rounds the corner and cackles.
“What?” I ask as my cheeks flush pink.
“Nothin,’ Sunshine. Nothin’,” he says as he makes his way back into the kitchen. Shaking my head, I follow him. I go to the freezer and grab a tub of homemade snow cream from this winter and two spoons before sitting across from him. Opening the container, I wait for him to ask the first question. “So, whatcha do tonight?” he asks lightly.
Taking the spoon, I skim the top of the snow cream and place it into my mouth before answering, “He took me to eat at Smoke, and then we went to The Shed.”
“And…” he says slowly as he takes his turn in the snow cream.
“And… we saw Cole there.”
He looks up from the snow cream and stares at me like I caught him off guard. “What’d he have to say?”
“That we’ve got supper tomorrow.”
“Allll righhht!” He finishes dipping his spoon into the snow cream. “So, Sunshine, tell me a little more about this date. He didn’t try anything, did he?”
“Grandaddy!” I gasp. “I can’t believe you!”
“What? I’m just makin’ sure. I’d hate for this old man to have to show him who’s boss.” We both laugh.
“Actually, Grandaddy, he was a perfect gentleman…most of the time,” I say with a giggle as I text Jordyn quickly about the kiss that just changed my life.
Jordyn: I want deets! Not just a text!
Me: K I’ll call ya in morning, talkin to Gdaddy now
“It’s times like these I wish your mawmaw or mama was here. I don’t know if I can handle all of this, but I’ll sure try,” he says honestly.
“I know this much. Never in my seventeen years has a guy treated me like he does, except you. He acts like I’m the only girl in the room, but best of all, Grandaddy, he sees me for me, not the girl everyone expects me to be.”
Grandaddy doesn’t say anything else. He takes another couple of bites, and then finally replies, “Raegan, you deserve someone to love you completely, not because of your last name, what happened to our family, or what people think about you, but because of the bright and compassionate star you are. If anyone wants to think otherwise, then they don’t deserve you.” He takes another bite.