by Casey Peeler
“Let’s ride around, and you show me what I’ve missed since I’ve been gone.”
“A’ight,” she says. “Can you stop at the store, so I can grab a Sun Drop real quick?”
“Sure.” I say as we make our way back to the main road.
Once we’re at the store, I fill up with gas, and she goes in to get a drink and snack. “Rae! Don’t you pay for that!” I yell as she walks inside, acting like she doesn’t hear me. Damn, I could watch that ass move all day. I leave the gas pumping as I hurry inside before she pays. Of course, she’s already grabbed me a drink as well. “Thank ya. Will you check on the gas? I got this,” I tell her. She wants to argue, but instead, she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
I walk to the counter and pay for our food and wait until the gas is finished. The clerk looks at me and shakes her head. I must look at her with a confused look.
“Honey, you’ve got it bad, don’t ya?” I just smile, but don’t answer. “It’s okay. It happens to the best of ya. She’s a good one, and her grandaddy is as good as gold.”
“Yes, he is,” I agree before taking the bag and exiting the store.
Raegan is already waiting in the passenger seat with her feet propped up on the dash and her arm hanging out of the window. Each time I think she can’t look any hotter, she does. “Here ya go,” I say as I hand her drink and candy bar to her.
“Thanks, Em, but you didn’t have to get it,” she says.
“Yes, I did. You’re with me, and as long as that’s the case, you won’t buy anything.” Shock covers her face, but it is soon replaced with a smile. She sits up in her seat, unbuckles, and moves toward the console to meet me in the driver’s seat. When her lips touch mine, my hand rises to meet her neck. Forgetting where we are, we pull back and laugh when the driver behind us honks his horn. I pull her in for one more quick kiss, and then she moves back to her seat. This girl’s got me hook, line, and sinker. I swear, I’m glad she picked me out of that pond, ’cause every moment I spend with her feels like I just won the Bassmasters.
As we cruise around town, Raegan points out everything that has changed since I left, and when she’s not talking, she’s singing to the music on the radio. When there’s nothing else to tell, she looks at me.
“I’ve got an idea!” she says excitedly.
“You’re makin’ me nervous,” I joke with her.
“Let’s head to the creek.”
I make a right, and we head to the creek at the edge of the Lowery’s farm. We pull down the side of the road before I find a place to park.
Putting the truck into park, I look at her. “Now what?” I ask.
“Mr. Bridges, I think it’s time to do a little creek stompin’!” she says as she jumps outta my truck and runs to the creek. I shake my head and hurry to catch up with her.
Just as she’s about to reach the water, I grab her and pull her up into my arms. She wraps her arms around my neck and smiles at me. “Em, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.” She kisses me gently as I place her back onto the ground. “Come on,” she says as she pulls me by the hand and runs into the water, shoes and all.
We spend the next hour wandering up the creek, moving from rock to rock, stomping in the water, and trying to catch fish with our bare hands. I have to say; this is the best idea I’ve ever heard from a girl.
By the time we make it back to where we started, we are soaking wet, and she is by far the most beautiful person I’ve ever met— inside and out. As she’s about to head out of the creek, I call her name, and when she turns around, I hit her with a big wave of water.
“Oh, no, you didn’t!” she hollers, and it’s on. She begins tossing water my way, and I do the same.
“Stop, Em!” she squeals as I hit her with more water. I laugh and just continue splashing her. When I know she’s about to get pissed, I stop.
As soon as I let down my guard, she hits me with a wave of water that leaves me speechless. “You’ve done it now!” I say and make my way to her. She tries to hurry out of the water, but I catch her, pick her up, and place her back into the water. This time I fall in with her. We both giggle and then stop when we gaze into each other’s eyes. As I bring my lips to hers, I get soaked with water, yet again, and she jumps up, laughing and running toward the truck. Damn.
The moment Raegan is out of the water, I can’t do anything but stare, mouth wide open, gonna catch a mouth full of flies, gawking. Yup, that’s what she does to me, but when she starts to flat out belly laugh near the truck, I can’t take it anymore. I have to be near her, to touch her, and to let her know it’s okay to be this way with me.
The closer I get to her, the more she tries to stop laughing, and the more I want to help her stop. She begins to step backward until she is flush with the side of my truck. When she begins to apologize to me, I want to tell her there’s no reason to apologize, but when my name rolls off her tongue, I just have to let it.
Taking one final step to make sure there is minimal space between us, I place my hands on each side of her face and look into her eyes.
“Rae, that wasn’t funny.”
“I’m sorry. I just can’t quit laughin’. I swear, I’ve not laughed like this in forever.
“Rae, there’s no reason to apologize to me, but if you want me to be honest, I will.” She looks as me with an unsure expression, but nods yes. “Hearing you laugh is like music to my ears, but hearing you say my name makes me want to shout from the rooftop that you’re mine. Raegan, will you be mine?” Rather than responding, she grabs my shirt and attacks my lips
Chapter 15
Raegan
As Emmett’s body traps mine against the truck he lays it all out onto the table. Unsure of what to say, I just react. I grab his still dripping, wet shirt in my hand and bring his lips to meet mine.
“So, Rae, you didn’t answer my question,” he says between kisses.
“Yes, Em, I’ll be yours,” I reply and then press my lips to his again.
“You’re not ready to go yet, are you?” he asks with his forehead against mine. I shake my head no. In fact, I don’t know how I’m ever gonna leave his sight again.
“Come here,” he says as he walks to the back and lowers the tailgate. He lifts me up and sits me there while placing himself between my legs. I circle my arms around him and rest my forehead against his. “Hold on a sec,” he commands as he steps away and goes around to the driver’s side. He turns on the ignition and the radio, grabs our drinks, and comes back to sit beside me. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks,” I say as my feet dangle below, and I wish he were wedged between my legs again.
We sit and listen to the music and enjoy the southern sunshine. I think about this morning and how my day has turned out differently than I had planned, but it’s a million times better than I could have imagined.
“Rae, can I ask you somethin’?” he questions.
“Sure.”
“What are y’all gonna do with Cole outta work for a while?”
“I guess we just do what we’ve been doin’. Why do you ask?” I know why he’s asking. It’s sweet, but I can’t let him be that close to me, not with Grandaddy’s situation being unknown.
“I thought I could help if you needed an extra hand,” he suggests.
“Thanks, but let us just try it alone for a while. If it changes, I’ll let you know. Hopefully, Cole won’t be gone too long,” I say.
Emmett grabs my chin and turns me to face him. “Rae, it’s okay to ask for help. I’d be glad to do it, but I understand how things are with y’all. Just know if you change your mind, I’d be glad to.”
“Okay,” I say as we sit and listen to the birds chirp and the water ripple down the creek.
When the sun begins to set, I know it’s time to get back, and Emmett realizes it, too. He pushes off the tailgate and comes to face me again. He places his body exactly where I wish it had remained. “Thank you for a wonderful day.” Then, he lays his hand on the bill of my
ball cap and removes it. Setting it to the side, he runs his hand in my hair before letting it come to a rest on my cheek. He looks as if he’s trying to find the words, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he kisses me on that tailgate, and for once, I’m glad it’s not a tipsy tailgate kissing kinda night.
Emmett
I don’t want to see what time it is, but I don’t have a choice, and I realize we need to get back. We are both exhausted, and we have school tomorrow. I scoot off the tailgate and place my body between her legs, yet again. Before I let my mind wander to inappropriate thoughts of us, I thank her, and then I do what I’ve been dying to do since she walked out of that house. I remove her ball cap and run my fingers through her brown locks until I stop on her cheek. I want to tell her how much I’ve thought about her over the years, but I don’t. What guy does that? Instead, I remain silent and kiss her long and hard on the back of my tailgate.
“Em, we better get goin’,” she declares as we pull apart, and as much as I hate to admit it, she’s right.
The ride back to the farm doesn’t take long, so I drive extra slow since we are already on their property. When we make it back to her driveway, panic begins to set in. We are both soaking wet and look like we’ve been doing who knows what.
She glances my direction. “Are you okay?” she asks as she moves her hand to mine.
“Yeah, I’m just kinda worried what your grandaddy is gonna think about us.” She has a confused look on her face. “Rae, we’re soakin’ wet, and I have no idea what he’s gonna think we’ve been doin’.”
“There’s no need to worry. I tell him everything anyway.” She smirks.
“Everything?”
“Yup, we have no secrets between us.” Taking a big gulp, I’m suddenly glad I didn’t let things go further.
Chapter 16
Raegan
The look on Emmett’s face when I tell him there are no secrets between Grandaddy and me is priceless. It is the truth, though. There aren’t any secrets; well, except maybe one that he’s asked me to keep. I push that to the side and rub my thumb against his.
“Em, no worries. He likes you… a lot, actually.” I can’t believe Grandaddy’s all about this guy. He’s usually got a brutally honest remark about everyone.
“That’s a relief.” Emmett reaches over and guides his hand behind my neck before pulling my lips to his. “I guess I’ll see ya in the mornin’,” he says.
Mornin’. This is going to be interesting. “Em, I can’t see ya soon enough.” He smiles at me as I make my way to the front door. It’s better he doesn’t walk me to the door, since our clothing situation isn’t the same as how we left.
“Grandaddy!” I holler as I walk inside. “I’m home!” I glance in the kitchen and living room, but I don’t see him anywhere. I start to freak out as I make my way from room to room. Where is he? Walking back to the front of the house, I notice his truck parked in its usual spot. Maybe he went back to see Cole. I take out my phone and start to call him when I see a note on the kitchen table. Go figure!
Sunshine,
Rode with Joe to visit Cole again. I should be back by 8. There’s a pizza in the freezer if you want to eat it for supper. Love you to the moon and back!
G-daddy
I smile, thinking pizza sounds fabulous. Grabbing my phone, I call Jordyn. I can’t wait to tell her about what happened today and the fact that I’m officially Emmett Bridge’s girl.
After Jordyn finishes squealing, she tells me how excited she is and how we have to go on a double date with Ridge and her, then we talk about what’s going on this week before I let her go.
Once we hang up, I place the pizza in the oven, I hurry upstairs to shower and change while it bakes. I smile as the warm water covers my body. To think that earlier today, I fell apart in here, but right now, I couldn’t feel more alive.
I hurry to get back downstairs before the pizza looks more like burnt toast. As I take a seat in the living room and turn on the TV, I see headlights coming up the driveway. Grandaddy.
“Sunshine, I’m home,” he says as I hear his keys hit the table. He comes into the living room. “Did y’all have fun?” he questions.
“We did,” I answer with my mouth half full of food. After I finish that bite, I give him a rundown of my afternoon with Emmett. When I get to the creek stompin’ part, he smiles and laughs just like I did. My heart warms knowing he’s happy for me.
“Sunshine, Emmet’s a good guy, but remember, he’s a guy.”
“Grandaddy!”
“Hey, I’m just callin’ it like I see it, but if I had to choose someone for you, I’d choose him.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask.
He takes a seat beside me. “That boy sees the real you. He gets that you’re just Raegan, not the girl who lost her parents or the girl that has everything going for her. I saw how he looked when you walked into that hospital room today, and Sunshine, he’s got it bad.”
I start to giggle. Grandaddy has never liked to talk about boys or the birds and the bees with me. His tone turns serious.
“Sunshine, we don’t know what our future holds, but I know I want a man that loves you for you, and Emmett Bridges is it for you.”
My grandaddy’s words go straight to the heart, and I know he’s telling the truth. Even with the way Emmett looks at me and the way I feel about him, there’s only one person that would ever cause me to venture away from him—the most important man in my life that is sitting right next to me.
Emmett
As Raegan makes her way inside, I can’t help but repeat those words over and over. No secrets. No secrets between them. Oh, I’m dead. Dover Lowery is going to hunt me down and shoot me if we take things any further. I shake my head to try to clear my mind, crank up the radio, and drive home.
I call Mom on my way to see if they are still at the hospital, and they are on their way home as well. I stop and grab a bite to eat, and once I’m home, I notice that Jace is in the front yard shooting some hoops. Oh, hell. Here we go.
“What’s up, Jace?” I ask as his hard stare meets me, and I realize he’s probably wondering where I’ve been.
“Not much.” As soon as I put the key into the lock, it starts. “Quick question,” he says, and I turn to face him.
“Shoot,” I say.
“How is it that you walk back into town and the girl that is untouchable falls at your feet?”
“Dude, really?” I say sarcastically as he puts down the ball and walks toward me.
“Just curious, because it makes sense for Raegan and me to be together, but you show up, and I’m history,” he says with his arms crossed.
“Look, all I know is it just kinda happened. It’s not like we’re strangers. I’m not a new kid on the block. I’m an old kid that’s back on the block.” I turn to go inside.
“Well, just know that one day she’s gonna have to choose between you and her grandaddy, and that’s not a choice for her. Remember that,” he says with irritation in his voice as he goes back to shooting hoops.
“Yeah, I gotcha man.” I don’t have time for stupid assholes like him. Dumb ass, I think to myself as I walk inside and up to my room to get out of these wet clothes. As I remove them, I can’t help but think how I’d love to remove Raegan’s right off her body.
Chapter 17
Raegan
Monday’s alarm clock comes way before the crack of dawn. I slept like a baby last night and jump out of bed, because I know the sooner I get moving, the sooner I’m done with my chores and off to school. It’s five o’clock. That means three hours until I get to see Emmett. A smile spreads across my face, and I throw on work clothes and make my way downstairs.
The kitchen light is already on as well as the light inside the barn. Man, why didn’t I beat him this morning? He needs to take it easy. I grab my boots and sit on the porch to slide them on before I head to the barn.
“Mornin’, Sunshine,” Grandaddy says as he feeds each of the horses
in their stalls.
“Mornin’. Whatcha need me to start with?” I ask.
“I’ll feed them if you’ll check the water, collect the eggs, and slop the hogs. I should be able to handle the rest today.”
Standing there with my hands on my hips, I reply, “Grandaddy, you better not work too hard today!”
“Now, listen. Before you get all feisty like your mawmaw, hold up. Joe’s coming back mid-mornin’. We have this covered. I don’t want you to worry. You got me?” he says firmly.
“Yes, sir. I’m glad Joe’s comin’,I say, and it’s the truth. Joe is my grandaddy’s longest childhood friend and a lawyer in town. They might be getting up there in age, but those men know how to work. They’d put guys my age to shame. “I’ll hurry, so I can get breakfast ready, too.”
Within the hour, I’m finished and making my way back inside the house. I take a package of fresh bacon and a few fresh eggs from the fridge. Once breakfast is complete, I go out to tell Grandaddy. As we eat together, we talk about the day and plans for the week. After breakfast, I get ready for school while he goes back out to start working for the day.
Hustling to get ready, I shower and let my damp hair dry naturally. I look in my closet and have no idea what to wear. Not that it really matters, because I know Emmett doesn’t care, but images are important when you are the Raegan Lowery. I choose a pair of neon pink shorts, an embellished black tank, and a pair of gladiator sandals. After I finish putting on my makeup and scrunching my hair with a little gel, I grab my backpack and make my way downstairs to tell Grandaddy goodbye before leaving.
I see him at the tractor shed. I toss my bag into my truck before I walk his way. When he notices me, he stops what he’s doing and walks toward me.
“A’ight, Grandaddy, I’m gone. I’ll see ya this afternoon. You and Joe behave, okay?” I tell him as I hug him.
“Sunshine, I don’t know if Joe and I know how to stay outta trouble, but if not, we know a good lawyer.”
“Oh my! That’s enough.” I laugh. “I’ll see ya right after practice. Love you.”