Southern Secrets (Southern 7)

The past three days have been like a game of cat and mouse. Working all day long, pushing all the frustration all out of me. Getting home and seeing her there looking like she was going out of her mind, yet looking more beautiful than she did that morning. I avoided her as much as I could, staying in my room for fear I’d throw her down and kiss the ever-loving shit out of her. I’d wait for her to go to bed before going back on the couch and sleeping. My alarm would ring every two hours. I’d stand there beside her bed sometimes right before I wake her and wonder what it would feel like to lie with her in my arms.

The door opens again, and I look over, hoping it’s Amelia. Hoping she came back to finish what we started, but nothing I’ve ever wanted in my life I actually got. "Dinner is ready." Ethan sticks his head into the garage. I nod at him as he turns around.

You saw what you had to see. Get the fuck out of here. My head yells at me, but my feet, my feet start moving toward the house

When I walk into the kitchen, Kallie is walking out toward the dining room. Following her, I see that everyone is in the dining room sitting down. Jacob sits at the head of the table with Kallie making her way toward the chair on his right. I spot the empty chair right beside Jacob and Ethan. I look toward the other end of the table where Amelia sits between Gabriel and Aubrey. She bends her head to rub noses with Aubrey before turning to Gabriel and picking up his plate. He points at all the food he wants. She places his plate in front of him. "Wait until we say grace." He nods at her. "Give me sugar." She points at her cheek, and he huffs out, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"Help yourself," Jacob says from beside me. My eyes move from Amelia to the feast in front of me.

Kallie comes back into the room, and the smile on her face is huge. "All that is missing is Graham." She takes a breath. "And the family would be complete.”

"That’s what you get when you enlist," Ethan says. "He’s keeping us safe." Kallie nods at him, and I see that Jacob has put his hand on hers.

"Let’s say grace," Jacob says, and I reach out my hands, putting one hand in Ethan’s and another in Jacob’s. I close my eyes, but I don’t listen to the words that are said. Instead, I wonder how different my life would have been had I had this. I stop my head from playing the what-if game as we all say, "Amen."

"Nothing like Mom’s cooking," Ethan says, and all eyes go to Emily, who just side-eyes him.

"What? I like your cooking, too."

"Nice save there, McIntyre," Amelia says, pointing her fork at him.

I only talk when someone asks me something. My head is going around and around in circles, and I know I have to get out of here.

"Thank you for dinner," I say to Kallie. "It was delicious as always." I get up, grabbing my empty plate and moving toward the kitchen.

"You don’t have to do that, Asher," Kallie says.

Ignoring her, I walk to the kitchen and rinse off my plate. I open the dishwasher, placing it on the rack, when I suddenly feel eyes on me.

Amelia stands there, wringing her hands in front of her. "Are you headed home?"

"I am," I say, closing the dishwasher and wiping off my hands.

"Can I catch a ride with you?" she asks me softly. "I don’t want anyone to go out of their way to bring me home, and I’m a little tired."

"Of course," I say to her, and she turns, walking back to the dining room.

"I’m going to catch a ride with Asher," Amelia says, walking over to Jacob, who pushes back from the table and gets up to hug her. She looks up at him with a smile on her face. "Love you, Dad."

"Love you more, baby girl." He pushes her hair back and kisses her forehead.

"Call me tomorrow," Kallie says to her when she goes to her mother for a hug.

"I’ll see you tomorrow," Jacob says to me, his voice loud, making Amelia just look over at me. She moves her eyes from me to her father and then to Ethan.

"Wouldn’t miss it," I say to him and turn to walk out of the room when Amelia's voice stops me from moving.

"What am I missing?" she asks, looking all around the room.

I want to tell her nothing, but Jacob is fast to tell her. "I’m trying to convince Asher here to give the police department a chance." He smiles at me.