Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

Her tears fall and I know what she’s going to say. I swallow back the emotion clogging my throat. “I-I think it means that when I leave here on Sunday, that w-we have to p-part as f-fr-friends,” she sobs.

A loud crack of thunder and then a strike of lightning flashes outside the window, in time with my heart breaking. I knew this was an impossible feat, but I let myself fall for her anyway. The attraction was too strong to fight. I didn’t want to fight it.

“There has to be a way,” I say, my voice not sounding like my own.

“Tell me how, Mike. I just… I can’t leave my family, my career I worked so hard for. You have the bar, your family, and your friends. We’re at an impasse. We knew this was a possibility.”

She’s right. We both know it. “I’ll be right back.” I kiss her forehead and climb out of bed, leaving the bedroom in search of my cell phone. I find it lying on the dryer. Luckily neither mine nor hers was ruined from our dance in the rain.

Unlocking the screen, I pull up Olivia’s contact and hit Call, walking back to the bedroom. She picks up just as I’m climbing back into bed.

“Hello,” she answers.

“Hey, Liv.” I lie down in front of Jamie. “I have a favor to ask.”

“Sure thing, what’s up?”

“I only have a few days left before Jamie goes back to Chicago. I’m not coming back to the bar until then. Can you handle things? I just… I need this time with her.”

“Sure. You all right?” she questions.

“Not at all. Thank you. I hate to drop this all on you—”

“Michael, it’s fine. You have this place running like a well-oiled machine. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“Will do, little sister.”

“Love you, big brother.”

“Love you too.” I end the call and toss my phone behind me on the nightstand. “I’m all yours until you leave. I want as much time with you as I can get.”

“Mike, it’s just going to—”

“No. I love you, Jamie. Those are not words I say lightly. In fact, I’ve never said them to someone who isn’t family. It’s going to hurt like hell no matter what. I want these last few days to make memories with you. Memories that will be with me in here”—I place my hand over my heart—“forever, just like you will be.”

“I love you too,” she cries. I hold her close and we cry together.

She eventually drifts off to sleep but I can’t, my mind racing. How mad would my parents be if I gave up the bar? Can Olivia handle it on her own? I know she’s it for me, and I know she loves me, but it’s a risk. Giving up my legacy for a relationship that may or may not work out in the end.

Can I handle living in the city?

Can I give it all up for her?

This week has been bittersweet. True to his word, we haven’t left the house since we got home from Whit and Aaron’s. We’ve made love, talked, played cards and watched movies, just to name a few. We’ve not left each other’s sides for any length of time.

I was right in thinking that this was just going to make it harder. I fall more in love with him every single day. But I wouldn’t change it, wouldn’t change this time with him. It’s time I will cherish for the rest of my life.

“Ready, babe?” he asks.

“You know I’m the Monopoly champ, right?”

“So you say. I’ve yet to see these skills you speak of. I’m the champ around these parts, so you’re going to have to fight for it.”

“Bring it, country.”

An hour in and I’m losing—bad. He’s got all his property lined with hotels, and my cash flow is dwindling fast. “Why don’t we make this interesting?” I suggest.

“What do you have in mind?”