Southern Chance (Southern 1)

“That is so cool,” she says, looking around at the old pictures that line the wall.

When Delores comes over, I order a root beer float and a cheeseburger with the works. Olivia looks at the menu, asking for the same and then looks at me. “There is no salad on that menu.”

“I think there is a piece of lettuce in the burger,” I say, throwing my head back and laughing. When the door opens and the bell rings, my heart stops in my chest.

“You did not.” I hear Beau say when Savannah laughs and looks over her shoulder at Jacob who just smiles at her walking in.

“This should be interesting,” Olivia says from beside me, but she isn’t the only one thinking that.

Chapter Thirteen

Jacob

The door closes behind them, and I think it’s only then that I breathe for the first time since I walked in.

I tried to keep my cool in the meeting, tried to ignore that she was so close to me. When Grady asked her if she was dating anyone, I wanted to slam my hand on the table. The meeting in my office didn’t go any better when she stepped out with him. I counted to seven hundred, and he wasn’t back yet, so I made an excuse of needing water. I wasn’t ready to catch him with his hand on her arm. I wanted to rip his arm out of his socket.

I kept my calm, but when she walked out of the room and had a panic attack in front of me, I snapped. I lost my cool, and I did everything I shouldn’t do like take her in my arms and hold her without thinking or telling myself not to. Having her in my arms shifted things in me. I set her down and want to hold her hand, but instead, I watch Olivia talk to her. My chest feels like it’s being crushed seeing her hurt. I shouldn’t fucking care, yet nothing will stop it. I’ve loved her my whole life. I still love her.

I watch her walk out of the office with Casey, making sure she is okay. I stand here with my eyes on her. Grady is next to me, and Monica is next to Grady. “Well, that settles that,” Grady finally says, and I look down at the floor and rub the back of my neck with my hand.

“It really does,” Monica says, shaking her head. “It really sucks she’s pretty.”

Grady laughs and looks at her. “She is fucking beautiful.”

“That’s enough!” I yell at them, my head feeling like it’s going to fucking explode. The front door opens, and Beau and Savannah come in.

“There he is,” Savannah says. “Beau is paying for lunch.”

“Why?” I ask, and she shakes her head. “He bet yet again and lost.” She looks at him.

He reaches out and pulls her in and kisses the top of her head. “You’re a pain in my ass.” She doesn’t move out of his touch. “Always have been.”

“Always will be.” She puts an arm around his waist, looking at me. “Now get your radio.”

“I’m not on duty,” I inform her and then look at Grady. “I’ll call you later, and we can go over everything.”

“Looking forward to it,” he says and turns to go back to his office.

Turning to Monica, I say, “Call me if there is anything.”

“Will do, boss.” She nods, and I walk out of the station.

The three of us walk to the diner. “So what did you bet this time?”

“It’s stupid,” Beau says, and Savannah claps her hands in front of her.

“It was so good,” Savannah says. “Mrs. Hoover was out at the bar last night.” She starts with the nickname we gave to our old principal. Word is she liked to suck cock. Or at least, that is the rumor. “I bet him that she would make a play for him.”

“Oh my God,” I say, putting my hand to my stomach. “Isn’t she like seventy?”

“I swear I heard her tell a couple of the men that she would love to have him leave his boots under her bed,” Savannah teases him as he pulls open the door to the diner.

“You did not,” Beau says to her over his shoulder.

Savannah laughs and looks over her shoulder at me. “I did, too.” I smile and shake my head. There’s never a dull moment with these two. I suddenly bump into Savannah in front of me as I see everyone stare at us. It takes a moment, and I finally see why. There in the middle of the diner is Kallie.

“Oh my God,” Beau says, leaving Savannah and me at the door and going over to her. “Look at you,” he says, smiling. She gets up for him and smiles. He wraps his arms around her and even picks her up. “I heard you were back in town.”