Southern Heat (Southern 6)

I sit beside her as she looks off into the distance. “Did you have fun?” I ask her, putting my arm across the back of the swing.

“I did,” she says. “And you were right. The burger was amazing.” She looks down and then up. “What’s on Sunday?”

“Every Sunday, my grandparents have a barbecue. It started before I was born, and it has just grown into this big thing. Practically the whole town shows up.” My thumb rubs her shoulder softly, hoping she doesn’t move away from me.

“But …” She looks at me. “When I was in the hospital, you never left.”

“Okay?” I don’t know if she’s asking me or telling me.

“You didn’t go?” The wind picks up just a touch, and the hair flies in her face. My hand comes up to push the hair away from her face. “You never left me.”

My thumb moves across her cheekbones. “No,” I whisper, my head is moving closer to hers. “I never left your side.” My head dips just a touch more, and I am so close to her lips I can taste the kiss.

“Quinn, I should get to bed.” My hand falls from her face, and I just look at her.

“Let’s get inside,” I say, getting up and holding out my hand to her. She slips her hand in mine, and even though I hate myself for not taking the kiss I’ve been dreaming about, I won’t push her. She is the one who will lead where this goes. We are going to do things on her time.

I unlock the door, and she walks in before me. “Thank you,” she says and then turns around. “For today.” She wears the biggest smile I’ve seen on her face. “Even the root beer float.”

I laugh. “Anytime, Willow,” I say. She nods and heads to her bedroom. “Good night, Willow.” She looks over her shoulder at me. “Sweet dreams.”

“You, too, Quinn,” she says softly. I walk to the couch and turn the television on, but my head is on the girl sleeping in the bedroom. I doze off and open my eyes when I hear Amelia come in. I look over and see that it’s just after two in the morning. I wait for her to go to her room before I get up and walk to her bedroom.

I push open her door and see her sleeping in the middle of the room, wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Walking in, I see the two black bags side by side. Something eats me inside at seeing that. I put the cover over her and walk out before I unpack the bag for her. When I slide into bed, my eyes don’t close all night. All I can do is see the two bags in my head. Every single time I close my eyes, that’s all I see.

When the alarm rings the next day, I’m not surprised she’s already waiting for me in the kitchen. “Morning,” I say, almost grunting at her. My nerves are on edge when I see her wearing what she wore yesterday to the barn. “Ready?” I ask, and she nods and walks outside.

She gets into the golf cart beside me, and I can’t help the anger that runs through me. I open the door and saddle the horses, then we ride side by side, neither of us saying anything. I don’t trust myself to say anything to her.

When we get back two hours later, I get off the horse first, and then she slides off Hope. “Is everything okay?” she asks, holding Hope’s reins as we walk back into the barn. “You’re very quiet today.”

“Yeah,” I say and then turn to look at her.

“Are you okay?” she asks again, and I know I have to tread carefully. I know I shouldn’t say even one word, but looking at her, with the sun shining on her and seeing her so much stronger, I can’t stop the words from coming out.

“Why haven’t you unpacked?” I ask, and she just looks at me. “You haven’t unpacked. You sleep on the top of your bed. When …” I ask, throwing my hands up. “When are you going to fucking unpack?”

“I don’t …” She looks down, and I shake my head. God, how can she not see how much I want her here?

“Yeah, I know you don’t want to.” I shake my head and walk into the barn. I have to get away from her before I say things that will hurt her even more.

I listen to her put Hope in her stall as I walk into the office and close the door. I sit down behind my desk, letting the anger leave me. I put my head back and close my eyes. I hear people arrive, and I walk out of the office. I start the coffee, and only when it’s done and I’ve had a cup do I walk down to offer her a bottle of water. I poke my head into the stall and see that she isn’t there. I check all the stalls, and I can’t find her anywhere.