Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

“Livy wants to just stay in. She’s exhausted from shopping all day.”

Livy. I never would have thought my friend’s eyes would light up the way they do when talking about my baby sister. “They find what they were looking for?” I ask, even though I don’t really care. It’s polite and keeps the conversation from me. That’s the main objective here. I know he’s onto me.

“Livy said they all found their dresses. And something about Whit and boots, but I’m not supposed to tell Aaron.” He looks up at me.

I raise my hands in surrender. “I know nothing about boots. Got it,” I chuckle.

“Anyway,” he continues, “Livy said they should be back a little before seven.”

I know I have no messages—I would’ve felt my phone vibrate—but I’m still itching to pull it out and check. I don’t, not with David’s eyes on me. Instead, I drop the towel onto the bar. I’ve wiped the same section fifteen times.

“Slow night,” he says.

“Yeah, I’ll probably head out early,” I confess. I take that as the perfect opening to get out of here without announcing that I’ll be meeting up with Jamie.

“Big plans?” he asks.

“Nope,” I say just as my phone vibrates in my back pocket. My arm whips around and retrieves it before it’s finished with the alert. Quickly swiping the screen, I pull up my messages.

Jamie: Headed back. You still want to meet up?

Is she serious?

Me: Name the time and place, sweetheart.

Jamie: I’m the out-of-towner, remember? Whit and Aaron are staying in. I think Liv and Kinley are on the same plan.

Me: You tired?

Jamie: It was a long day.

My mind races with what we can do. It’s too cold to be outside. She’s tired, so my place is all I can think of. It’s going to be hard as hell keeping my hands off her, but the alternative is not getting to see her again before she leaves.

Me: My place? We can just hang out, watch a movie, whatever you want.

I sound desperate. Oh well, it’s already sent.

Jamie: That actually sounds great.

Me: I’ll pick you up. It’s supposed to snow, and I don’t want you driving on the slick roads.

Jamie: I’m from Chicago, remember?

Me: I’ll pick you up.

Jamie: If you must. Eight?

Me: See you then.

Locking the screen, I slide my phone back in my pocket. That’s when the world around me comes back into focus and I hear David laughing.

“What?” I ask.

“You know what. Let me guess, Jamie?”

“Yup,” I confess.

“You know your sister is going to go crazy over this little piece of intel, right?”