Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

“I hate to break up the party, but Mom and Dad are at our place with the kids. We really should be going.” Kinley stands and walks around the table to give Jamie a hug. “You’re good for him,” she whispers, but since Jamie is still on my lap with my arms around her, I heard it. I happen to agree with her.

“We should go too.” David stands.

We say our goodbyes and I make my way over to Joe, my arm around Jamie.

“What’s up?” he asks.

“I’m heading out. You got this?” I ask him.

“You know it. I know how to reach you if I need you. Besides, last call is in an hour.”

I nod, thank him and head back to my office to grab my phone so we can get home.

It’s already Wednesday. I wish I could figure out a way to make time stand still.

I’ve settled easily into being here with him. Sunday, we had dinner at his parents’ and stayed there most of the evening, swimming and just hanging out. Monday, he was off, so we went hiking again. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. Last night we were at the bar, though we left again before closing at Mike’s insistence that the staff could handle it.

Now I’m sitting on Mike’s front porch waiting on the girls. He offered for me to host girls’ day, and when I mentioned it to the girls, they jumped at the idea. Apparently Whit and Kinley live close to work, and the guys do too, so unless they get out of their houses, it’s doesn’t feel much like a break.

Liv was just excited that her brother offered his house. She rambled on about how I’m changing him for the better. Mike and I went out yesterday afternoon before we went to the bar and bought some snacks, though he refused to let me pay. He’s spoiling me, and I hate to admit that a girl could get used to it. Not because he buys me things but because of him. It’s who he is. He wants to take care of me, and it’s a heady feeling.

I stand when I see Kinley’s SUV pull into the drive, watching as all three girls climb out. “Where’s your car?” Whit asks.

I point to the attached garage. “Mike parked it in the garage for some reason unknown to me. He said it was there, so we might as well use it.” I leave out the part where he said “we” have the space. I save that little tidbit just for me.

Liv laughs. “He’s so hooked.” She grins. “I never thought it would happen.”

“I said the same thing about Aaron. He was too picky until this one came along,” Kinley says, throwing her arm over Whit’s shoulders.

“Come on in,” I say, though I feel weird about it. This isn’t my place, after all.

“Be right in, some supplies we have to get first.”

I wait while they each grab a bag from the back of the SUV. “What is all of that?”

“Snacks and some alcohol,” Liv says.

“We bought some snacks and drinks too,” I tell them, holding the door open.

Whit looks at me. She caught the “we” and that makes her smile. It does me too. It also makes me sad because I have a week and a half left before I have to go home. I can’t stay here and live with him, live off him. I need to go back to Chicago and look for a job. Yeah, I have the severance money, but the longer I’m out of the workforce, the harder it’ll be to find a job.

After we put out the spread of snacks and mix some drinks, we settle in the living room with plates of food in hand. “So, Olivia.” Whitney smirks. “What’s up with you and David?”

“What do you mean?”

“We heard what he said the other night,” Kinley chimes in.

“He’s wearing you down?” I ask her.

“He’s brought it up, the marriage thing,” she confesses.

“And?” Whit asks.

“And….” She releases a heavy sigh. “I’ve felt stuck, you know. I love my job at the bar, love being behind the bar, but I can’t do that forever. I don’t want to be to be big and pregnant and slinging beers.”

“Who said anything about being pregnant?” Kinley asks.

“Are you?” I ask cautiously.