Southern Chance (Southern 1)

“I’m going to have to sleep in my truck tonight,” he says, pushing off the table and carrying his plate to the sink. “Thanks, Ma,” he says, kissing her cheek. Then he comes over to me. “Try not to get the gossip going, would ya?” he says and then walks over to Olivia. My mother and I both watch him. “Have a good day, sugar.” He leans in and kisses her on the mouth, stunning her and us. “See you later,” he says and walks out the door.

“What in the heavens?” my mother says, and I look at Olivia, who just puts her hand to her lips.

“Does everyone in the country just kiss you?” she asks, and I shake my head.

“Not unless they want to get shot,” I say, and my mother laughs. I eat a bit of breakfast and help my mother clean up. When we’re finished, I grab a couple of bags and head upstairs while Olivia opens her computer and starts answering emails.

“I’m ready,” I say when I walk down the stairs with four bags stuffed with clothes.

“I just finished making lunch,” my mother says, wiping her hands. “Why don’t we go? I have to get a couple of things at the butcher.”

We get into my mother’s truck, and I fasten my seat belt and look back at Olivia in the back, putting on her designer sunglasses out of her Yves Saint Laurent purse.

“Here goes nothing,” I say under my breath when my mother pulls out of the driveway.

Chapter Seven

Jacob

“Let’s go, kiddo!” I yell down the hall while I pour another cup of coffee, this time in a to-go cup. I thought I would sleep like the dead, but instead, all I did was sit outside looking at the sky. I have no idea if I was looking for a sign or what, but tossing and turning in bed got old, so I went outside and spent the night lying on my porch couch just listening to the silence and looking at the blinking stars. When the sky started to get pink, I got up and ran on the treadmill that I have set up at home.

“Dad!” I hear Ethan yell. “I can’t find my bag.” I shake my head. My son would lose his head if it wasn’t attached to his body. I walk to one of the chairs at the kitchen table and see it there.

“It’s in the kitchen,” I say, and then he comes running into the kitchen wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I look down at myself and see we are almost dressed the same; the only difference is I have a baseball hat on. “You ready?” I ask. He grabs the toast I put on a plate on the table, then nods.

He picks up his sweater and backpack and forgets to grab his lunch box. I grab it from the counter with my keys and walk out with him, slamming the door behind me as I watch Ethan get into the truck and buckle himself in. I open his door, and he looks at me with a what now look. I hold up his lunch box in my hand, and he smiles. “Oh, I forgot that,” he says, smirking and holding out his hand for it.

“Yeah, you forgot that,” I say and close the door, getting into the front seat. The drive to school is max ten minutes. I pull up in the drop-off lane, and I’m greeted by one of Ethan’s teachers, Jana, wearing the drop-off vest. She opens the back door to get Ethan out.

“Good morning, Ethan,” she says softly and smiles at him. Her eyes meet mine, and she smiles bigger. “Morning, Jacob.” I nod at her. It’s no secret that I’m the town’s single dad. It’s also no secret that I haven’t dated anyone really in the past eight years. It’s also no secret that every single woman in the town is waiting for me to take the leap, especially Jana.

“Morning, Jana.” I smile at her and then wonder maybe if I should ask her out.

“Bye, Dad,” Ethan says. He gets out of the truck, and Jana closes the door as soon as he’s out. Pulling off, I call Beau, who answers right away and sounds like he’s panting. “What are you doing?”

“Running,” he says, and I shake my head.

“How can you answer when you’re running?” I ask, heading back home.

“It’s called AirPods, old man.” He laughs. “What can I do for you?” Through it all, Beau has been my best friend. He really stood by my side when Kallie left, but more importantly, he was there when my father died. More than my brother, who only came into town for two days and then ran away before the sun set after burying him.

“Do you think I should ask Jana out?” I ask, and he laughs.