Southern Sunrise (Southern 4)
“I’ll do whatever you want to do,” I say, and I’m honest about it. “Until I snap. Because if I want to kiss you, I’m going to kiss you.”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, I see that didn’t change.”
“I’m the same man you fell in love with,” I say. “I just have a few broken pieces.”
“So do I,” she says, and I kiss her again.
“Will you call me when you get home?” I ask, not wanting her to go. I want her to stay and spend the night.
“I don’t have your number,” she tells me, and I smile.
“It’s the same as my old one. Casey kept paying the plan the whole time.” I smile at her.
“Okay,” she whispers and leans in, giving me another kiss. “I’ll call you when I get home.”
I open the door for her, and she gets in, looking at me. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she says. “This, me and you.”
“It never stopped,” I say, closing the door and watching her drive away. My heart hurt just a touch that she didn’t stay. I walk back into the house, my step a tad lighter than it was before. She calls me when she gets home, and we spend an hour talking about Drew and him showing off the new girl. When I hang up with her, it’s to me telling her I love her.
The next morning, I’m parked in front of her school, and I see her getting out of her car and making her way over. Her hair is perfectly styled as she wears another skirt with a nice top. Her bags are in one hand and her coffee in the other hand. I take my phone and call her, and I see her smile and then answer me.
“Hello,” she says.
“I love when you smile,” I say, and she stops walking. “You look beautiful this morning.” Her head flies up, and she looks around.
“Where are you?” she asks. I get out of my truck, and she sees me. “What are you doing here?” she asks into the phone, but then I’m close enough to her. I hang up as I walk over and bend down. I see her eyes in a panic, but I do it anyway. I kiss her on her cheek.
“I took Amelia and Chelsea to breakfast this morning,” I say, and she smiles. “I missed a lot while I was gone, so I’m catching up.”
“Well, isn’t that the sweetest,” she says, and a couple of the kids say hello to her when they walk in, and the bell rings. “I have to get going, but …”
“Why don’t you come over after school and we can make dinner?” I suggest, and she looks down. “Or not.”
“How about you come over to my place,” she tells me. “I have some work to do, and I work better at my house.”
“Done,” I say, and I look around, seeing that some eyes are on us. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
She smiles shyly. “If it makes you feel better, I really want you to kiss me, too.” Another bell rings. “I have to go.”
“See you later, Sunrise,” I say softly, and she walks away from me. Chelsea and Amelia wait for her by the door and say something to her, and then the three of them laugh.
I get into my truck and make my way over to my next stop. I look at the house and see two American flags by the door. I walk up the steps and open the door, seeing Cassandra sitting behind the desk. “I heard the ruffling of feathers that you were in town,” she says, getting up and walking around her desk.
“Hey there,” I say, bending to give her a hug. She’s been working for Beau for the past fifteen years. “Is he in?”
“He sure is.” She smiles. “Do you want me to bring you anything to drink?” she asks. I just shake my head and walk over, knocking on the doorframe. He’s sitting behind his desk, reading something, and he looks up.
He doesn’t smile at me nor does he have any reaction to me standing here. “I was wondering if we can talk?” I ask, my hands getting clammy with nerves. He stands up now walking around the desk, and he leans on it. Looking around the office, I see that it looks almost the same. There is a new couch and some new pictures that line the wall, but in the middle is the picture of my mother and him on their wedding day with me standing in front of them.
“I,” I start to say, and I look down. “I wanted to come by and talk to you.”
“Well, here I am,” he says, folding his arms over his chest.
“I get that you’re pissed at me,” I say, sitting down on the couch.