Covering the Carolinas (32 page)

“
Fine, but I swear, if you disappear for more
than thirty seconds, I’m out!”

“
Yes, Mama.” She giggles.

We walk to the cafeteria and get in line. This is
the best meal all week— school pizza! While Jordyn talks about her
attire for tonight, all I think about is helping Grandaddy this
afternoon, even if he told me I don’t have to.

“
I think I’m going to help Grandaddy and Cole
this afternoon. I know they both wanna go to the game, and it will
be faster if I help, too.”

“
Seriously? Why are you so damn responsible? I
mean, you make it hard for girls like me to function in this
town.”

I twist my head toward her in confusion. “Huh?”

“
Rae, you don’t realize how much people look
at you. You are the all-American Southern Belle, minus the blonde
hair. You are smart, great looking, and a hard worker, no matter if
it’s on the farm, school, field, or whatever. The fact that you
almost seem out of reach by guys doesn’t help either. I swear, why
won’t you go out with Jace? He’s hot, and he’s been begging for,
what, like three years now?”

I stop mid-stride as she finishes her sentences. I’m
speechless. I’m not that girl she’s talking about. Yeah, I might
look like I have it all together, but I do what has to be done in
life. I will not let down my Grandaddy. He’s all I have left in
this world.

“
Jordyn, that’s so not true. I’m far from
that. You know an all-American girl has both parents to make an
all-American family, and I don’t.”

“
I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean, at
some point, you’ve got to have some fun. Ya know, hook up with a
guy, go out on a date, and live a little besides a few beers every
now and then.”

“
I just can’t, and besides, Jace isn’t the guy
for me.”

We make our way to the table. Ridge, Jace, and a few
other football players are sitting together and waiting for us.
Jordyn snickers as we walk over, but when my eyes land on the new
guy sitting there, I can’t do anything but stare.

His aqua eyes look up from his plate and meet
mine.
Ohmygosh, it’s Emmett Bridges. When
did he move back to Pleasant Hill?
A smile widens
across my face, and I’m glad he’s back. He used to love to kiss us
girls on the playground when we were growing up, and that’s one
thing I’ve never forgotten. What I wouldn’t give to be pinned up on
that playground with him right now. He’s hot, but what I remember
most is when my parents passed away, he brought me a stuffed bunny
that looked like Thumper, our class pet. That was the day I
realized everything would be okay, because I knew people cared
about me. A grin escapes my lips, and he does the same.

Jordyn and I make our way to the table and park our
trays between Ridge and Jace, like we are expected to do. Jace
wastes no time introducing us to Emmett. I think he’s pretty
clueless to assume we don’t recognize Emmett.

“
Hey, Emmett, long time no see,” I say
sweetly.

“
How are you, Raegan?” he asks with tenderness
in his voice.

“
Really good. How ’bout you?”

“
I’m better, now,” he replies. I can’t help
but wonder exactly what he means by that.

Jordyn and I finish our food quickly before she asks
the question I already knew was coming, and of course, it has to be
in front of Jace.

“
Rae, did you decide what you’re going to do
after school?” Jordyn questions, and for some reason, I think she’s
up to something.

After nodding, I fill her in, “I’m gonna help
Grandaddy and Cole. I’ll just meet you at your house before the
game. That okay?”

“
Really, Raegan? You’re gonna go work on the
farm before the biggest county game of the season?” Jace asks with
anger in his tone.

“
I hate to tell ya, Jace, but the world
doesn’t revolve around football. Some people have to work hard for
a livin’.”

With little else said, Jace makes his way outside. I
swear, I don’t understand him. I’ve told him time and time again
I’m not interested.

“
So, Emmett, have you seen Cole yet?” I
question.

“
He’s supposed to pick me up today. My truck
is in the shop. We’re goin’ to the game tonight.”

As the bell rings, I stand to throw away my trash.
“Ya know, I can just take ya if you want. It will save him a little
time, and he might get done on the farm earlier.”

“
Are you sure? I mean, Jace might kick my
ass.” He smirks.

“
No worries about Jace. We’re
not
together.”
Why did I just say that out loud? I’m sure he couldn’t care
less.

“
Where should I meet ya?” He says with a
smirk

“
I’ll be out by my truck after the second
bell. It’s a white Chevy Silverado with my intials in pink on the
back window.” I say as I make my way down the hall to third
block.

Emmett

After class, I meet Jace in the cafeteria. I
swear, school cafeterias are always the same. You have the nerds,
outsiders, and popular students all separated. Once I grab my tray
of food, I take a seat across from Jace. He’s rambling on and on
about the game. It sucks not to be playing, but I guess that’s my
fault. That’s when I glance up mid-bite and see her talking to
Jordyn. Her chocolate brown hair is pulled back so that her eyes
attack you with their sharpness, but she looks upset.
Wonder what’s wrong?
I try to ignore
her, but I can’t.

“
Emmett, man, what the hell’s wrong with you?”
Jace asks with attitude. Then, he looks over his shoulder and sees
her. “Don’t even think about it.”

“
She’s grown up… a lot,” I say, and Jace
smirks.

“
Yeah, she has,” he replies, trying to imply
other things, but I know better. That’s not the Raegan I
knew.

As she makes her way to our table, I ignore her and
wait for Jace to introduce us to boost his ego a little more. He
introduces me like I’m the new kid on the block, but I’m not. She
realizes what Jace is doing and lets him know that she knows
exactly who I am, and that feels damn good to know.

While I finish my lunch, Jace gives Raegan a hard
time about working on the farm. He just doesn’t get it, but I guess
he wouldn’t, considering he hasn’t had to work hard a day in his
life. He doesn’t deserve her, and it’s obvious. That’s when Raegan
does the unthinkable. She gives me a means to get close to her by
way of Cole. She offers to let me ride with her to the farm, and
there is no way in hell I’m not.

Chapter 2

Raegan

“
Girl! What the heck? Jace is gonna be
spittin’ fire this afternoon!” Jordyn exclaims when I take my seat
in English beside her.

“
Really, J? I’m just taking him to
Cole.”

“
Yeah, you keep tellin’ yourself that. I saw
the way you looked at him, and believe me, he noticed you long
before you saw him.”

“
Whatever,” I
say
as I grab my notebook and
pencil.

I spend third block listening to a lot of rambling
about Shakespeare and learning some stupid memory pegs. I bet I
will be doing them in my sleep tonight. My last class is chorus,
and it’s my favorite part of the day. It doesn’t take effort, and
it's an escape from reality.

When the bell rings for the end of the day, I hurry
to my locker and stare into it, lost in thoughts of Emmett waiting
for me. Pulling myself from my thoughts, I turn and am greeted by
Jace.

“
Hey! Sorry, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see ya
tonight,” I say leaving him standing alone. It’s not that he’s a
bad guy; he’s just not for me. Who am I kidding? He’s the biggest
player in school. I want someone that gets me, not what everyone
thinks they know about me. I don’t wanna be the cheerleader that
dates the quarterback. I want to be the girl that meets a guy that
loves me for my brains and beauty.

As I walk to my truck, I see Emmett propped up
against it, waiting for me.

“
Dang, you’re fast,” I say as I make my way to
the driver’s seat.

“
Well, it looked like you were busy in there,”
he says as he pushes off my truck.

“
He just doesn’t get it, no matter how much I
tell him, but don’t say I said that.”

He laughs. “Why not, if you’ve already told
him?”

“
Um, how long have you known Jace?”

“
A long time,” he adds.

“
He always gets what he wants. The only reason
he’s still trying to talk to me is because I won’t go out with him.
I just don’t have time for that. My grandaddy needs me too much
right now.”

Emmett looks at me quizzically. “What do you mean?
He has Cole.”

“
True, but Cole doesn’t live
there. I’ve always been there to help. The work doesn’t stop when
the sun goes
down. I help with the housework,
cooking, and I’m his secretary, too.”

“
How do you balance it all?”

“
It’s pretty much all I’ve ever done. I don’t
know any different. So, when did you get into town?”

“
Late last night.”

“
Oh, are you
glad
to be back?” I ask, trying to change the
subject from me.

“
Kinda. My stepmom is a bitch. I swear, once
Dad started dating her, I knew I needed to move back in with Mom.
She and George have been married for a while, and I like him. He
treats her better than my dad ever did.”

“
That’s so sweet. How is it
with Cole as a brother
?”

“
It’s okay. He’s older than me, but it’s good
to have him around. I just can’t believe that he still lives at
home. That’s enough about me. What’ve you been up to, besides the
farm?”

“
You know you’d live at home too if you had it
made like him. Plus, I think he has no reason to leave, ya know?”
Emmett nods in agreement as I think for a few seconds. “Not much
more than what I said earlier. Besides school and workin’ on the
farm, that’s about it. I have been known to throw down a little
at
a field party or two.” I
wink.

“
So, does that mean you’re goin’
tonight?”

“
Thanks to Jordyn, yes.” I say a little
irritated.

“
Well, I’m glad,” he says as
he opens the truck door, and I see Cole and Grandaddy
making their way to us.

Straightening my skirt, I grab my backpack and start
to walk inside the house to change and work when Grandaddy stops
me.

“
Raegan, whatcha doin’ home? I thought I told
ya to have some fun,” Grandaddy scorns.

I walk to him and give him a peck on the cheek.
“Grandaddy, you know I couldn’t do that to ya.”

He looks at Cole. “What are we gonna do with her? I
swear.”

Cole laughs and looks at me. “Uncle Dover, I have no
idea, but maybe Emmett can help us.” My eyes bug outta my head. “By
the way, how was your first day back, Emmett?” Cole asks, turning
to Emmett.

“
Okay, I guess,” he says with his hands in his
pockets and a shrug.

“
Yeah, I bet. Come on. We’re almost done; we
were just fixin’ the door to the barn, and then we are outta here,”
Cole says as he turns, and Emmett follows.

As I stand there with Grandaddy, I
know he’s waiting until they are out of ears’ reach before he says
his next words
.

Before he can ask about my day, I ask him about his,
“How did the appointment go?” I inquire with worry in my tone.

“
Raegan, Sunshine, there’s
no need to worry. I’m doing fine. The doctor said it’s just the old
man type leukemia. I just gotta take a pill every so often. I go
back next week to get it all lined up,” he says with
confidence and reassurance.

“
Grandaddy, I don’t care what they said. It’s
a big deal to me. I can’t lose you, too!” I say as my voice
heightens. He takes me and pulls me in for a hug, and I know he is
strong, confident, and his positive outlook will see this through.
I just know it.

“
Now, listen. This is between us. Within a
month or so, this should be over, and I’ll be fine. Cole doesn’t
need any more on his plate with Emmett moving back, and I need you
to focus on school and having fun. Do you understand
me?”

“
Yes, sir,” I say as tears
fill my eyes
.

“
Don’t cry, Sunshine. I’m fine. Now, let’s
finish up. I wanna get a good seat for the game.”

Shaking my head, I giggle. When my world stops, he
makes it move again. “I’m going with you next week.”

“
Sunshine…” He starts to protest, but I refuse
to fall to this battle.

“
I’m goin’,” I
state forcefully as I walk into the house, slamming the
screen door behind me. Rushing to my room, I change from my uniform
and hurry to start supper and finish
cleaning the house.
Two hours. I got
this!

I start with supper. It’s got to
be quick and simple. I laugh when I look inside the cabinet. I
couldn’t care less if I just eat a sandwich, and Grandaddy won’t
care either. Then, I spot a can of Beanee Weenees. That
will work, and they are his favorite. Each time he fixes
them, he tells me how good they are and so much better than when he
was in the war. This makes me smile, and I need to smile. I need to
push away what he told me. I can’t lose him. I won’t lose him,
because I need him to survive.