Covering the Carolinas (30 page)

Once we are inside, we take the
corner booth and order double bacon cheeseburgers, onion rings, and
milkshakes. When the burgers arrive in front of us, my mouth begins
to water just thinking about the taste explosion that is about to
occur. Instead
of digging in first, I watch Jake. The
sound that escapes his mouth is damn near erotic.

He struggles for a napkin, and I help him out and
wipe his mouth. “See. I told ya,” I say with a wink.

“
No wonder you lit up like a Christmas tree
when I said ‘burger’. We have got to bring the crew here on our way
back to Nashville.”

“
Sounds good to me.”

We finish eating and feel as full as a tick.
“Ohmygosh, Jake! I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to move when we
get there.”

“
Oh I’m sure you will. I’m gonna make damn
sure you’re dancin’ with me tonight.”

Jake picks up the tab, and we make our way back to
Charlotte. Once we are off I-85, I can’t help but get excited. This
is where my life changed, and it will always be like home to
me.

As we make our way onto Wilkinson Boulevard, my
heartbeat increases, and a smile spreads across my face. I can see
the red neon light in the distance. Once we are there, we pull into
the gravel parking lot, and I notice the line is not too long to
get inside. Getting out my phone, I text Chase to let us in the
back door anyway.

“
Aight, Chase is gonna let us in around
back.”

Jake comes around and opens the
door for me, but after closing the door, he pulls me into a strong
embrace. He takes my soft blonde hair and places it behind my ear
as he looks into my eyes
.

“
Belle, this is our night. Just us. Let’s let
loose and have some fun before we’re back to
reality.” Biting my lip, I nod in agreement, and then his
lips press against mine.

Taking me by the hand, we walk around back, and
Chase is standing there in a pair of jeans and a black fitted tee
with the Coyote Joe’s logo in the corner.

“
Well, if it’s not the best thing I’ve seen
all night!” Chase says with a wink, and I wrap my arms about
him.

“
You’re not so bad yourself. I’m surprised you
don’t have to fight off the girls being all big and swollen in that
shirt and all.”

“
Ah, you know you like it!”

“
Eh, it’s okay.” I laugh,
and we
go inside.

Walking inside is like going back in time. The
mechanical bull is to my right, and one drunk girl has already
gotten enough liquid courage to ride it. The lights give an orange
glow, and the bar in the middle is packed. As I glimpse over at the
bar, I see Lyndsay. She throws her hand up, and the three of us
walk that way.

Once Jake and I get a beer, Chase excuses himself to
get back to work. We talk briefly before going to the dance floor.
All the country line dancers we can stand greet us, and we join
right in. Glancing over my shoulder, I laugh at the fact that no
one has noticed us yet. When the song ends, I look to my right and
see Cole.

“
Cole!” I squeal as I head his direction. Jake
and I talk to him a few minutes, and then Jake excuses us when he
hears Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up” coming from the house band.
As we turn it up on the dance floor, things definitely heat up for
the world to see.

Placing my arms around Jake’s neck, my hips begin to
sway to the music as we sing the lyrics together. As the chorus
approaches, my hands move to his chest. After staring into his
eyes, I turn around and show him everything about “Bottoms Up.”

“
Belle, you better stop
because I’m about to take you out
back and show
you what you’re doing to me.”

“
I dare you,” I whisper. He takes me by the
hand, and we start to make our way out when I hear Blake, the lead
singer of the house band, say my name as the spotlight shines
directly on me.

“
Y’all put your hands
together for our very own Belle Montgomery. Get your ass up here
and show us what
that big stage has done to
ya!”

I let go of Jake, glance at Lyndsay and Chase, and
make my way to the stage. Everything about this night feels
right—being at Joe’s with my friends, Jake, and living life to the
fullest.

As I take the stage, the crowd goes crazy. The house
band greets me with open arms, and I feel at home. I tell them I
wanna go back in time by taking it back to when I used to do this
regularly. Without mentioning the song, they take their places, and
Zack, the drummer, counts five-six-seven-eight. The sound of
Miranda Lambert’s “Kerosene” begins to echo through the speakers,
and I approach the microphone. Performing it like the first time I
ever did on this stage, I sing with every ounce of my being. After
a few other covers, I sing my new release, “Some Kinda Heartbreak.”
As I lose myself in the song, I can’t help but relive the last time
I stepped on this stage and who greeted me as soon as I got off it.
Chase. I glance over and find him and Jake watching every move I
make.

As I finish my last note, the light bulb goes off.
I’ve got to get out of the past and into the future. I do the only
thing that makes sense in the moment.

“
How y’all doin’ tonight? I’m so glad to be
back home, but I’ve got a surprise. How many of y’all love Jake
Bryant?” I can see Jake shaking his head no, but I don’t care. It
will be fun. “How’d you like to see us perform right here tonight
for the first time together?” The crowd hoots and hollers. “Come
on, Jake! For the crowd?” I say with my hands on my hips and my
biggest pouty lips. He smiles and makes his way to the
stage.

Jake takes a minute to talk to the
band. He knows exactly what songs he wants to perform, including a
duet with me that he says will make Chase smile. I know exactly
what he means.
Our song.
It’s one of the most famous duets in country
music— “It’s Your Love” by Tim and Faith. You’d think that this
would make me happy, but instead, I’m the most anxious I have ever
been in my life. Jake gives the crowd what they want by doing what
he does best on stage. I step back out of the light and enjoy the
view just like on tour. This time things are different. We are
different. Different than we were a few hours ago. I feel like he’s
trying to prove himself against Chase, and I’m not sure how I feel
about that.

Once Jake finishes his song, we join together for a
fun duet of Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue.” As I turn and signal the
band, the house lights focus on me. I begin to sing one of my
favorite songs of all time. I zero in on Chase, and his face looks
like he’s seen a ghost when he peers into my eyes. I sing the verse
straight to him.

People in the crowd find someone they love on the
dance floor and sing as we do. Jake joins me at the chorus and
sings his verse directly to me. I know I must be standing there
with the goofiest grin as I join him in singing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Chase at the
bar, and the expression on his face hurts my heart. I’ve never
wanted to hurt him in my entire life, but this is what I want. I
want Jake Bryant, or at least I think I do.

Once the song ends, he pulls me in close and kisses
my forehead. Forehead, really? I just knew he was going to tell the
world about us tonight when he picked that song. Then, he asks me,
“You think he liked it?” I feel a piece of my heart break when I
see Chase slam his water and exit to the side porch. I wonder if
this was Jake’s way of making a point to Chase, and if so, we are
done before things even get started.

As soon as the lights dim, I whisper to Jake, “You
did that shit on purpose.” Without thinking, I exit the stage and
hurry to Chase.

When I walk outside, the cool air touches my sweaty
skin and chill bumps instantly rise. Looking to my left and right,
I start panicking to find him. I should have told him; that’s what
friends do. Now, there’s nothing to tell. I don’t want to be with
someone that takes his power out on others, even if the world sees
him as the best thing since sliced bread. I see him at the edge of
the porch staring out into the grass.

I take a deep breath as I reach him. Placing my hand
on his back, I don’t say anything.

“
Belle, you need
to
go. I can’t do this here.”

“
Can’t do what, Chase?”

Chase turns toward me with pain
written all over his face. “Let you go. I can’t let you go. You’re
everything to me and seeing you up there with him… singing
our
song together. I
can’t watch that.”

“
Chase, we have always been just
friends.”

“‘
Just friends’? I do believe there was one
night that we were anything but ‘just friends.’”

“
Don’t, Chase! Don’t go there.” Tears begin to
form in my eyes.

“
Bella Blu, that was our song, not y’alls.
Tell me that it didn’t feel the same. I saw the way you looked at
me when you sang that first verse. You were singing to me. Then
when you looked at him… I don’t even want to talk about it. Please
tell me it didn’t feel like this.” Chase takes me in his arms and
pulls me into his perfectly chiseled body as his lips meet mine.
They’re soft at first and then harder with every moment. I try to
resist him, but I can’t. I’ve denied us as long as I can remember,
and even though Jake has given me so much over the past few days,
he’s just a memory when Chase touches me. That spark I extinguished
the night on the trestle is alive and burning tonight, and I won’t
put it out.

When we finally pull ourselves apart, I know I have
to talk to Jake, but before I can do that, I have something that I
must tell Chase.

“
Chase, you know things will never be the
same.”

“
Bella Blu, I don’t want things to ever be the
same. “

“
I need to talk to him, even though I’m pretty
sure he just won the Asshole of the Year award up there. I’d never
do anything to hurt you and that hurt us both.”

As I turn to make my way back inside, I’m met by
Jake.

“
Well, it appears like I was right
all along, but the truth is this. Chase, I’ve known since the first
time I met ya that she’d always choose you. I just wish I didn’t
have to do that for both of you to realize it.”

“
You did that on purpose? You weren’t trying
to rub it in Chase’s face?” I ask.

“
Damn right I did it on purpose. I’ve had the
most fun in Lattimore, but the moment we stepped on that trestle, I
knew I’d never win ya. Just thought I’d help y’all out. Now, if
y’all don’t mind, I’m gonna go talk to Lyndsay at the bar,” he says
with a wink.

“
Jake Bryant, I just might have to drop that
four-letter word again!”

“
You wouldn’t dare!” he says as he walks
away.

Turning to face Chase, I fall into his arms. “So,
maybe he doesn’t take the Asshole of the Year award.”

“
No, he does, but you know that I’m never
letting you go.”

“
I don’t plan on ever being out of your
sight.”

Chase looks at me quizzically. “What do you mean?
You have to leave tomorrow. What are you up to, Bella Blu?”

“
I think I might need a bodyguard. You wanna
go on the road with me?”

“
As long as I get to stay on your bus and not
Bryant’s.”

“
I wouldn’t have it any other way,
Chase.”

Placing my head on his chest, we sway to the sound
of a country love song inside. Never in my wildest dreams did I
plan on falling for my best friend, and I sure as hell didn’t plan
on Jake Bryant playing matchmaker.

Southern
Perfection

For Pawpaw, thank you for always believing in me,
teaching me what was right, and for never sugarcoating
anything.

Prologue

Raegan

Grabbing my shiny black shoes, I
try to buckle them but I can’t.  After trying three times, I
start to cry.  
Why do I have to
wear this stupid dress and shoes anyway?  I just want to play
at the barn with Cole.  That’s what I always do when I come to
Grandaddy’s,
I think as the tears fall
harder and I hear footsteps.

“
Come here, Sunshine.”  Grandaddy says as
he pulls me into his arms.  I hug him as tight as I can.
 “I know this is tough, but you’re a tough cookie.  It’s
okay to be sad.  I am too, but I need you to be on your best
behavior today, okay?”  Grandaddy says as he sits me on his
knee to buckle my shoes.

Using the sleeve on my dress, I
wipe my eyes and nod my head.  He smiles at me. “I’m always a
good girl, Grandaddy.”  I say proudly as we both stand and I
weave my fingers in his rough hand.  We make our way to his
old truck and I slip getting inside with these stupid
shoes.  
Ouch! My knee
hurts!
  Grandaddy picks me up and
checks my knee, then makes sure I get safely in my seat.  When
Grandaddy buckles me in, he gives me a quick kiss on the top of my
head.  “I love you, Grandaddy.”

 “
I love you too, Sunshine.  We’re
gonna get through this — me and you.”  I nod with a
smile.  He smiles back and we head to the church.

The ride to the church is short, but I keep
wondering why Grandaddy said I needed to be good.  I’m always
good, but today I’m gonna try extra hard.