Covering the Carolinas (33 page)

After making the final decisions
on supper, I head to the washroom to start the laundry. I then
dust, sweep, and clean the bathrooms quickly. With just Grandaddy
and me, the house stays pretty clean, except for all the hair Hank
the Labrador loses. I swear, he never stops shedding. When I walk
into the kitchen to warm up supper and fix a couple of sandwiches,
I hear Grandaddy come inside from
working.

He stops at the sink, washes his hands, and makes
his way to me. “Are those Beanee Weenees I smell?” I nod yes.
“Allll righhht!” he says with excitement as he rubs his hands
together.

We make our plates and eat together while he asks me
about my day at school, my thoughts about the game tonight, and my
plans with Jordyn. “If y’all go to that field party, you be
careful. You hear me?” he asks between bites.

“
Yes, sir, I’ll be fine. I promise there’s
nothing to worry about. I do have one question, though.” He puts
down his fork and looks at me. “Why do some guys never get the
hint?”

“
Whatcha mean, Sunshine?”

“
Like Jace, for example. I’ve told him ‘no’ a
million times, but he won’t quit. I’m so tired of it.”

“
Raegan, you’re one of a kind. He sees that.
Hell, everyone sees it, and to be perfectly honest, every guy wants
what he can’t have. It’s as simple as that, but if he crosses any
lines with you, I have a bullet with his name on it.”

“
Grandaddy! You wouldn’t!”

“
Oh, but I would. And, one more thing—be
careful with Emmett.”

I feel the heat in my cheeks begin
to rise. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ’bout,” I say, trying to
play dumb.
Is it that obvious he’s been on
my mind since I saw him in the cafeteria?

Grandaddy looks at me like he
doesn’t believe me. “That boy brought you back to life with one
stuffed bunny. He has no clue how that one event influenced your
life, and if I was a betting man, I’d bet on the two of you. Plain
and simple, but I don’t want to see my Sunshine get
hurt
.”

Without knowing what to say, I finish my sandwich
and stand to clean up. Grandaddy stops me and tells me to get
ready, that he will clean up tonight. I hug him and hurry to my
room to change.

Opening the heavy wooden door to my room, I know my
Grandaddy is right. Emmett saved me with one compassionate event.
I’m sure he has no idea the impact it has had on my life, but as I
walk to my bed, I pick up the stuffed bunny and hold it tightly.
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and what his innocent
gift has done for me. I wipe a tear from my eye, push my parents’
memory to the back of my mind, and get ready to cheer the Cleveland
High varsity football team on to victory.

Emmett

As Cole and I walk farther and farther from Raegan
and Mr. Lowery, I can’t help but feel like I’m losing my sunshine.
That’s when I notice Cole laughing at me.

“
What?” I question.

“
I’m not sayin’ a word.” At
that point, I grab the door to the barn and begin to help
Cole.
Damn, it’s hot out
here.
Before long, we are finished with
the door, Cole puts away the tools, and we make our way to his
truck. We ride to Mom’s with
the windows down and the
local country station playing in the background.

Once we are home, Mom plays Twenty Questions
about my first day back. It makes
me feel
good to know she’s glad I’m here and not a burden. We eat supper
and then get ready for the game. Football is a town event. Everyone
and their mama will be there hooting and hollering for their
team.

“
Cole, are you goin’ to the
field party
tonight?”

“
Nah, I’m too old for that. Plus, if it gets
busted, I’ll be the one in trouble since I’m twenty-five. I can
drop ya off, if ya like.”

“
Don’t worry ’bout it. I’ll find a
ride.”

“
Yeah, I bet you will,” he
says
as he elbows me.

“
What’s that supposed to mean?”

“
Dude, you pretty much eye fucked Rae with
Uncle Dover standing there. I don’t know how you’re even alive
right now.”

“
Uhhhh,” is all I can manage as the thoughts
of Raegan’s perfectly tanned long legs in that too short uniform
enter my mind.

Cole laughs. “I’m right because you’re practically
doing it again. You want my advice? Not that I’m a ladies’ man or
anything…”

“
Why not.” I sit and listen to Cole. To be so
damn young, he has the wit of an old man.

“
Look, Rae is a rare gem. Girls like her are
hard to find, but even harder to catch. She’s lost everyone but one
man in her life. I’m not sure she’s ready to let him
go.”

“
Let him go?” I question.

“
Her granddaddy is her constant. I’ve never
seen a girl so compassionate and hardworking. She puts him first,
so be prepared to always come in second place.”

Chapter 3

Raegan

“
Grandaddy, I’ll see ya around lunch
tomorrow,” I say as I kiss him goodbye at the stadium.

“
Behave yourself, Sunshine, but remember to
call Cole or me if you need anything.”

“
Yes, sir. I love you.”

“
Love you, too, Sunshine.
Now, knock ’em dead out there.” He mocks a “High V” with his best
spirit fingers.
Gah! I love
him!

Grandaddy takes his reserved seat
and talks to his buddies while the teams warm up. As I make my way
down the stadium steps to the track, I see Jace on the
field.
Why can’t I be that girl? The
perfect cheerleader for the perfect quarterback. It’s not that I
want that, but life would be so much easier.
I shake away my thoughts as Jordyn yells for me. I hurry to
her on the track.

“
What’s up?” I ask.

“
So, how did the ride home
go?” she asks with her eyebrows
raised
.

“
Dang, not beating ’round the bush, huh? It
was a ride home, nothing else. I worked in the house, and he helped
Cole. They left, end of story.”

“
For some reason I feel like you’re not
tellin’ me somethin’,” she says. She’s right, but it’s not about
Emmett. It’s about Grandaddy.

“
Nope, nothin’ to tell,” I
say as I brush her off
.

“
Come on now, Rae! That boy is smokin’ hot,
and the way you just offered to give him a ride means something in
your world. You don’t do that, but whatever.”

Deciding that I can’t keep this info from her, I
have to let her know. “J, we were standing on the porch and I swear
his eyes were boring a hole through me. I think I might have been
as red as a hot tamale. I can’t believe Grandaddy or Cole didn’t
call him out.”

“
I’d loved to have seen that.” She
snickers.

Turning my attention to the field, I see Jace
looking right at me. I smile and he smiles back, making his way off
the field and toward me on his way to the field house.

“
Raegan, thanks for being my biggest fan, and
make sure you save me a dance tonight.” He winks and continues to
jog to the field house. I just give him a half-smile without a
reply as I call the squad to get ready for the start of the
game.

At exactly seven-thirty, the Chargers make their way
onto the field, the stands go crazy, and the game is underway.
Friday night is the best night of the week. I enjoy every minute of
cheering on my high school team while watching my grandaddy relax
with his friends and smile down on me from the stands, but tonight
is different.

As I look into the stands, a pair of baby blues
catches my attention, followed by his sandy blonde hair that is
calling for my fingers to run through it. What pulls me to him even
more is the fact that Emmett knows me better than anyone else in
this town, and he has been gone since seventh grade. When his eyes
catch mine, I turn from him, but it’s too late. He caught me, and
deep down, I pray he’s at that field party tonight.

*****

As the fourth quarter comes to an end, we have
another victory under our belt. With the sound of the buzzer, we
cheer in victory before shaking the opposing team’s hands. Jordyn
and I turn to head back to the stands when Jace yells for me.

“
Hey, Raegan, I’m lookin’
forward to tonight,” he says with his helmet held underneath his
arm
.

“
Look, Jace. I’m just not interested, okay?
I’ve tried to be nice about it, but you don’t seem to get
it.”

A look of pure shock covers his face. “It’s
because of
him
, isn’t
it?”

“
No, it’s not because of
him
. I’ve been turning you down for what feels
like an eternity. I’m not a prize you get to win. I don’t have time
for anyone but Grandaddy, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be
you.”

“
Damn, Raegan, when did you turn into such a
bitch?”

“
The day I realized the only way for me to get
through that thick skull of yours was to be one.” I turn and walk
away.

Jordyn and I don’t say much as we make our way to
her car. “Um, Rae, did you forget something?” she asks.

“
Crap! I left my bag in Grandaddy’s truck!
Will you run me by the farm?” She nods. “I guess I should just
follow you to the house; that way you won’t have to drive me back
tomorrow.”

“
Okay,” she says with concern etched in her
voice.

Once Jordyn and I are in her car, I know I’m about
to get an earful. She is trying her best to hold back, but she’s
about to unload on me. I can feel it.

“
Rae! What happened to you
back there?” she asks. I just shrug my shoulders. “Seriously! What
the hell? I’ve never seen you act that way before. You
are
never
mean to anyone. What aren’t you tellin’ me?” she says, almost
like she’s
hurt.

“
I’m fine. I’m just so sick and tired of
playing games with Jace
. I want to go and
do as I please without having him hit on me every time I turn
around. I don’t want him. I have
other things to worry
about.”

“
Like what?” she asks, trying to bait
me.

“
Grandaddy. He’s not as young as he used to
be, and I have more responsibilities than ever. Jace doesn’t get
that. He never will, either.”

“
But Emmett does?” she probes as she turns to
me.

“
I’m not saying that, but heck, at least he’s
not scared to get a little dirt on his hands.”

“
Just admit it, Rae. It’s okay to finally find
someone you like. You deserve to have a guy in your life. We both
know that Jace is totally wrong for you, but Emmett, girl, he’s the
best thing since sliced bread in this town.”

I giggle. She’s totally right. “Yeah, I might like
him a little, but don’t you dare say anything to Ridge!” I say with
my finger pointed at her.

“
I pinky promise,” she says
as our fingers
lock. “Now, let’s get your
stuff.”

Jordyn drops me off at the house, and I hurry
to Grandaddy’s truck to get my things. Then, I hurry inside to tell
Grandaddy why I’m back. He is sitting in the living room, waiting
on
Friday Night Football
to
air on the local cable channel and is startled when he hears the
door slam behind me.

“
Sorry, Grandaddy! I forgot my bag. I’m just
gonna drive to Jordyn’s, so she doesn’t have to bring me back
tomorrow.”

“
A’ight, Sunshine. Be careful and remember
what I said.”

“
I will.” I kiss his forehead and walk to the
truck. As I place my bag inside, my phone chirps.

Cole: Be careful tonight. Call me if you need

me.

Me: Thanks

Emmett

Cole and I take our seats in the
stands behind the student section. With ten minutes to go, we sit
back and watch as the team makes its way to the field house. What I
wouldn’t give to be playing tonight. My arm is aching to pass a
football down the field into the receiver’s hands for a touchdown,
but I guess
I’ll have to wait until next year for
that.

I
see Jace and a few
other guys that I played ball with for years, but it’s what Jace
does that makes the anger rise within me. He looks at me and gives
me a friendly nod, but not before he smirks and makes his way to
Raegan. That douche bag doesn’t deserve a girl like her. I’m just
glad Raegan sees through him, because not many girls around here
are able to get past “Mr. Quarterback”.

When I think the steam is about to
blow from my ears, I feel a sense of peace looking directly through
me.
Raegan
. She
is staring at me, and as my eyes catch hers, she tries to act like
she wasn’t looking. I can only hope she decides to go to that party
tonight, but I have a feeling my friendship with Jace will be
short-lived.

Once the Chargers pull out another victory,
Cole and I make our way to the truck. We make a stop by the
convenience store for a case of beer for him before we head to the
house
so I can get to the party. Lucky for
me, George and Mom picked up my truck after we left for the game.
Now, Cole can quit giving me shit about getting a ride with Raegan,
even though I’d love to be in the passenger side
again
watching those long legs peer underneath her short skirt as she
presses in the clutch.