“Darlin’.” He says my nickname, and I smile. He leans up, and I wait for the kiss. I wait for it, holding my breath, and right before his lips touch mine, the sound of an alarm fills the house, and my body starts to shake. Looking around frantically, I have the sudden urge to run and hide.
“It’s okay,” he says. The alarm silences, but the tears are now coming. My heart pounds so hard in my chest that I think the whole world can hear it. “It’s just Kallie.” Kallie comes into the room.
“Jesus Christ,” she huffs. “Why the fuck is this place wired up like Fort Knox?” she asks and then sees me with tears running down my face. “I’m so sorry I scared you.”
“It’s fine,” I say, shaking my head. “I just …”
“Kallie, why don’t you go put the coffee on?” Casey suggests as his hands still hold mine. She looks at me and then walks out. “I promise you,” he says, letting one of my hands go to wipe away the tear rolling down my face. “Tomorrow, you won’t shed a tear.” I don’t tell him not to make promises because I haven’t had one promise stick. No one has ever made a promise and kept it. Even when I was four and my mother promised to take me to McDonald’s if I got first place in the pageant. After I won, she smiled for pictures, pretending she was the perfect mother, then made me grilled chicken and steamed veggies because it looked like I was getting a muffin top. I learned then and there that promises were just a ploy.
“Coffee is ready. Mom is coming, so stop smooching and come out here!” Kallie yells, and I smile.
“We should go,” I say, standing. He drops my other hand now, and when I go to walk around him, he stops me.
“I’m also going to promise that before tonight is over, I’m going to kiss you, Olivia,” he says, and just the way he says it, my heart speeds up for a different reason. “I’m going to close the door, and if I have to barricade us in a room, I will. This kiss is going to happen.”
I swallow, trying to make a joke about it. “Promises, promises, cowboy.” He’s about to say something else when the front door opens and then slams.
“I’m here.” I hear Charlotte. I don’t know what I’m expecting, but it’s not walking out to the table being set by Jacob and Kallie while Billy comes in carrying two bags full of food.
“What is all this?” I ask. Charlotte comes over to me and takes me into her arms.
“This is all your favorite food.” She smiles when she lets me go. I look over at Billy who puts the bags down and begins to unpack the containers.
“She’s been up all night cooking.” Billy shakes his head. “I told her it was too much.”
I watch him unload the bags, and I’m speechless. The words stick in my throat. I want to say so much, but I know the minute I do, it’s going to come out as a sob. Casey walks past us, going straight for the coffee. He makes two cups and brings one over to me. Charlotte leaves me to go prepare the plates as Casey hands me the cup.
“Breathe, darlin’,” he says, and I look down.
“I’ve never had anyone take care of me,” I say quietly. “Not once.”
“Well,” he says, taking a drink of his black coffee, “you better get used to it.” I don’t say that I can’t afford to let myself get used to it. I don’t think my heart could take it. “Is that fried chicken?”
“It sure is,” Charlotte says. “Buttermilk just the way she likes it.”
“This is …” I finally say. Putting the mug at my lips, I take a sip, and the hot liquid burns all the way down. “It’s too much.”
“Oh, please,” she says. “Let’s sit and eat.” Billy takes the seat at the head of the table, and Charlotte sits at the other end. I sit next to Casey while Kallie and Jacob sit in front of me. “I don’t know about all of you, but I’m starved.”
“Oh my God,” I say. “Is that mac and cheese?” My eyes go to the platter, and Casey scoops some out for me. “And biscuits and gravy.”
“Hot from the oven,” Billy says. “You need to eat up.” He points at my overflowing plate.
I sit at the table and eat until my eyeballs are almost out of my sockets. “Don’t fill up now.” Casey leans over, and when his shoulder nudges mine, just his touch sends my senses into overdrive. This is crazy, I think to myself. “Mom didn’t take out dessert yet.”
“I can’t eat another bite.” I turn to him, and our faces are so close, and I suddenly forget about everything. Looking into his eyes for just one second, I forget that my whole life has been tossed out, and that the wolves are chasing me. “I also think I need a nap.”