Page 5 of Make it a Double

“Oooh, now you’ve got my attention. Anything that makes you sound that miserable is probably right up my alley. Tell me everything.”

I sighed. “I met a girl, and⁠—”

“Alert the press! My brother met a girl.” The sarcasm in her voice was impossible to miss. “What a shock.”

“And I’m sitting in my car in front of a county fair, complete with loud music, flashing lights that can probably be seen from space, and cheap rides that are likely missing bolts,” I continued on as though she hadn’t interrupted me.

Tatum was quiet for a moment before she broke out in a hearty laugh. Then the phone beeped, and I noticed she was sending me a FaceTime invite. I accepted, keeping my scowl in place as her face lit up my screen.

“I’m sorry, I had to see this for myself,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. “You’re doing this all for a girl? What kind of spell did she put on you?”

“I don’t know. I walked into this bar, thinking I’d grab a drink before heading back to my cabin for the night. The next thing I know, I’m slamming some prick against the wall for making the bartender uncomfortable.” I ran my hand through my hair. “And now I’m here, waiting for her to show up when I know I should probably just leave.”

“Wait, wait, wait… You got into a bar fight?” Tatum’s eyes grew wide when I nodded. “And I missed it?”

“That’s what you get for gallivanting all over the world instead of working for the family business,” I said.

“I mean, I’ll take my freedom over that bullshit every day, but I doubt I’ll get the chance to see you slinging fists at a dive bar again.”

“Okay, I didn’t sling fists,” I corrected her. “I just calmly told the guy to apologize, and when he didn’t, I had to switch my tactics. That’s all.”

“And now you’re going to a small town fair with the cute bartender, whose honor you defended,” she mused, making no attempt to hide her smile. “Interesting.”

Even though we couldn’t have been raised more differently, Tatum and I had always been closer than our father would have liked. She was only three years younger than I was. When I turned sixteen and got my driver’s license, I’d tell my dad I was going to study with friends when I was actually going to hang out with her instead.

The issue with my free-spirited little sister was how, despite her seemingly aloof nature, she was incredibly perceptive. She had the uncanny ability to always see through me, and she never missed an opportunity to call me on my bullshit.

“Don’t make this something it isn’t,” I groaned. “I’m already having regrets.”

Tatum held up her hands, but still wore a shit-eating grin. “I didn’t say anything. Just observing.”

“Keep your observations to yourself. The only reason I haven’t left yet is that you happened to call.”

“It would be rude not to show up, Beck. Especially if you don’t have her number to cancel.”

She had a point, but why should I care? It’s not like I was ever going to see this girl again after tonight. I was only in town to collect a few contract signatures because my dad couldn’t rearrange his schedule to handle it himself. Tomorrow, I’d be boarding the company jet and heading home to the busy New York streets.

Pinecrest was just a pit stop.

Even though, yes, technically it had been Tatum’s call that stopped me from driving away, it was the thought of Sawyer’s disappointment that held me firmly in place. I knew nothing about the woman except that she had striking green eyes, a ridiculously addictive smile, and what seemed like an innocent heart. It’d be a goddamn shame if I ruined any of that with my inability to follow through with something I said I’d do.

I might’ve had a playboy reputation back home, but no one could ever say that I was careless with their affection. Rules and expectations were set from the very beginning so that the men and women I dated knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. I didn’t do relationships or any lovey-dovey bullshit that might be misconstrued as more than a late-night fuck. I didn’t even do sleepovers afterward because that felt too personal.

But I didn’t want to be the reason Sawyer grew jaded. My rules went out the window the moment I’d pursued her and asked for more of her time, so now I had to be a gentleman and follow through with this little date of ours before returning to my old ways.

“I know, I know. I just have to suck it up for a night. How hard can it be?” I asked.

Just then, a flash of color caught my attention, and I glanced up at the entrance. Sawyer was standing beneath the cheap lights, glancing around and shifting her weight anxiously while looking like a goddamn dream. She was wearing a flirty little cotton sundress with small yellow flowers embroidered on it. Her hair was more copper than I remembered it being less than an hour ago, but she’d let it down. It fell around her face in loose waves that reminded me of home.

“Tate, I’ve gotta go,” I said, never taking my eyes off the woman in front of me.

Despite my sister’s protests, I quickly ended the call and stepped outside into the warm Tennessee air. I was assaulted by various smells as I made my way through the parking lot, but to my surprise, I didn’t hate them.

Sawyer’s gaze found me as I cleared the front line of cars and she smiled. The nervous energy she’d been radiating seemed to vanish as she took me in. “I thought you might have changed your mind,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you did. I had to force myself to get out of my car because I didn’t want to get up here and look like an idiot waiting for someone who wasn’t going to show.”

She was unbelievably cute when she rambled. Especially when a soft pink hue stained her cheeks, and she averted her gaze. I had to stuff my hands in my pockets to keep them to myself. “I know the feeling,” I admitted. “I, uh, almost didn’t show. I don’t normally do this kind of thing.”

Why I admitted that I almost stood her up was beyond me. What surprised me even more was the quick flash of relief I saw on her face. “Thank you for your honesty,” she said with a brief chuckle. “You know, it won’t hurt my feelings if you still want to call it off. No bad blood, or whatever.”