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He relayed to his friend all about his new life, graduating college in another state, while he worked on a construction team. Getting an opportunity that most in this town didn’t dare dream of. He felt bad telling Ben about how good his life was, but Ben loved it in Sherwood. He wouldn’t be happy anywhere else.
Not Jackson.
He had been suffocating. He knew if he didn’t get out he would die young. A bullet to the head like his old man. He gazed over his shoulder at his only regret. She had returned to the main part of the bar, avoiding getting too close to where the old friends sat catching up.
Danni leaned by the pool table, she hadn’t forgotten him either no matter how hard she wanted to pretend that she had. She was flirting with the guys playing pool. His Danni was never a flirt. These were guys they went to high school with. Guys who like her and Ben, didn’t leave Sherwood.
“She wanting to date one of them?” Jackson asked.
Her brothers both looked at the pool table where Danni was leaning with her hip resting against the side, taking a break. Her arm tucked beneath her breasts so that it pushed them up higher in the low, cut t-shirt.
Ben looked at Jackson. “Nope, she’s trying to make you jealous.”
He glanced over his shoulder then at his friend. “It’s working,” Jackson admitted.
Ben slapped his back and laughed at him, reminding him of old times. He shook his head and turned around facing the mirror behind the bar. He took a swig of his beer then faced Ben. “So, what have you been up to, man? Wife and kids?”
He slipped back into his old habits. His old mannerisms while he was sitting here with his friends. His clothes were simple, jeans and a shirt. In Baton Rouge, he wouldn’t go out like this. He wore nicer things, but Ike’s just didn’t call for the expensive clothes he had left at home. The people were simple. Most didn’t have a lot of money. Some had nothing at all and many lived at poverty level or below.
“Man, we spend more time fishing and hunting when we aren’t working. No time for women.”
“Still working for Matt part-time?”
“Yeah and Elijah has a job welding closer to Cincinnati. I have a job as a Production Manager. I got my Associates Degree online. That helped me out a lot.”
Jackson turned to his friend and smiled. “Where are you working?”
“I drive all the way to Kentucky. Hour, fifteen minutes each way. Drive’s a bitch but I don’t think I can leave Sherwood.”
“Still living with your Mom and Dad?” He asked Ben.
“What? No. Hell, no.”
Then they realized that their father was listening. Ben leaned closer to Jackson. “Lots changed since you left, Jackson. Mom and Dad split up two years ago.”
“Hell, man, I’m sorry about that, Ben.”
Elijah snorted. “They’re still mooning over each other. They need to give it up and just get back together.” He shook his head. “Stubborn ass people.” Elijah tipped his beer bottle back and took a swig of the alcohol inside.
Jackson chuckled.
Nothing had changed about Sherwood. He had missed being here. Missed the camaraderie of Ben and Elijah. Hanging out with someone you have known your entire life, sharing memories, that type of friendship in your life can never be replaced. He knew that then and he realized it now more than ever with his brothers overseas and his mother dying.
“How’s your mother?” Ben asked.
“Not good,” Jackson replied. He kept his head down staring at his half empty beer bottle. “She’s dying.” He turned to Ben. “A month maybe two at most, the doctor says.”
Ben clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jackson. Is there anything that we can do to help you?”
“Help me get your sister back,” he suggested.
“Anything but that,” Ben declared, shaking his head no.
“Why not?” Jackson asked. These were his best friends. He didn’t know or understand why they wouldn’t want him with Danni. He had treated her well when they were together before. Ben knew how much he had loved her.
Elijah glanced around Ben. “We love you man, but you broke her heart, nearly broke her when you left her the first time. You don’t get another chance with Danni.”
He nodded. So, it was going to be like that. He hated it that he had hurt her, but he was on his own. He glanced over his shoulder at Danni clearing another table. She smiled at the guys at the pool table when they said something to her.
