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Jax chuckled as a picture formed in his mind of Callie and Olivia roughing it in paradise.

“I like the idea of that,” Jax said. “I bet a lot of marriages could be saved if couples did that.”

Jax navigated his car through the downtown area of Savannah. The restaurant was located on River Street by the waterfront. After he found a lot and paid the attendant, they walked down the cobbled streets towards the Savannah River. In the distance sat the Savannah River Queen, one of the tour boats that tourists flocked to so they could experience the charms of a river ride.

A couple walked in front of them holding hands. In a perfect world, he would be holding Callie’s hand at this very moment.

Nice and slow. Don’t always rush things. His father’s voice crashed over him, reminding him of the fact that it had been quite some time since he had last seen him. He had been so furious with him ever since his jail sentence. Jax still wrestled with the idea that his father’s greed had allowed him to lose perspective of the risks he was taking. He had ruined his own life—and his mother’s also by association—due to avarice. Jax considered himself to be a big boy. He had licked his wounds and moved on. But had he really? Wasn’t he still brooding about the whole situation?

“Is something wrong? You look tense.” Callie’s honeyed voice brought him out of his thoughts.

“I was thinking about my father. About things he taught me.” He grimaced. “Part of me wonders when things got so complicated.”

“I feel the same way. It’s hard to wrap your head around discovering that someone you thought was an incredible human being…did terrible things.” Callie’s lovely face held a troubled look.

“Maybe in the long run, they’re just human.” It had taken him a while, but as of late he was beginning to realize that he’d put his father on a pedestal. It wasn’t fair. After all, he was just a man.

“Maybe,” Callie said in a soft voice. He could tell that she was mulling things over in her head. There was no way he was going to push her to rethink her position with her father. It wouldn’t be right. Callie needed to come to her own realizations in her own time.

River House was just within sight. Like Callie, River House was one of his favorite restaurants. Situated on River Street, the establishment was located in an 1820’s King cotton warehouse. From the inside, customers could sit at their table and watch boats effortlessly glide down the river. It was a relaxed and charming atmosphere.

Once they entered River House they were ushered to a quiet table in the back. Jax had called ahead of time in order to ensure that they would have an intimately situated table so they could talk. He wanted to know everything about Callie. Not the things he’d always known ever since they were kids, but the things that lay under the surface. It was clear that Callie was in transition-mode. He wanted to know her hopes, her dreams, her fears. Where did she see herself in five years? Because the truth was, he felt as if his future was wrapped up in Callie. The strength of his feelings frightened him at times. Instead of waning, they only seemed to grow stronger with time.

A perky, sweet-faced waitress showed up at their table, announcing that she was Mary Alice and she’d be taking care of them this evening. “Why don’t I take your drink orders while you take a peek at our menu?” she suggested.

“I’ll have a peach Long Island ice tea,” Callie said.

“I’ll have a Corona,” Jax said with a nod of his head as the waitress beat a fast path to the kitchen.

After taking a look at the menu, they decided on fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. They each studied the menu, trying to narrow down their dinner choices. Jax knew that the food was impeccable. He imagined that whatever they ordered would be wonderful.

Mary Alice quickly returned with their drinks, placing them down on the table.

“Do you need a few minutes to decide on your entrees?” Mary Alice asked.

“I’ve decided,” Callie said. “I’m going to have the jumbo crab cakes.”

“Good choice,” Mary Alice chirped. “And you, sir?”

“I think I’ll have the shrimp and grits,” he answered. “My favorite.”

Mary Alice reached for their menus. “Your appetizer will be right out. Let me know if you need anything else.”

As the waitress walked away Callie let out a sigh. “She kind of reminds me of myself. I use

d to love taking orders at Savannah House.”

“You weren’t really a waitress though,” Jax cracked. He held up his hands to deflect Callie’s glare. “I’m just saying,” he said with a laugh. “It was like an upscale resort. You didn’t deal with money or cash registers.”

“Yes I was! I took orders and served people from the kitchen,” she said in a heated voice. “It was grueling work at times.”

Jax sputtered. “Grueling? You and your friends used to have lunch out by the patio and head to the beach during your breaks. I’ve never seen people having so much fun on the job.”

Callie tried to make a fierce expression, but her lips began to twitch and she started chuckling. It was great to see her like this. So carefree and joyful. He loved to see her laugh. The way her face lit up like sunshine made him feel as if he’d done something monumental by making her laugh.

“Best job I’ve ever had,” Callie announced. “Bar none.”

“I’m not even surprised,” Jax drawled. “And what about now? What are you think of doing now that you’ve finished your business classes?”

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