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“You like to ride?”
“Love it. I wish Hilton would get one, but he spends all his money on fishing boats and four-wheelers.”
These women never cease to surprise me. They give the impression of being sweet Southern belles when you first meet them, but they have so many layers, and every time they peel one back, I find that I like them even more.
“Well, we’re off duty now. Let’s grab some beers and chili dogs and cop a squat by the stage before the band starts,” Erin says as she relinquishes the booth to Sara-Beth.
“Oh, chili dogs! Yes, please,” Taeli agrees.
“You want to put your bags in your car?” Erin asks me.
I frown. “I drove Suga.”
“Suga?” Taeli asks.
“My bike,” I clarify.
“Yeah, her white Harley. It’s badass,” Erin tells her.
“Cool name,” Taeli says.
“Maxi, dear, you’re welcome to leave your bags here with me if you’d like. Hilton will be by to load me up in about an hour. You can swing by the office and get them in the morning,” Sara-Beth offers.
“I don’t want to cause you any trouble,” I say.
She waves me off. “Oh, please. It’s no trouble at all.”
She reaches for the purchases I have in my arms, and I let her take them.
“Come on, girl. I want to get a good spot,” Erin calls.
I follow her and Taeli over to the food vendors, and we load up on greasy fair food and warm beer. Jena meets us by the stage with a cooler and blanket.
We kick our shoes off and spread out and enjoy some stellar music under the stars.
This sleepy little Tennessee town is starting to grow on me. Seems I have more in common with the folks of Balsam Ridge than I realized.
Maybe I’ll stay a while after all.
Corbin
Ipull up to the house just after eight in the morning and park beside Susanna’s car. My shift ended at six, but I had paperwork to complete before I could leave the firehouse.
As I unlock the door, I try to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake her. I drop my boots and backpack on the bench by the back door and make my way to the guest bathroom to peel my bloodstained clothes off and wash away my night.
“Corbin, is that you?” Susanna calls to me from the back of the house.
Shit.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“I’m in the bedroom,” she says.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. I’m gonna hit the shower before I crash,” I shout back.
I turn the shower on and take a moment for the water to warm. I grab a towel and hang it on the back of the door as the room fills with steam.
It was a hell of a night.
