Southern Perfection

by Casey Peeler

  “A’ight,” I say, walking toward the truck.

  Backing out of the driveway, I roll down the windows and turn up the radio. I take my time getting to the farm. You never want to be one of the first people there. Before realizing where I’m going, I’m driving past the Lowery farm. Raegan’s truck is missing, which makes me hit the gas pedal a little harder. I can’t wait to lay my eyes on her tonight.

  Chapter 4

  Raegan

  After pulling into Jordyn’s driveway, I park and grab my things. I should have changed at home, but we need a little girl time before she’s swept away by Ridge all night. I knock as I enter the foyer and make my way to her room.

  “Hey, J!”

  “Well, aren’t we a little happier than when I dropped ya off?” she inquires smartly.

  “I’m just ready to cut loose a little.”

  “Awesome! I told Ridge he could just pick us up, so we wouldn’t have to worry about drivin’.”

  Placing my hands on my hips, I turn to face her. “Really? I thought you weren’t gonna be with him all night?”

  “Hey, we have now and when we get back later.” She smirks.

  Rolling my eyes, I go to my bag and grab a pair of Daisy Duke cutoffs and a wife beater tank.

  “Please, tell me you brought something other than that?” Jordyn states flatly.

  “What’s wrong with it?”

  “Never mind.”

  “No, really? Why not?”

  “Rae, I know you will look perfect in that, but don’t you wanna step it up a little with Emmett?”

  Laughing, I then pull out what I had actually planned on wearing, a pair of cutoffs with a one-shoulder chevron tank, complemented with a pair of boots.

  “Thank goodness! I was about to lose it, Rae! Not to say you couldn’t pull that off. Hell, I’m sure half of the school would come dressed like that on Monday since you’re the official trendsetter of Cleveland High. I want to see Jace’s mouth on the ground when he realizes you were serious.”

  “J, it’s not about Jace or Emmett; it’s about me. I just want to have no worries for tonight. Did you get our drinks?”

  She grins, and I know her older brother has come through, yet again. That’s why Ridge is driving. He barely drinks, and if he decides to tonight, we can always call Cole to pick us up.

  “I think it’s time to get tipsy and do some tailgate kissin’. Whatcha think, Rae?”

  “I think that sounds like a perfect plan to me,” I say as I put the finishing touches on my makeup. Within twenty minutes, Ridge has arrived, and we are on our way to the Phillips’ farm.

  Stepping out of Ridge’s Chevy with a lift kit, I take my time getting down, brush my hair with my fingers to remove the windblown look, and partake in a little shine.

  “Is that one pink lemonade?” I ask Jordyn.

  “Yup! It’s sooooo good! But, go easy, Rae. That stuff will bite you in the ass if you’re not careful.”

  “Thanks for lookin’ out for me,” I say as I take a deep gulp of the chilled liquid that quenches my thirst, hoping it hides the emotions that are lying underneath. My luck, I’ll be a crying mess by the time the night is over. This charade with Grandaddy has just begun, and I already feel like I’m drowning.

  “Dang! Raegan, slow down, or I’m gonna be carrying your ass back to the truck before the party starts,” Ridge says with sarcasm.

  “I got it. No worries,” I say as I place the lid back on top of the jar and pass it to Jordyn as we walk toward the fire.

  As we make our way through the moonlit field, I smile as the sounds of country music fill my ears, along with the laughter of people who are now coming into view. It’s time to put on my game face and be that all-American Southern Belle they claim me to be.

  I see the football team near Jace’s Jeep and give a friendly wave as we approach them. As Jace turns around, my eyes meet his, and I see the pleading look in them. Does he want me to continue this game? Make him look like the guy he wants them to think he is, instead of the arrogant ass I told off at the game? Looking toward Jordyn, I try my best to get her to move toward another crowd, but I know it’s hopeless with Ridge by her side.

  “Hey, Jace,” I say pleasantly.

  “Hey, Raegan, are you coming to tell me you’ve saved me a dance?” Rather than answering out loud, I let my eyes do the talking. “A’ight, I see how it is.” He laughs. Still cocky in front of his friends, which is exactly why there is no us.

  Not wasting another minute, I grab the jar from Jordyn, take another large gulp, and lick my lips to get the last drop. As I begin to notice our surroundings, I smile when I see Emmett staring directly at me. Instead of breaking our stare like at the game, I hold it until he makes his way toward me. My soul begins to tingle, and it’s not from the shine.

  Keeping the jar in my right hand, I take a few strides toward him.

  “You sure that stuff’s a good idea?” Emmett asks.

  “It’s the best idea Jordyn’s had all night,” I reply in my sweetest voice.

  “Look, I don’t know how you usually roll ’round here, but Cole is going to party elsewhere tonight. So, if he’s your ride home tonight, you might want to rethink your plan.”

  “That’s sweet of you to worry about me, but I guess it’s a good thing Ridge doesn’t drink. You wanna sip?” I say, as I bat my eyelashes.

  “Nah, I’m good. I’ve got a few beers, but thanks,” he says before taking a swig.

  I stand there like I should say something else to him, but I’m clueless. As I turn to walk back toward Jordyn, I hear his deep, rich voice. “Rae, if things get outta hand, I’ll be glad to take you home tonight.” I think I like the sound of that!

  I stop mid-stride and look over my shoulder. “Thanks.” I smile and walk back toward the crowd, when really all I want to do is get lost in those perfectly chiseled arms.

  Once I reach Jordyn, I pass the jar back to her. I’m done for the night. No matter how much I would love to lose myself in a bottle of shine, I know tonight’s not the night.

  Emmett

  As I approach the Phillips’ farm, I notice there aren’t many people around. Then, I realize that only cars are parked near the road. Not thinking too much about it, I continue driving up the dirt road until it becomes obvious why the cars are parked below. The dips and valleys in the road, along with the steep incline, make it impossible for anything without four-wheel drive to make it. I stop my truck, shift it into neutral, lock the wheels into four-wheel drive, and then put it back into drive and slowly make my way to the party.

  As my truck reaches the peak of the road, I hear the sounds of country music and people talking. I’m glad to know I’m not the first one here. Once the ground begins to level, I see a huge bonfire, trucks everywhere, and a small log cabin at the edge of the woods. This honestly has to be the best place for a party, ever. There’s no way the cops can make it up here, but I’m sure they’ll be waiting as we leave.

  I park my truck alongside some of the others and take the beers with me as I sit on the tailgate. My eyes browse the crowd for the girl with chocolate hair and long, perfectly sculpted legs, but I don’t see her. Taking a beer, I pop the top and try to relax while I wait for “Miss Southern Perfection” to arrive, because those are the textbook words to describe Raegan Lowery.

  To my right, I notice Jace and some of the team have arrived. I toss my head back in a friendly nod as he makes his way over.

  “What’d you think about that seventy-yard pass straight to the end zone?”

  “Not as good as what I’d done, but it was a’ight,” I say without a care as I take another swig of my beer.

  “I guess I’ll just have to wait around until next year to find out.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Cole didn’t come with ya?” I shake my head no. “Too bad, I hate you’re gonna have to leave here alone tonight.” He laughs, and I realize the more and more I see of Jace, the less and less I want to call him my friend. />
  I take another long pull on my beer and try to ignore Jace, as headlights appear on the horizon. Ridge. Knowing there’s a possibility of Raegan, I try my best to get rid of Jace. That’s a losing battle, because he’s thinking exactly what I’m thinking.

  Jace removes the beer from his mouth, and I wait for him to make some smart-ass comment, just like any prick would do to stake claim on something that has never been his.

  “I don’t know what crawled up her ass today at the game, but she basically told me to go to hell,” he says with irritation in his voice.

  I spew the contents from my mouth. That wasn’t what I thought he’d say. “Sorry, man, I just wasn’t expectin’ that.”

  “Yeah, me either. I don’t know what it is about that girl, but she’s got my mind all messed up. Hell, I sound like a girl, don’t I?” he questions, and I smile. “Well, shit, just forget this even happened. She’s gonna come ’round. Once she gets a little taste, she won’t be able to stop.”

  “Dude, don’t talk about her like she’s a piece of meat. She’s a good girl and way too good for you.”

  Jace looks at me as he tightens the grip on his can. “You listen, Emmett. She’s gonna be with me one day, and you better not try to get in the way.”

  I ignore him and push myself off the tailgate as I make my way to the other guys from the team, but that’s not before the back passenger side of Ridge’s truck opens, and I see flawless, sun-kissed legs exiting, and I know exactly who has arrived. The question is, will she even realize I’m around?

  Watching Raegan walk toward the fire is like watching a swimsuit model run down the beach in slow motion. Her legs move with ease as her long chocolate hair waves behind her. Shaking my head, I try to get her out of my mind, but it is no use, especially with her right in front of me. Too bad she walks up to Jace instead of me, but the look in his eyes shows defeat rather than victory. I know it’s my time to move, but I’m frozen as I watch those perfectly voluptuous lips press against that jar, and I have to take a minute to adjust myself.

  Once her eyes fall upon mine again, I make her hold her stare until I can’t stand it any longer. There is no doubt she feels what I feel, but it’s a matter of whether or not she acts on it. I don’t do well with coming in second place. I never have and never will.

  I stand confidently and make my way to her, but I’m surprised when she meets me in the middle. I decide a warning about Cole is what she needs, because quite honestly, I want her to keep her head clear and away from Jace.

  Before I can control what’s happening, she turns to leave. I do the only thing that feels right. I offer to give her a ride, just like she did me. Hopefully, she sees it as an opportunity like I did, but at this point, I’m unsure.

  I retreat to my truck for another beer as I watch her give Jordyn the jar. Interesting. She’s quit drinking for the night. Either she feels guilty or there is a reason she doesn’t want the drunken truth to come out.

  Over the next few minutes, I watch her make her way around to all the different groups of people. She is honestly the most breathtaking creature I’ve ever seen, but the fact she cares about everyone is beyond hot. It’s almost as if she knows all eyes are focused on her; she knows her reputation, her expectations, and it’s almost routine.

  With each group of people, she gets closer to me. The thought of going to talk to some guys has now fled my brain. There’s no way in hell I’m skipping a little one-on-one with Raegan Lowery.

  “Hey, Raegan,” I say.

  “Hey, havin’ fun yet?” she asks.

  “Tons,” I say sarcastically. “It’s a lot better, now,” I answer with a half-smile.

  “Emmett Bridges! Are you flirting with me?” she asks as she crosses her arms.

  “Nah, I’m just stating the obvious.”

  “Whatever,” she says as she hops up on the tailgate.

  Damn, this night is about to get interesting.

  Chapter 5

  Raegan

  It’s my duty to walk around, talk to everyone, put on a smiling face, and play the role of “Miss Perfect,” so I do exactly that. What I don’t expect is to catch myself standing in front of Emmett Bridges, looking like he just stepped out of latest Buckle catalog. Yeah, we talked earlier, but now that the shine is gone from my hands and the absence of the others, I realize how beautiful he actually is. His sandy blonde hair is covered with an Atlanta Braves ball cap with the ends peeking out the sides. As he sits on the tailgate, I can see every muscle bulging from his arms as they press into the tailgate, and his chest is broad as the river. His eyes, however, are what stop me. The crystal blue not only looks like an ocean, but it also tells a story. One of need and desire.

  I stop in front of him as he tells me hey. This is my chance, and I have just enough liquid courage running through my veins to follow through with my craving to be close to him.

  After a brief amount of small talk, I take a seat on the tailgate beside him. When the silence is too much, we begin to talk about random stuff. Then, we get quiet again as he opens another beer.

  “Dang, how many did Cole give ya?” I question.

  “This is the last one,” he says as he grins and brings the can to his lips. As I watch those lips touch the can, my body feels like it’s one hundred degrees hotter. What’s going on with me? That’s when I hear it. I hear my song. The one I pray the country station plays, the one I sing to the top of my lungs, the one about the kind of guy I need in my life, and the one that makes me forget reality. I jump from the tailgate, grab Emmett by the hand, and pull him with me.

  “Come on! It’s my song!” I say to him with excitement in my voice. He plants his heels firmly onto the ground. As Dustin Lynch’s “Where It’s At” echoes through the field, I place my hands upon his chest, close my eyes, and pray the song never stops playing.

  As Emmett begins to sing the lyrics, I open my eyes and look into those baby blues. He takes a step back and points his finger at me on beat motion as he sings, “Yep, yep, that’s where it’s at.” Then, he removes his ball cap and places it upon my head as he takes me into his arms and begins to move like he’s been waiting to dance with me all night. He smiles, and I know in this moment that one boy and one song have made their mark on Raegan Lowery’s personal timeline.

  When the chorus begins to play again, I follow right in beat with him, sway my hips a little harder, and let my shoulders fall on beat with the “Yep, yep.” I turn to him, and we both sing like no one is watching, but in reality, all eyes are on us. I’m okay, though, because that’s where it’s at.

  As the song ends, he pulls me in for a tight hug, removes his cap, places a kiss on the top of my head, and then laces his fingers in mine. Every part of my being feels like it’s coming alive.

  “Thank you,” I say as we walk back toward the truck.

  “No, thank you. If I’d known it was gonna go like that, I wouldn’t have resisted,” he says as his shoulder brushes into mine.

  “What can I say? I can’t help it when I hear a song I like. I don’t care who’s watchin’.”

  “So, you do that often?” he questions.

  “What? Dance?”

  “No, drag a guy off a tailgate when you hear your song.” He smirks.

  As the heat begins to rise in my cheeks, I respond, “Um, no, that was a first.”

  He takes a step toward me and places his hand upon my cheek as my rear bumps onto the tailgate. “I’m glad that was a first, and I hope there are more where that came from.” He closes the distance with his full lips pressed against mine, and I let go of the responsibilities, the what ifs, and the unknowns that have been racing through my mind since I can remember and just live in the moment.

  Emmett

  The last thing I expected was for Raegan to hop up on my tailgate tonight. Hell, I’d been hoping for it, but from the way everyone talked, she was like the big catfish in the pond you hear stories about, but no one can catch. For some reason, she’s letting me in, and I’d be an
idiot not to act on it.

  The silence between us is awkward until she makes pointless conversation. What is it about girls and their rambling? I pay attention as much as possible, but it’s not until she gets quiet again that my mind begins to race. Each time I look at her, I fall harder and harder for the girl I used to kiss on the playground. That’s when I see a spark in her eye, and she’s yanking me from my tailgate. I see the excitement in her face, and her voice confirms it. Shit! I’m gonna have to dance. Not that I mind it, but I really hadn’t planned on drawing much attention to us, because I know come tomorrow morning, I’m going to have a not-so-friendly visitor. As quickly as the thought enters my brain, I toss it aside. I don’t give two shits about Jace.

  I recognize the song within a few eight counts. As Raegan laces her hands through mine, I can’t get close enough to her, so I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her flush with me. She closes her eyes and ventures to another place.

  When the chorus approaches, I decide it’s time to bring her back to the present. I sing each word, and her reaction is more than I could have imagined. That’s when I pull out the big guns and show her why she should be here with me. As we move to the beat, I take my ball cap and place it upon her head. Maybe it’s a move I shouldn’t have done, because there’s nothing sexier than a girl in your cap. She must be reading my mind as she begins to dance with more intensity. It takes every ounce of effort to control the reaction my body is having while she moves against me, but when she sings, I swear I’ve just had a glimpse of Heaven right here in front of me.

  At the last beat of the song, I pull her into the tightest embrace possible, place my ball cap back upon my head, and lay a soft kiss on the top of her head. I let my lips linger as the smell of strawberries tickle my nose, and I’ve now found my most favorite smell in the world. Not wanting this to end, I pull her to the truck and press her fine ass against my tailgate. I make my move, and I don’t give a fuck if Jace is watching. I stake my claim on the only girl I’ve ever cared anything about, the little girl that meets me in my dreams, and when my lips touch hers, I feel peace within my soul.