Page 87 of Playing it Country

“It’s nice seein’ Case happy.”

“He wasn’t happy before?”

“He’s put on one hell of a show for a long time, and I don’t doubt that a lot of it was genuine but,”—the smile is back in her voice—“I think he’s more himself now than he has been for a while.”

“I think I have been too.”

“Do you want me to say it?” she asks with a tease in her voice.

“Say what?”

“That he’s good for you and you deserve to be happy and treated with love and respect and all the orgasms y’all can possibly manage.”

I laugh so hard I snort. “Aunt Holly!”

“What? I didn’t say I wanted to know about the orgasms. Just making sure you’re both getting them.”

“I love you so much.” I giggle into the phone.

“I loveyou,” she says and then grumbles, “probably more than your uncle right now. I brought my leftovers from lunch back to the hotel and heate them!Hannah, this grilled chicken sandwich was out of this world with the marinade and the sauce and—” She growls and I hear my uncle’s muffled voice.

I can’t make out the words, but I have no doubt he’ll be making up for his transgression later and Iwant that.That teasing and loving aggravation that makes a relationship fun and real and fresh. I want to be loved and to be in love, and it took coming to Clementine Creek to realize that.

We talk for a while longer, and she reassures me everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. We say goodbye, but I still feel uneasy with everything feeling so unsettled. The sky is dark and angry, and it’s been hours since I’ve heard from Case. Trying not to let my nerves get the best of me, I type out a message.

HANNAH: Are you coming home?

CASE: I’m still working

CASE: I don’t know what time I’ll be done

Looking at the clock,I force back the tears. I want him here but I’m not brave enough to ask. He doesn’t owe me anything. We’re temporary—I made sure of that.

Thunder rumbles in the distance, and I pocket my phone before hustling to my bedroom. Case isn’t here, and for the first time in weeks I don’t want to stay in his room by myself.

It had started to feel likeourroom, but I’ve been fooling myself into thinking it’s been something it’s not.

HANNAH: Will you text me when you’re on your way home?

CASE: K

“I knew what I was doin’back then for my brother, I knew what I was askin’ you the moment the words left my lips, and I’ll know what to do when you’re gone.”

His wordsfrom the greenhouse are a reminder of what this has meant to him and I hate how much I hate it. I’d be a hypocrite to say I wanted to jump into some long-lasting relationship with both feet because I hadn’t.

But Aunt Holly’s words from tonight resonate too. I’ve changed and so have my dreams. It’s about time I make some hard choices.

Changing into my pajamas quickly, I race down the hall and jump into the bed that smells like the man I love.

Love.

I’ve loved people and places and had feelings of joy and happiness and freedom, but I’ve never beenin love, and in this moment, that makes all the difference.

Rain falls from the sky in buckets, and I jump when another crash echoes through the empty room. The storm feels like it’s right on top of the house, and with my blankets pulled up to my chin, I try my best to pull myself together.

I can do this; I can totally do this, I—

“Hannah?” The front door bangs open and I scramble out of my bed, my bare feet pounding on the hardwood as I race down the hall and jump into Case’s waiting arms.

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