Our Song Read Free Page A

makeup, I decide that it’s time to show Jake what it’s like in Lattimore. I send Chase and Lyndsay a text.
    Group Text:
    Me: Martin’s tonight? Time to show Mr. Country Music God how we do it in Lattimore. Y’all in?
    Chase: Sure, Beau coming 2?
    Me: Prob
    Lyndsay: Damn right! I’ll spread the word.
    Me: Don’t you dare! Let’s just see who’s out tonight. Meet us there at 8.
    As I place my phone down, there’s a light knock at my door.
    “Come in.” Turning around, I see him. “You ready for the best cake you’ve ever eaten? Then, I think you need a tour of the farm.”
    “I’m game.”
    We make our way into the kitchen and take a seat. Mama has the cake, butter, and glasses of milk waiting. Beau has beaten us to the table already. I should have known. We each grab a piece, slather it with butter, and take a bite.
    “Wow.” Is the only word that Jake says with a mouthful of cake. Lawd knows what I’d love him to have a mouthful of!
    As we eat our cake, I tell Beau and Jake the plans for tonight. Beau gives me a questioning glance, and I give him a go to hell look. He says that he will be bringing his girlfriend, Sarah, and will just meet us there. That’s odd. I swear I’ve got to tell him my thoughts about making it big before I leave.
    Once we finish eating, I excuse Jake and myself. It is a beautiful Carolina summer day, and it’s time to show Jake why there’s no place like Carolina.
    As we approach the barn, I give him the choice of Gator or four-wheeler. He chooses four-wheeler. This is going to be a blast.
    We take off from the barn and go toward the edge of the property. I point out all the farm animals, the different barns, and then head toward my grandparents. We park the four-wheelers and then make our way inside my grandparents’ quaint, old farmhouse that has been there since this farm was established.
    “Mawmaw! Pawpaw!” I yell as we enter the side entrance of their house.
    “Belle, is that you?” Mawmaw calls from her sewing room.
    “Yes, ma’am!”
    Before we are halfway to the room, Mawmaw is hurrying to meet me, but she stops abruptly when she realizes I’m not alone.
    ‘Well, Belle, who do we have here?”
    “Mawmaw, I’d like you to meet the country music god himself, Jake Bryant.”
    Jake’s face turns red as a beet. It has to be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
    “Nice to finally meet the guy who stole our little girl away. Do you know we saw her every day of her life until she went on the road with you?”
    “No, ma’am. I didn’t. I do apologize for that, but have you heard her sing? It’d be a shame not to share that voice with the world.”
    “That, Mr. Bryant, better not be some line you feed to a pond of fish because I’ve heard her sing since before she could talk.”
    “No, ma’am. It’s not a line, but I’m pretty sure the fish are bitin’ hook, line, and sinker when she’s on stage.”
    Mawmaw looks at me, puts her hand on her hip, and says, “I like him! Never thought I’d say that one, but Mr. Country Music God just might be a keeper.” And with that comment, she makes her way to the kitchen, and we follow after I pick myself up from the floor from embarrassment. We spend the next hour talking to her and Pawpaw about what it’s like on the road. Jake talks about growing up in a military family, and of course, she tries to feed us.
    It’s early afternoon, and the sun is high in the sky. “Hey, Jake. I’ve got an idea. Come on.”
    We rev up the four-wheelers, and I put mine in high gear as we make our way to the creek. I haven’t been out here in six months, and it is one of my favorite places on Earth… other than the stage.
    Jake struggles to keep up with me. I stop when we reach the bank, and he almost plows into me.
    “Easy there! Had a hard time keepin’ up I see.”
    “Damn, I didn’t know where the hell you were planning on going. I’m new here, remember?”
    “Come on. Make sure you leave your phone up here.”
    Jake