Southern Boy Charm | ✓

Chapter 17

The smell of bacon and eggs wakes me from my slumber. Drowsily, I stumble down the steps, stubbing my toe in the process. As I'm holding my big toe in agony, trying my best not to scream bloody murder, Kelly's voice sounds me.

"Are you okay honey?" she asks, causing me to jump. I nearly stub my toe again earning a laugh from her. "You always were jumpy. Here come to the kitchen she says," dragging me with her. The counter is spread with bacon, pancakes, eggs, and sausage, and I can't keep my mouth from watering.

"What is all this for?" I ask, scanning the food in front of me. Usually, Kelly's idea of making us breakfast is leaving a box of granola bars out. "Are we celebrating something?"

"No," she says, dropping a piece of French toast onto the skillet. "I'm just in a good mood." I can tell from the huge grin spread on her face that she is telling the truth.

"Any specific reason?" I prod, grabbing a piece of bacon. It's absolutely delicious, and it takes everything in me not to stuff three more in my mouth.

"It's because of you." she says.

I almost choke on the piece of bacon. I'm in the middle of a coughing fit when she hands me a glass of water, patting me on my back. After the coughing subsides, I look up at her, confusion written on my face.

"What did I do?" During my time here I had barely been a help with farm chores. I always tried to assist Nick, but it seemed that he would work five times faster than me at anything we did. "If it has anything to do with the farm it is a hundred percent because of Nick, not me."

She chuckles. "Trust me Leighton, I know. You still get afraid when an animal even looks your direction." While I want to defend myself, she isn't wrong. Cows just make me a little nervous, that's all.

"The real reason why I'm in a good mood is because of your effect on Nick. He's been so sad since Colin's passed, and he dealt with it by closing himself off. But I finally feel like he's opening up again. Colin's death was really hard on us, and I feel like he's finally progressing through his grief." She has a warm smile on her face, but there is still a glint of sadness in her eye.

"And you?" I ask, "How are you doing?"

Her eyes grow watery, but she doesn't appear to be stuck with grief like before. She still seems sad, but it's different in a way, more accepting.

"I'm just happy that my boy is happy." She says. "That's all a mother can ask for, and you gave that to me. So, I don't know what you and Nick are," I blush under her questioning gaze, "but keep doing whatever you're doing, because you are nothing but good for him."

She outstretches her hand to me, and I grasp it, holding her gaze. We don't say anything, but the smiles on our faces, and the tears in her eyes, speak volumes.

"Are you guys having a share circle or something?" Nick grumbles, stumbling into the kitchen. He wears just his pajama pants, slung across his waist, and his messy hair easily conveys that he just woke up. I couldn't deny that he looked really hot. I eye him up and down before tearing my eyes away. I still have no clue what we are officially, and I most definitely don't feel completely comfortable with seeing him without a shirt on. Especially with Kelly one foot away from me.

"Put on a shirt Nick," Kelly calls returning to her cooking. "We're not heathens."

"I know, I know," he says, slinging a shirt over himself, but not before catching me sneaking a glance. I quickly look away, my face glowing red, but I can already tell that he has a smirk on his face.

"Anyway," he says, making his way into the kitchen and sitting on the stool next to me. "Make sure to eat quick Leighton, because we have some chores to do."