Live for You by Marquita Valentine Page A

time I’ve spent with Cole over the past four
days.
    I know his favorite color:
green. His favorite candy: Warheads. His favorite band: Keane. I
know he loves his brother and sister. He’s hardworking and smart.
He’s grateful for the little things in life.
    Unlike Jaxon, who was
practically born (although adopted at birth) with a silver spoon in
his mouth and expects everything good from life. Or at least for
things to happen that always benefit him.
    I sigh, something I’ve
been doing a lot lately. I’m grateful for Cole’s company. Who am I
kidding, I bask in his company. I look forward to our dates,
get-togethers...spontaneously planned meetings?
    Whatever they are, they
can’t happen soon enough. Every day, I watch the clock and Nana
watches me, smiling all the while.
    I’m happy. There’s no
other word for it. I’ve missed being happy. I’ve missed my music.
I’ve missed being normal . And having picnic lunches
with a sexy guy, in the middle of the woods, beside a creek is as
normal as it gets for me these days.
    Today, I bring out the big
guns. No one alive can resist my nana’s homemade pimento cheese.
Including Cole. I smile as he woofs down sandwich number
three.
    “ How long are you staying
in Forrestville?” he asks.
    “ I don’t know. As long as
I’m able.” As long as no one calls me back home. Fat chance of that
happening, since I am the girl least likely to be invited anywhere.
I’d never seen invitations rescinded so quickly in the past eight
months. All over a one-time mistake. I was the good girl of country
music, the reigning princess that could do no wrong. But people are
becoming less forgiving and their memories shorter. Especially when
there’s money involved. Besides, who wants to take a chance on
someone who might not show when there are thousands who
would and for a
cheaper price?
    “ You’re not from
California, are you?”
    I shake my head. “Not ever
the most Southern part has this Tennessee twang to it.”
    He laughs, low and long. My
heart flips. “Didn’t think so, but I’ve never been there. So, I
kinda went with it.”
    “ Such a
gentleman.”
    Rolling his eyes, he pops a
few grapes in his mouth. I watch his jaw work as he chews, his
throat as he swallows. Then he notices me watching him and I jerk
my gaze away, focusing on a yellow butterfly floating from flower
to flower near us.
    “ What do you think of
butterflies, Violet, for a girl?” My mother asks, trying in vain to
get me excited about the baby she’s having. “If it’s a boy, I want
sailboats. Won’t that be cute?”
    I shrug noncommittally and
walk away. She calls my name, but I break out into a run as soon as
I round the corner, slamming the door to my room and sliding to the
floor. Great sobs leaving me, my fist shoved in my mouth to muffle
them and my other hand on my stomach.
    I have to leave. I can’t
stay here any longer. But how?
    “ Well, do you?” Cole asks,
breaking through my memories.
    “ Do I what?”
    “ Never mind,” he says,
then wipes off his hands.
    “ Sorry, I was
daydreaming.”
    “ As long as those
daydreams starred me, I’m completely okay with that.”
    I snort. He’s too funny and
cocky. “Maybe next time.” The sun moves higher and higher into the
sky until our shadows are gone and I’m wishing I’d brought my
sunglasses.
    “ So do you live in some
kind of big country music star mansion in Tennessee or an
apartment?”
    “ Would you think it weird
that I still live at home?”
    He grins. “I still live at
home.”
    “ But you’re taking care of
your sister, managing your family’s bar and going to college.
That’s a little different from me.”
    That sexy grin of his falls
away. “That’s a lot different from you.”
    “ Sorry.” I don’t know why
I feel like apologizing but I do. I move to what I think will be
safer territory and I’m extremely curious as to why he’s the one
raising his sister. “What about your mom and dad?”
    He glances