Page 34 of Side Out

Laughing, I push through the screen door and toe off my boots. I set them by my family’s and hang my Stetson hat on one of the hooks next to the door.

When I round the corner I spot Mom trying to hide her smile as tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum fight over who gets to use the sink first, as if it’s not big enough for them to both use at the same time. When she spots me her smile only grows. “Hey, Baby,” she says.

“Hey, Momma,” I answer before kissing her cheek.

The twins are still shoving and she rolls her eyes. “I swear, you and Emerson were never this ridiculous when you were sixteen.”

I chuckle softly. “We were also not twins.”

“Fair point,” she answers with a wink. “Your father gonna be back soon?”

“Yeah, he was just finishing up. Said he wanted to take a walk.”

She scoffs. “He could use it too.”

“He said you’d say something like that.”

A blush crawls over her cheek. “Why don’t you get cleaned up. Dinner will be ready in a few.”

“Thanks, Momma.” I kiss her other cheek and move to go up stairs, but she grabs my arm.

“I’m happy you’re home, Baby.”

“I’m happy to be home.” I shoot her a wink before heading up to my room. And when I’m standing in front of my bathroom mirror, and I see my tan skin, dirt on my face, and a genuine and true smile staring back at me, I know that statement rings truer than it ever has.

Hey Driver - (feat. The War and Treaty) - Zach Bryan, The War and Treaty

CHAPTER21

FAMILY MATTERS

JACKSON

“Ireally wish your brother could have come home longer. It was nice having all four of you here for a while,” Mom says as she sits on my bed while I pack my bag. ?*Every time I put a piece of clothing in, she takes it out, refolds it, and puts it back.

Emerson only came home for a few weeks at the beginning of August. He got an internship in Pensacola this summer to work at a newspaper and didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. They allowed each of the interns to take off for two weeks over the summer to give them each a chance to visit family before the school year started back up. It was like someone sawed off my mother’s arm the second he drove out of the driveway.

“What? Me, Bryson, and Grayson aren’t enough? We all know he’s your favorite, Mom.” I’m only poking fun, but her mouth opens in shock.

“Jackson James Baker!” She throws the shirt in her hand at me, and I tip my head back in laughter. “I love you all equally. Just… in different ways.”

“That’s what parents say when they have a favorite.” She rolls her eyes, and I ball up the shirt she threw at my head and put it back in my open suitcase.

She, of course, takes it out and refolds it.

Patting the bed next to her, she says, “Why don’t you come sit next to me for a minute?”

I’ve seen that look on her face a million times, and I know I don’t have the option to say no. She’s about to give me one of her famous “talks.” Relenting, I make myself comfortable on the bed next to her. “How are you feeling about this year?”

“Honestly, I feel good. I’m excited to be able to play, and my knee feels better than ever.”

She chuckles softly. “Your dad really put you to work this summer, didn’t he?”

I shrug. “It’s okay. It was the best form of rehab. I needed it.”

“And school? You think you’ll do okay with these classes? I know they’re pretty difficult?”

“Mom.” I give her my best “don’t be ridiculous” face. “You know I have never had an issue with school. I could probably teach most of my classes.”

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