Beautiful Chaos/A Jordan Knight FanFic/ Book One in the Beautiful series. ✔️

27

Jordan

I'VE BEEN TIRED BEFORE. GOING ON the road touring by the time I was ten years old, I've got some miles on these tires. I know the exhaustion of staying up three days straight working on an album. All night jam sessions? Been there, done that. But this fatigue digs into my bones.

And I can't wipe this shit-eating grin off my face.

Last night after the church service, we came back to Dallas' house. I thought that might mean some time alone with her, but I didn't realize Aunt Ruthie lives in the house too. I didn't realize they live on the top floor, and the Glory Bee occupies the bottom. I didn't realize they spend Christmas morning cooking and serving breakfast to a hundred people. I've never seen anything like it. And somehow I found myself serving eggs and gravy and grits all morning. Not saying I was great at it, but I did my part. And no one asked for an autograph or a single selfie. Dallas made sure they got that memo.

"You doing okay?" Aunt Ruthie wipes down one of the wooden tables in the quaint dining room.

"Yeah." I glance at the register where Dallas rings up a customer. "Is that the last of them?"

Aunt Ruthie presses her hand to the small of her back, stretching out muscles that must be aching. "Yep, and now we can have our Christmas."

"It's good you found someone who could take Dallas' mom's place cooking in the kitchen."

A sad smile graces Aunt Ruthie's face before fading.

"No one ever really could take Lin's place, but Marilyn does all right." Aunt Ruthie eases down into one of the hard-backed seats and gives me a searching look. "You and Dallas seem to be real close."

I proceed with caution. I didn't miss the look Aunt Ruthie gave Dallas last night when she offered me the couch upstairs in their small living room. Of course I didn't expect to share Dallas' bed. Aunt Ruthie looked like she wasn't so sure. She wonders what's going on between Dallas and me. Rest assured, our first time making love certainly won't be in Dallas' childhood twin bed with Aunt Ruthie listening through the wall.

"We're really good friends." I sit down too, propping my elbows on the table and coupling my fists under my chin.

"Friends, huh?" Aunt Ruthie's skepticism sends one brow up. "But let me guess. You want more."

Dallas walks the last customer out the door and onto the porch, chatting and laughing. I'm not sure she'd want me saying this to her Aunt Ruthie, but fuck it. I'm just about done shelving what I want.

"You're right." I look the only family Dallas has left right in the eye. "I want to be with Dallas. I care about her very much."

"You know she's been through a lot." Aunt Ruthie's eyes don't waver and her mouth is a stiff line. "I won't see her hurt."

"I have no intention of hurting her. If she ..." I clear my throat. "When she's ready to be with me, I'll take care of her. Don't worry."

"I do worry." Aunt Ruthie shakes her head, straightening the snowman salt and pepper shakers on the table. "I worry that she works too hard and won't let anyone help her."

I check to make sure Dallas isn't on her way back in before leaning forward and lowering my voice.

"I wanted to talk to you about that."

"About what?" Aunt Ruthie lowers her voice too, looking over at the entrance.

"The money they donated last night for the medical bills, was it enough to pay everything off?"