Tennessee Whiskey AU

CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE

"Every time our eyes meet. This feelin' inside me. Is almost more than I can take. Baby when you touch me. I can feel how much you love me. And it just blows me away. I've never been this close to anyone or anything. I can hear your thoughts. I can see your dreams."

                               Scarlett's POV

I almost drop the phone. My stomach nearly fell out my arse when he said his brother wanted to talk to me. I think I covered it well. Fuck, I hope I did anyway. Now I just feel a little sick. I don't think I'm fully prepared to meet his family. How the fuck do I get myself into these situations? Fuck me! Now what the hell do I do?

My mind starts running a mile a minute. Shit, shit, shit. More shit and a double fuck.

"Lettie are you ok? Cause you've gone white and are swearing a lot, like a lot a lot." Erin asks taking my hands and leading me back over to sit with them. I just stare at them, panic setting in.

"Shit, I think she's having a panic attack." I hear Louisa say as I struggle to find air. Fuck I think I'm having a stroke not a panic attack.

Somehow they manage to get me calm, God knows how. In fact I don't even think I'm calm, just breathing now, which is a good thing, right? 

"So wanna tell us what's going on because you left to take a phone call which we all presumed was off Jensen but having seen you we are now a tad bit worried."  Haley asks, kneeling in front of me.

"It was Jay." I manage to stutter out.

"Oh God. Has something happened?" I see them all share a look. "Lettie you need to talk to us." This from Chloe.

"His brother, he spoke to me. He said." I have to take a deep breath before I can actually say the words. Unfortunately I don't get chance to continue before Louisa kicks off.

"I swear if he was a prick I'm throwing hands." She shouts as she gets up and starts pacing.

"No, no, no. He says he's coming to get me." I say try to calm the situation before she starts planning modern warfare.

"Wanna say what now?" She says stopping dead in her tracks and stares at me.

"He told me they are driving here from his mom and dads to pick me up and take me there for Thanks giving. I feel like I've been summoned by the mafia boss."

"Oh, wow. I don't know what to say to that. More importantly what did you say?" Erin asks.

"I don't think I had much choice if I'm honest." I see the question in her eyes and figure it's best to kill that thought before it starts. Feeling like I could cry at any minute. "I mean I'm not being forced to or anything. It just sort of snowballed and now I have so much to do. I need to sort work, the dog, I need to pack. Shit, I need to start cooking." I'm free falling now.

"Ok, before you have another panic attack, listen. We can help cover work, we will figure it out between us all. You work your ass off enough to cover for us often enough." Haley says.

"I can take the dog for a few days. Me and Caleb love her to bits." Chloe adds.

"I can help you pack." Louisa says.

"Oh, Jesus I dread to think what I will end up wearing. Remember I am going to spend time with his family please." I say panicking about getting there and finding nothing but short skimpy dresses and sexy underwear.

"It's ok hunny. I will go up with her and help pack. So the last thing on your list. Why the fuck do you need to cook?" Erin asks looking slightly confused.

"I can't go there with nothing. Mom always says when you're invited to someone's house you have to take something to say thank you. I need to make a good impression. This is important to him. Family is important to him. Which means it's important to me. He's met all but a couple of my family. You lot all like him. I think. What if they don't like me? What if they don't think I'm good enough for him? Then he will realise and I won't see him again." I feel myself starting to panic again. "Is it hot in here? Is anyone else starting to sweat?" Tears are free flowing now.

"Ok, sweetie. I'm gonna need you to breath for me, ok. You're rambling and not making much sense at the moment. Why would they think that, that you aren't good enough." She says rubbing my back to try to calm me down, again.

"Because I'm so broken. I'm not good for anyone. Let alone him. He's been nothing but good to me. Even his family. They're coming to get me cause he told them I had a bad day, his mom asked if it would be better or worse to deal with if I was with Jay. When I said I was handling it worse without him they said sorted then. simple as that they were going to do what they could to make me feel better. I opened my mouth today and said something that hurt him. Despite being sorry beyond words for that I can't guarantee it won't happen again. I'm so messed up. I feel like I'm walking a tight rope and could fall at anytime." The tears just keep coming. Never stops.

"Hey." Haley says softly before trying again  a little louder when I don't respond. "Hey. You aren't broken. The box is a little damaged, shows signs of wear and tear but the actual product is still absolutely perfect. Ok?" Trying to reassure me as her hands rubs my leg.   

"How long do we have left?" Erin asks.

"About two and a half hours." Louisa says looking up from her watch. "I've set a timer." Very efficient of her.

"Ok, girls. Let's get to work. You two, we need hair and make up and something nice but casual to wear. She wants to be looking her best. How long are you there for?" She asks me in the middle of getting her worker bees started.

"I actually have no idea. They didn't say." I look up at her bewildered and now concerned for different reasons.

"Ok we can sort that. We can put stuff in your little suitcase that should give us about three days worth plus essentials then each bag after that should give you a couple of days. You can just grab what you need depending on how long. See cool, calm rationale decisions." She says getting up.

"Wait, hold on a second. This means I get to go in your bedroom." I nod at her before her face lights up. "I'm so excited." She continues particularly skipping towards the stairs.

"You just sit there and try to calm down. We've got you. But no cooking. You don't need to and are just going to stress yourself out." Erin says before heading upstairs to try to rein the others in. I just nod slowly, even though no one else is here. I still have no idea what the hell is happening right now.

About half an hour later Erin and Louisa come back downstairs to find utter chaos.

"What the fuck happened?" Louisa asks.

"I left you pair in charge. You were supposed to stop her!" Erin shouts at Chloe and Haley flapping her arms about. 

"You try stopping her from doing anything she wants to when she sticks her mind on it." Haley says exasperated while she continues to stir the vegetables for the soup I'm making and asked her to watch.

"I'm not a fucking child." I all but scream, slamming the oven door for effect.

"For fucks sake Lettie. I swear to God will you please just come and get changed. Those pair have picked out the perfect thing. I swear I should have tied your ass down before I left." Erin says grabbing my shoulders and spinning me round. I try to ignore Louisa's comment of kinky while I smirk at her and tell her if I'm getting changed she needs to knead the dough. Not so happy with herself now is she. 

Just over an hour later, my bags are packed, I've wrestled the wine off Louisa and Chloe and kicked them all out. The argued they should be here when they arrived just to say hello. I argued meeting there drunken asses wasn't the impression I wanted to make. They threw clothes, make up and hairspray at me making sure I was 'perfect' before they left. I think they hit their mark. I look casual but still feel pretty. I'm actually really glad they did this. I'm also very glad Jay and his brother are on their way. I think tonight has been just what I needed. I think I may have over done the food. I'm still cooking though. It's honestly helping keep me calm. I watch the clock count down until my own personal green eyed demon walks back through the door.