Out in the Country

OUT IN THE COUNTRY A CLEMENTINE CREEK NOVELLA ALEXANDRA HALE Copyright © 2023 by Alexandra Hale All rights reserved. Cover Design: K. Powers Editing By: Happily Editing Anns No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Created with Vellum Sometimes the most beautiful things in life are the most surprising. Also – when in doubt, blame it on the whiskey. CONTENTS Prologue 1. Hayden 2. Everett 3. Hayden 4. Everett 5. Everett 6. Hayden 7. Hayden 8. Everett 9. Hayden 10. Everett 11. Hayden 12. Everett 13. Hayden 14. Everett 15. Everett 16. Hayden 17. Everett 18. Hayden Epilogue Acknowledgments About the Author Also By Alexandra Hale PROLOGUE HAYDEN 2 MONTHS AGO “I can’t believe you got me tickets,” Everett says, looking over at me from the driver’s seat. “I wanted this year to be special.” He starts to argue but I hold up my hand. I don’t need him to try and make up for my real and epic meltdown over breaking things off with Glen. The end of that relationship had been a long time coming, but I hadn’t intended to do it on Everett’s birthday. Glen had come at me with a bunch of bullshit arguments, and I’d finally had enough. I’d been convenient to be with, and once I realized I wanted more for myself, Glen had doubled down with the guilt trip. He didn’t love me like he said he did, but being with me was easy and it prevented him from having to work for anyone else. He was jealous and hated my hours at the hospital. He didn’t want to hear about my day or offer to bring me dinner if I had to work overtime. I gave and gave, but he didn’t offer me anything in return. I knew he didn’t like my best friend, but telling me to cancel plans with Everett on his birthday had been the final straw. For years, I’ve been giving the same advice to patients at the hospital, but I hadn’t been listening to it myself. I deserved to be treated with love and respect, and I had a whole laundry list of things I’d never settle for again. So this whole year, I worked on me, putting myself first and sending all the good into the world I could manage—manifestation and all that. I’d been stalking the tickets for Descending North’s concert in Nashville for months, and I’d emerged victorious and snagged some meet-and-greet passes as well, but that was still a surprise. “Are you texting Jonah?” Startled, I drop my phone into my lap. “What? Oh, yeah.” “How’s that going?” Everett says the words casually, but there’s an underlying emotion I can’t read. “It’s…fine.” I should say “not going anywhere” but I don’t want to make it a thing. Jonah and I have gone to lunch a couple of times, but there were zero sparks despite his nice smile and kind eyes. He wanted to take me to dinner, and I still hadn’t decided. He was the first guy I’d been out with since breaking up with Glen, but it still didn’t feel right. Maybe I wasn’t ready to date yet. Pushing all romantic thoughts from my mind, I turn and give Everett a halfhearted smile. This weekend is about my best friend, and I won’t do anything to jeopardize it. “That doesn’t sound convincing,” he says and I shrug. “He wants to take me to dinner next week and talk.” “How does he feel about us going to Nashville?” “He can keep his opinions to himself because nothing is gonna stop me from spoilin’ my best friend this weekend,” I snap, because apparently I’m still a little touchy about that. “Is that right?” His drawl is teasing, and I have to turn the vent toward me to chill my ass out. “Mm-hmm, and I have a surprise for you after dinner.” This earns me an eyebrow raise and a grin. My belly dips, and I shift slightly in my seat. “Yup. You’re going to love it,” I say, and I applaud myself for sounding halfway normal even as my pulse spikes. “I do love surprises.” His drawl is suggestive—I swear it is—but that doesn’t make any sense. He hates surprises; that’s why it’s so fun. My reaction to him must be from the lack of sleep and my runaway thoughts from earlier. “Mm-hmm, I know.” I wink. “So just sit back and enjoy.” “Oh, I plan to.” * * * “I cannot believe you got us backstage passes to meet Descending North. Fuckin’ Garrett North, man—he’s a fuckin’ legend,” Everett slurs happily as we weave our way through downtown Nashville back to our hotel room. “Did you have a good time? I’m havin’ a hard time figuring it out,” I tease, and he bumps his hip into me and causes us both to stumble a little to the right. “Smart-ass,” he says as he rights himself and then wraps his arm around my shoulders as he continues walking. For one moment I allow myself to think that Everett isn’t just using me for balance—that he actually wants me close to him. “We have to cross the street here,” I say, but he holds me tighter while shaking his head. “That burger place is up here, and I wanted to try it.” “You gonna remember it? Should we come back in the morning?” “Course I’m gonna remember it…unless you have somethin’ else you want to feed me.” His eyes sparkle with mischief as he holds the door open for me. I gulp and step inside. Tension radiates between us, and I’m having a hard time focusing on the menu with him practically pressed against my back. “See anything you like?” The words are whispered against my ear, and I jump at