I look up when Frances came inside. "Hey." She whispers. I turn to her and smile. "Hey." I whisper. She came closer and grabs me in a hug. I hug her back. I don't know why she's hugging me every time she sees me, but I do love it. I close my eyes and smell her scent again, the lavender soap. She smells really good. "I never been hugged like this before." I whisper with my eyes closed. "It feels nice." She wants to let me go, but I hug her a little tighter. I hear her giggle softly. I feel her hands going through my hair at the back of my head. I inhale deeply and press my nose against the pit of her throat. She giggles again when Jack walks inside. He looks at us without a smile.

"Keep it decent." I let her quickly go and inhale deeply. Frances smiles as she looks from me to Jack and went to the fridge. Jack and I watch her getting two cans of soda for the boys. She turns and sees us looking at her. "Stop moon eying me, guys." Jack starts to laugh. "Come on, who wouldn't do that when looking at such a beauty as you, Baby?" "Stop it, Jack, you're too much of a flirt." She walks to the door. She looks at me and gives me a wink. I start to smile and watch her going outside. "You need to be careful, Johnny." "Why?" I look at his face. He eyes me, then he gets himself a beer. "Just saying, be careful." He walks outside without saying another word. I start to frown. Is he jealous? I know he tries to be nice, but we have a history.

I take two beers and went outside. I walk to dad and hand out a beer. "Here, pa." He looks at the bottle and takes it. He takes a big gulp. "Thanks, son, the meat is nearly done." I look at the meat and see the ribs. I start to drool as it smells so good. I feel my stomach rumbling. Dad smiles while he turns a few hamburgers around. "These ribs are my specialty. You remember? I know you love them." Those ribs were one of my favorite meats besides the roast. "Smells really good, pa, can't wait to have a few." He looks at my face. "When are you going to shave?" I look at him. "Soon." "Go, sit down."

I went to sit down next to Britney. Frances sits opposite of me and smiles at me. Britney moves closer to me and lays her arm around my waist. I look at her and she smiles at me. I can see she's being possessive. She gives me a kiss and let her fingers run over my goatee. Jack sits down next to Frances. I straighten my back unconsciously. Britney notices the reaction but keeps looking at me. "You're trying to be D'artagnan, Dancer?" Jack asks. "What?" It came out a little harder than I realized it would. Jack chuckles and gestures with his hand at his chin. "Brit likes it." Britney smiles coyly. "Yeah, he looks so sexy with it." Frances' eyebrows go up and I see her face.

Franny sits down next to me. Jamie sits himself down at the other side of Frances. She looks at him and smiles. "Hey, Jamie." Jamie smiles and gives her a kiss on her cheek. "Hey, Baby, how are you today?" "I'm great." Franny looks at me and sees my face. She looks at Frances with a teasing smile. "Baby?" Frances looks at Franny. "How's dating going for you?" Frances chuckles and rolls her eyes. She knows exactly why Franny is asking her this question. "I'm not dating since I got divorced." "Don't you want to date someone?" "I'm not looking. I'm really busy, I don't have time to date." I inhale deeply, trying to do it unnoticed but Britney noticed it. She looks at my sister.

"So, Franny, what do you do in life?" Franny looks at Britney and knows she wants to break the whole conversation. "I'm a teacher at the elementary school here in Pampa." Britney looks at Frances. "What about you, Baby?" Britney tries to be polite. "I thought you knew already that I'm the doctor here in town." "Oh yes, I forgot, sorry." Britney gives Frances a fake smile. "What do you do, Jack?" Jack looks at her with a smile. "I own my own franchise in tire stores." He winks at her. "Tires?" "Yeah, you know the things that go under cars, or bikes." Franny chuckles about it. The rest tries not to laugh about it.

"You're gonna try to beat Johnny on the obstacle course this year?" Jamie asks and looks at Jack. Jack starts to grin as he looks at me. "You know he only won once. He won't win a second time." I see his face and make little eyes. "Who says I can't win a second time, Jack?" Everyone is looking at me. Franny rolls her eyes. "I bet you can't." "What you're betting for?" I dare him. "The special prize." Jack winks. My eyes automatically go to Frances. She smiles. I look back at Jack, who is still grinning at me. Is he really wanting to do this again? I could beat him back then. I think I can beat him again. I start to grin. He chuckles.

"Two out of three." I dare him. "Alright, win two out of three games and you get the special prize. If you lose, I'll get the special price and you stay away." I inhale deeply. We're not kids anymore, but if he wants this bet, he can have it. "Deal." Jack sips his beer as he watches me. He gives me a nod. I take a swirl from my beer. Mom came with the bread and gave us all a few slices. I look at Frances who is looking down as she butters her slices. She looks up. She sees me looking at her. She smiles at me. I watch her taking a bite. I bite a little on my lip. Franny sees the interaction, but she only smiles.

"What's the special prize?" Britney asks, she has noticed that almost everyone knows what it is except for her. Everyone looks at her but me. I keep looking at Frances. "You'll see after the games." Jack winks at her. Jamie rolls his eyes. Franny chuckles about it. Frances looks at Franny and then rolls her eyes. She looks back at me with a little smile. Mom is watching us. "You're all adults, behave like it." Mom looks at the two boys with a smile. "Bryan, Sean, I got a football ball in the garage, if you like you can play with it after dinner." They both smile at her. "Thanks, mawmaw."

Dad brings the meat to the table and lays the plate down. Everyone grabs a piece. Well, everyone but Britney. I take my part of the ribs. Mom looks at Britney and stands up. She walks to the other table and came back with a bowl. Britney looks at her. "I've made this for you. I got a fruit dessert for you if you want." Mom puts the bowl down. Britney looks at it with a smile. "Thanks, Mrs. Castle." Mom only smiles sits back down. I pull a rib off and start to gnaw on it. They are so good and so juicy. I've really missed this. I dip the rib in the barbeque sauce and rip a piece of meat of it. Bryan is watching me with a chuckle as he takes a rib as well.

Frances, Jack and Jamie are looking at Britney. "You're a rabbit?" Jamie asks. Britney looks up at him. Jack chuckles about it. "Guys, let's not judge someone on what they prefer to eat, okay?" Frances asks. "I'm sorry." Jack looks at his own plate. I shake my head as I watch them. Frances looks at me and I give her a half grin. She bites her lip a little. "Thanks, Baby, but I don't need protection." Frances look at Britney again. "I know, but they won't stop if no one tells them to." "And you know them so well that they listen to you?" Britney asks in a sarcastic tone. "What's that supposed to mean?" "Kids." Dad says in a warning tone. We all look at him and see his serious face.

"I'm sorry, John." Frances says. He holds his hand up, gesturing that it's okay. "Don't worry, Baby, my youngest is back and it's like history is repeating itself." I sigh deeply but eat on in silence. Bryan gets curious as he looks at me and then at dad. "What do you mean, pawpaw?" Dad looks at my son. "You're too young to know this, son. Eat your meat, it makes you stronger." Bryan nods and eats on. I know he's still curious. "This is delicious." He says, and dad starts to smile. "Thanks, son." I look at mom and see her smiling as she eats in silence. I guess she is very happy to have thee whole family together. Jamaal has been awfully quiet the whole time, but I can see him enjoying dinner and the company. He never was a big talker anyway.

When dinner was over. Mom and the ladies, except for Britney, clean the table and went inside to do the dishes. I walk inside and watch them. I know they don't want me to help, but I just want to be close to Frances. I know I shouldn't, but somehow, I can't control this. "You need help, ma?" She looks at me and smiles. "No, sweetie, we're fine, go outside and enjoy the last sunlight." I give her a kiss on her cheek. Franny takes a beer and hands it out to me. "I think I've got enough beer today." She chuckles about it but pushes the bottle in my hands. "I miss the real you, brother." I take a sip. "I don't know how to go back to that, sis." Mom and Frances are looking at me as well. "Let it go. I noticed that when Britney is around you, you lose the accent." Franny says. "That's true." Mom agrees with her. "It will be fine, Fran, give it some time." Frances says with a smile. She came closer to me. I look at her face. She gives me a little kiss on my cheek. I keep looking at her, now with a smile. Franny rolls her eyes and mom only smiles.

"Now, go outside, son." I turn and walk outside while sipping my beer. "You've always done that, Baby." Frances looks at Franny as she dries a plate. She smiles. "It worked in the past." Mom and Franny start to laugh. "Oh, it still works." Frances giggles. "Why did you never take the first step, Baby?" Franny asks. Frances inhales deeply and takes another plate to dry. "I don't know, so many girls liked him and then there was Jack too." "Did you really had sex with him?" Frances looks at Franny for a second. "No… he wanted to, ever since he asked me to homecoming, he has been trying too. I just didn't want to, and I still don't want it with him."

"Johnny was heartbroken when Jack asked you for homecoming." Frances looks at mom. He smile has dropped. "They had a bet on it, ma." Franny replies to that. "We all know that, except for your father." Mom says with a little smile. "I never knew." They look at Frances. "You didn't? Really?" Franny asks. She opens the fridge and takes the cheese. "Of course, I do, but I didn't back then." "Why did you say yes to Jack?" Franny asks as she eats a few pieces of cheese. Frances puts the plates in the cupboard. Britney came inside and the three turn their heads. "You need help?" Mom's her eyebrows go up. "No, sweetie, we're fine." "Okay, I'm going to bed, I'm tired."

Mom nods and only smiles. Britney looks at Franny and then at Frances and went to the hallway. "She's trying too hard." Franny says. "No, I don't think she's trying." Mom says. Frances looks at mom with a little smile. They all think the same thing. "I said yes to Jack because I thought that Johnny never would ask me. He didn't even came to me to ask me after Jack did. I thought he had no interest." "Yeah, Johnny never was the one who would step forward and fight for what he loves, except for dancing." Mom nods in agreement. "He's the best dancer in this world." Frances giggles. "He's amazing."

They didn't know that Britney sits on the stairs and is eavesdropping on them. She is holding her phone in her hand. "We all know that you both liked each other, why nothing ever happened is beyond me." Mom looks at the last bit of the dishes. "It's especially because of Jack, ever since he came to live here, Johnny felt like he wasn't a part of the family anymore. It certainly didn't help when Jack was constantly around you, Baby. I know Jack was doing it on purpose." Franny explains as she puts the glasses in the cupboard. "So, Jack is Johnny's nemesis?" Frances looks at Franny's face. "Oh, yes, very much. Jack made a competition out of everything, and Johnny always felt like he had to compete to proof that he's a winner too."

"If you would have the chance to kiss him, would you do that?" Frances thinks about the question. "I might, but he's engaged, and I'm not someone who would ruin a relationship." Britney tries not to snort. She thought she had heard enough, until she stands up. "I think you should, we see how he looks at you." Frances looks at mom and takes a deep breath. "Ma is right, Baby. Maybe you should show my brother your feelings." "I've always thought that you fit the best with my youngest." Frances looks back at mom who is smiling at her. "I still think that." It went silent for some moments. This is Britney's queue to go upstairs. She looks at her phone and press on 'stop recording'.

I watch the two boys playing with the ball. I watch Bryan teaching Sean how to throw the ball. I smile and hope that the two will become friends. I sit on the bench that stands on the porch. It's the favorite spot for everyone to relax. Jamie came to me and sits down. "If you ever would've gotten the chance to do things over, what would it be?" I turn my head to look at him. "I don't know." I look back at the boys and sip my beer. "Come on, Dancer, there must be something." I think about it. What would I change? "If I could turn back time? I would've asked Baby for homecoming instead of backing off when I saw Jack doing it."

"You know, you still can ask her out." I inhale through my nose as I take a big gulp. "I don't think I can. I'm engaged, and besides, I need to go back to LA next week." Jamie looks at my face. "Do you really want to do that new show?" I look at his face. "The show is my own idea, brother. Of course, I want to do it." Jamie smiles. "Well, I hope for your sake that you know what you really want." Jamie stands up. Jamaal came to us. "The boys want to camp here." I look at Jamaal and then at the boys. "Doesn't Sean need to go back home?" Frances came outside at that moment. She heard her name and looks at us.

"What's going on with my son?" Jamaal turns his head and smiles. "The boys want to camp." Jamaal answers. "Okay." "You don't mind?" She looks at me and starts to smile. "No, I don't mind, the boys have their summer holiday. Sean just got back from his father and he was already bored being alone at home." The boys ran to us. "Is it okay if we camp?" I look at my son and smile. "Only for tonight?" "For the rest of our stay, if that's okay, dad?" I look at Sean who nods with a smile. I look back at Frances. She smiles as she looks at my face. "You heard the boys." I wink. She giggles. "Go ahead, I'll bring you clean clothes tomorrow." Sean went to hug her tightly. She chuckles and gives him a kiss on his head. "Thanks, mom."

Bryan gives me a short hug and the two ran away. "I'll help them with the tent." Jamaal says. I nod and watch him walking away. "I'm going home." I look at Jamie. He gives Frances a kiss on her cheek and walks to his car. Dad went inside after he has cleaned the barbeque. "Don't be too loud." He says on his way in. Frances smiles and sits down next to me. We watch the boys and Jamaal putting up the tent. I inhale deeply. I close my eyes and enjoy the smell of the evening in the woods. Sounds a little weird, but somehow in the evenings there's a different scent.

Frances looks at me. I open my eyes and turn my head to look at her. I see her smile. I give her a smile. "It's really good to see you again." She whispers. "Yeah, me too. I've stayed away for too long." That wasn't even a lie. I know that if I came back years ago, I might have a relationship with her now. "I can see that you've been missing Pampa." I look in her eyes. She keeps looking in my eyes. I feel her taking my hand, but I'm not looking away from her eyes. I feel the butterflies. "I have…" I pause to inhale deeply when I feel her thumb softly caressing my knuckles. "Missed it so much." I manage to say. She moves a little closer to me.

"Your mother told me that you backed off when Jack asked me for homecoming." She looks at the boys again. I keep looking at her. A little breeze messed up her hair. I lift my hand up to push her hair behind her ear. She turns her head to look back in my eyes. "I'm sorry." I whisper. I couldn't control myself. "Why?" She whispers. "I don't know." I look at the boys. It's silent for some moments. I look back in her eyes. She smiles and moves herself a little closer. I can feel the chemistry between us. I lay my arm behind her on the bench. I keep looking at her. I want to kiss her, and I can see that she's wanting the same thing.

"Would you have said yes if I would've asked you for homecoming?" She smile teasingly. Her other hand goes to my cheek. "Yes." I close my eyes as I feel her soft touch. She smiles as she watches my face. After a few minutes, she stands up and I inhale deeply. "I need to go now. I'll be having my first patient early in the morning." I nod. "Okay, I'll see ya tomorrow." "See ya." She gives me a smile. I watch her walking to the boys and slowly let the air go out through my nose. Bryan runs to me. I smile at him. "Dad? Are you okay?" He sits down. I didn't reply as I look at Frances again. Bryan watches me. "You still love her, don't you?" I finish my beer and stand up. Bryan keeps looking at me.

"Dad." I look at his face. "I can't, you know that." Bryan snorts and shakes his head. "Come on, dad. I can see your struggle." He stands up. I lean in and give him a kiss on his head. "Don't go to sleep too late, okay?" I walk inside. Bryan sighs as he thinks. When I enter the bedroom, I see Britney sitting on the bed in her sexy lingerie. I close the door behind me. "Come here, stud." I went to sit down on the bed. She moves and gives me a kiss. "Ugh, you smell of beer." She sits back and I stand up again. "I'm sorry." I take my shorts off. She looks at my naked body. I lay down on my back. "You love me?" I turn my head to look in her eyes. "Of course, why do you ask?"

I take her hand and entwine fingers. She lays down on her side. She looks at me as I look at the ceiling. "What are you thinking of?" "Nothing." I reply. "It's about Frances, or Baby." I sigh and look at her as I turn on my side. "Why would you say that?" "I think she's up to something. I don't trust her." I didn't react to it. Of course, she doesn't trust Frances. She sees Frances as a threat. But I just act like I'm ignorant. "What makes you think that?" Her fingers caress my chest a little. "I think she's still in love with you. I think she's going to ruin us."

I lean in and start to kiss her. I close my eyes and think about Frances. I couldn't help myself. I feel that I'm getting eager and start to kiss her deeper. "Hmm…. Hmm…." She stops the kiss and I open my eyes. "What was that?" "A kiss?" She frowns. "You've never kissed me like that before." "Maybe it's the alcohol. I had quite some beers today." I see her expression. I know what she is thinking. "I don't think so." "Does it matter? Was it any good?" "I don't know, kiss me again." I smile a little and kiss her again. When I close my eyes, I see Frances again. I roll myself on top of her and kiss my way down. I keep my eyes closed. I know I will ruin my own mood when I'll open my eyes.

After fifteen minutes. I roll on my back and pant heavily. I still have my eyes closed. She looks at my face and sees a change. "How was it for you?" I open my eyes and look at her. "It was good, how was it for you?" I ask her back. "You never made love like that to me before, what were you thinking about?" I look at the ceiling. "Nothing, why? You've been pushing me away since we got here, and my need has been huge." "I could feel it, it's just… you've never showed me this before, and since we got here… since you've seen Baby again, you're changing." She sits herself straight. I sigh as I move a little. I look at her.

"Am I? I don't feel like I'm changing… besides, I'm with you… you've got me, why do you even think that Baby would come in between us?" I'm not going to ask her why she pronounces Frances' nickname like it's something dirty. I know that from the first second Britney saw Frances she got hostile and possessive. "I don't know, you tell me, is there something going on between you two?" I frown and yawn once. "I don't know what you're talking about, let's go to sleep, okay?" I turn on my side, with my back to her. I turn off the light on my side and close my eyes. She looks at my back and sighs. She moves and turns the light off at her side. I feel her moving, but I keep my eyes closed. I drift off into a deep sleep.