My mother wouldn't appreciate my dusty converse on her polished black and white tile flooring but I don't take the time to pull them off as I saunter towards the laughter. Our house is decorated strategically, with antique pieces blending in seamlessly with newer, custom-made pieces. It's almost like walking through time, as I pass a hundred-year-old china cabinet to step onto a room-covering woven rug from Restoration Hardware. I round the corner that leads into the ornate dining room and my brother's distinct laugh stops when he spots me. My parents follow his gaze to the wide doorway, as does the stranger that sits to Austin's right.

"Sawyer! There you are darlin', look who has come home for a couple weeks!" Momma beams as she pops up off her chair to come over to me. As she takes her stance in front of me, she does the one thing I hate most in the world and licks her thumb to wipe a smudge of dirt off of my chin. I feel the color flooding my face as I attempt a genuine smile and I dodge past my mother's swinging thumb before she can strike again.

"Austin, good to see you. I didn't know you were coming," I gush as I make my way toward my brother. He opens his arms to envelope me in his strong embrace and his familiar cologne has a comforting effect on me. I haven't seen Austin since my meltdown a couple of months ago and I wonder if he's here to randomly visit or to check in on me.

"I've missed ya, Sawyer. What the hell have you been doing today?" Austin asks with a laugh and my father adds, "You look like you've been rolling around in the stables." I catch my reflection in the hutch behind him and I do look a hot mess in my dirty jean shorts and tank top. My blonde hair is frazzled with flyways all over my messy ponytail and a thin sheet of dust covers my face and legs from the dusty walk.

"I know I'm a mess. I walked into town today and it was just ya know... hot... and dusty." I stumble over my words as I catch the eyes of the quiet stranger still seated by Austin's vacated chair. My brother catches my stare and whips around to where I'm gazing.

"Oh, sorry Sawyer, this is Ryan, my co-worker. He's never been to Mississippi, so I brought him with me to check it out," Austin says. Ryan stands with his hand extended and if I hadn't just had my heart ripped from my chest not too long ago, I might have noticed how his bright, emerald eyes sparkle against his pear-colored polo shirt. Or noticed the way his sandy blonde hair stays effortlessly messy despite the humidity. My brain may have gone gooey when we locked eyes but I flit them away quickly and hope my hand isn't sticky with sweat. 

"Nice to meet you, Sawyer," Ryan says politely as he shakes my hand and I notice the rough calluses that sit on his palm. I drop his hand and once again, catch myself glancing at my dirty appearance in the mirror behind him. I'm sure my mother is just dying inside while she looks at her mess of a daughter.

"Well, I hate to tell you this Ryan, but there isn't much excitement in our humble town of Hollis, Mississippi," I say. "You'll be bored, melting and counting the chimes of our obnoxious grandfather clock as you contemplate your escape outta here. Don't let my brother hold ya hostage," I joke and Momma shoots me a bewildered look.

"Oh, don't listen to sourpuss Sawyer," she says with a flick of her dainty wrist. "There's plenty to see in Hollis."

"Is there? I'm sure South Carolina has dive bars and an old man at a gas station that will spit on you if you buy cigarettes."

"What?" Ryan asks quickly but Momma won't play into my sarcasm. 

"While you're here Ryan, you make yourself at home and feel free to explore the property. Austin would be happy to show you the stables." 

"Where we have an old woman that will spit on you if don't buy cigarettes." 

"Sawyer..." Momma warns but I just grin at Austin. 

"You guys can take the boat out too if ya want," my father suggests and Austin nods to my over-eager parents. My brother hardly ever comes to town, so when he does, my parents try to remind him how "appealing" Hollis can be in an attempt to bring him home. Every day that Austin is here, my mother will dote on him and try to persuade both him and Ryan to do all the fabulous things Hollis has to offer.

"Yeah, maybe we'll do that one day while we are here. We do have to work but hopefully, it won't take up too much time," Austin says strategically. He wants my mother to know that work is a valid excuse to soak up all of his time here. He can't be lollygagging on our boat all day or make luncheons at the D.A.R. with her. I do know he will make time to stop at Wade's Bakery for peach pie, but that is the only thing Hollis has that is worth Austin's precious time.

"Well, Delilah and I will let you kids be, it is time for bed," my father says as he stands and grabs my mother's hands. We all say goodnight and I watch Momma snag Ryan to show him where his room will be, leaving Austin and me alone at the dining table. I fill my mother's vacated seat, hoping to figure out why Austin has popped in out of the blue. Austin raps his knuckles on the table before looking at me.

"So Sawyer, how have you really been? Momma says you've been a hell-raiser since you moved back home," he says with a smirk. "She says you're bored and you spend your time finding ways to drive her up the wall." I scoff at the ridiculousness but Austin still looks serious. "Hey, don't play it off, she says you stole an expensive bottle of wine and got wasted at a charity event yesterday." I give him another dramatic look and curse Annabeth for being so dim.

"Austin, I'm not lying to you when I say I wasn't actually the one who stole it. I was covering for Annabeth," I tell him.

"Of course Annabeth was in on the shenanigans."

"It was all her. I was the fall guy." He stares at me debating whether to believe me or not. He then leans back against his chair before asking, "Have you seen him since...all the shit hit the fan?" I stare at the table and slightly shake my head before quietly replying, "Besides his obnoxious engagement photo in the Herald? Nope." My heart leaps into my throat as the memory of the gigantic engagement announcement comes flooding back into my mind.

"Good, he better stay away from you. I'll rip the bastard's face off if I ever cross paths with him again." I laugh at Austin's comment even though I know he's dead serious. My brother once punched Matt Talley in the face for calling me a tart in high school. Anyone that knew me, knew that was a false and slanderous statement.

"Well hopefully y'all just don't ever cross paths then," I mutter but Austin scoffs, "Sawyer, Hollis is a small town and when there is a scandal in a small town it's hard to get away from it. You'll just have to learn to hold your head high."

I roll my eyes, "I can't even go shopping in town without someone whispering about me as I pass by. I don't dare go to the country club and even the charity auction last night was miserable."

"Momma probably shouldn't have made you go to that," Austin says with a wince.

"Ya think? And she's forcing me to go to LulaBelle's brunch tomorrow too. The only reason I agreed to go is because Gus and Annabeth are going to be there," I say in annoyance. He nods as he reaches his hand across the table to cover my resting hand.

"Well, you know this isn't the end of the world, just...the end of an era," he says matter-of-factly. I decide I want to get off the subject of me since that seems to be the only thing people want to talk about these days.

"So...your co-worker, what's his story? He seems...quiet," I ask. Austin laughs his infectious laugh and quickly shakes his head.

"Who doesn't seem quiet around Momma? No one can get a word in edgewise," he says with a smirk. "And I know you are bored to tears being back home but don't get any ideas to fill your time with. I already told him to not even glance in your direction."

I flick my hand at his comment, "That's not why I was asking. And trust me, I'm not going to be looking for anything for a long time anyway. I'm embracing this new Single Life Sawyer." Austin is still smirking at me and I roll my eyes at him, "So anyway, is he a data analyst too then?"

"Yep." He answers. "I've actually known him since M.I.T. We were in the same graduating class, so I kind of already knew him when he came to work for LexiCorp." I shake my head and think back to that pretty face. Ryan must be pretty smart if he went to M.I.T too. Great, my brother found another stupidly handsome nerd to hang with. 

"I'm sure you have to fend off all the girls that throw themselves at you two. I can't imagine a more good-looking team works at LexiCorp," I joke and Austin laughs again. He's never been modest about his gorgeous looks and every southern belle bawled their eyes out when Austin moved to Massachusetts for school. Many of them kept their fingers crossed while waiting for him to graduate but he just broke their hearts all over again when he accepted a job in South Carolina. Two girls from high school even told him they'd move there for him but instead, he prefers the life of a single bachelor.

"Ryan is usually my wingman if we go out. He doesn't usually indulge in the ladies like I do."

"Why? Is there something wrong with him?"

"No, Sawyer. He went through something a while back with some girl that messed his head up, so I don't think he really dates," he says with a shrug. "Not that our job really allows us to date anyway."

I laugh, "Yeah, I'm sure your job is so consuming that it doesn't really allow two nerdy analysts to have a love life."

Austin smirks, "Hey our job is consuming. And the ladies I leave in the wee hours of the morning hear the same excuse." I giggle again and Austin winks at me. My mother would faint if she heard him talk like this. Austin is her southern gentleman with hair the color of honey and ocean-blue eyes that sparkle like the stars. She has watched him break countless girls' hearts and she just chalks it up to them not being good enough for her golden child. She'd never admit that Austin is just a bit of a slut.

Austin slaps his hands on the wooden table and a yawn escapes his mouth, "Well I've had a long day of traveling so I am off to bed." I admit I'm pretty exhausted myself after walking so far this afternoon. I follow his lead and we walk next to each other up the long spiral staircase. I glance at him as I think back to how we used to race to the top and pull each other down along the way. I'm glad to see we've outgrown our childish behavior.

I see the door next to my room is shut and am surprised Momma put Ryan in that guest room. I feel like my space has been violated. I don't want him sharing a wall with me. Austin notices my reluctance to have a visitor staying so close and says, "You won't even notice Ryan is there. Trust me, he's quiet and likes to keep to himself. Goodnight Sawyer." My brother gives me one more long, rib-crushing hug before disappearing to his room at the end of the hall. When I get back into my room, I see a note in my mother's handwriting sitting on my pillow. I pick it up and roll my eyes after reading what it says, My dearest Sawyer, please use the front door next time you decide you want to leave the house. I don't want you hurting my azaleas if you were to fall off the roof.