"Babe, why are you still up?" Michael asks from the doorway of the living room. He's wearing boxers and one sock.

Jenna looks up from the keyboard with dark eyes. "Why're you still up?"

"My bed felt empty." He states, rubbing an eye.

"I wrote a song that definitely fits Morgan's vibe." She yawns, pointing at the pad of paper surrounded by crumpled sheets and eraser shavings.

He yawns back, dropping himself on the couch next to her. "Come to bed." He says groggily, his voice makes goosebumps show on her body.

She hums but it turns whiny when he starts kissing her neck. "Stop it..."

He reaches up and takes the claw clip out of her messy blonde hair to run his fingers through it, knowing how that makes her feel. Her belly starts burning and she bites her lip.

Michael sits behind her, his hands start massaging her shoulders then slowly move down her arms then her side, her hips then thighs. She bites into her bottom lip harder, her eyes stuck on his hands as they lay there on her exposed thighs a little too innocently.

He slides one hand behind the waistband of her shorts, the other up under her shirt.

"You look stressed." He whispers huskily against her neck, his hot breath fanning over her damp skin.

"I- I'm not- I'm-"

"Shh..." He presses a firm kiss to her neck before pushing her shirt off her body, her nipples hardening at the cool air. He runs his hand over her breasts as the other keeps moving slowly better her thighs.

"Michael, I-"

He suddenly flips them so she's pinned to the couch. He swiftly covers her mouth with his hand. "I thought I told you to be quiet." He says, his lips barely moving. "You're gonna close your eyes..." He pulls her shorts down her legs. "Shut off your mind..." He starts pushing into her, his other hand still covering her mouth. "And give into me."

Her phone starts going off.

"Son of a bitch." She mumbles, pulling away. "What the-? Hello?"

"Hey, I just got the song you sent me." Morgan says on the other end. "And I love it!"

"Oh- that- that's good." She breathes when she feels Michael's hand moving between her legs again. "Fuck... can we talk 'bout this in the mornin'? I'm kinda-" She gasps then shoves Michael's arm away. "Busy."

She doesn't even listen to his response as she hangs up on him, dropping her phone to the floor.

Jenna presses her hand hard against his chest, pushing him down to the couch to straddle his hips. He smiles tiredly up at her, his hands resting on her thighs again.

+++

"Girl, since you left me, been tryin' to forget we, ever became what we were. And I poured some whiskey on places you kissed me, tried to wash off all the hurt. But ain't nothin' workin', I've lived

out the words in a thousand old sad country songs. But whenever I try to move on..."

"This song is good, Jenna." Joey says, turning the volume down as Morgan sings in the booth.

"Thanks." She smiles back. "And thanks for lettin' me record the piano for it."

"You got some talent. You just aren't confident in yourself." He states, knowing she needs to hear that. "You have the talent, you just need to believe in yourself."

She suppresses an eye roll as she sits on her couch. Michael joins them, sitting next to her while handing her a coffee cup.

"I'm gonna go see Florence at lunch. You wanna go with me?"

"Sure." He says, his arm resting on the couch behind her. Michael mindlessly rubs her shoulders.

She realized his love language is physical touching. Hers is quality time.

It's nice to have this again. Tiny wasnt real keen on quality time but he'd make up for it with physical touch. Sadly, his physical touch bled to other girls when Jenna was away.

But Michael is a good guy. He doesn't have a single mean bone in his body.

Before she knows it, she's on her way to the home to visit with Florence. She had to make the heart breaking decision to quit but she promised the old woman that she'd visit two or three times a week.

Jenna stops in her tracks when she sees her favorite resident laying in the bed, breathing shallowly.

She does not look good.

Jenna slowly sits next to her, resting her hand on Florence's knee. It seems like it takes so much effort to open her eyes but when she does, a huge exhausted grin breaks out across her pale face.

"Hey girl." She wheezes, struggling to sit up. Jenna immediately stands to help her up and adjust the pillow behind her.

"You feelin' okay? Anythin' you need?" She asks, brushing the thin strands of white hair from her forehead. She's freezing.

Jenna grabs an extra blanket from the cabinet across from her and drapes it across her lap.

Michael watches quietly from the doorway, his heart hurting at the sight. He can see how much love Jenna has for this woman and it scares him to think about what she'll be like when Florence is called home.

Since Jenna left the home, her residents have been somewhat neglected.

Jenna is so fucking tempted to come back because it's not right. These families trusted this home to take care of their elders and they can't do that. That's so fucking wrong.

She's even thinking about 'adopting' Florence and taking her home to take care of her like she fucking deserves.

Her schedule doesn't allow that.

Michael gives Jenna's shoulder a squeeze then gives the women some privacy to talk.

+++

Jenna's gone quiet.

Ever since she visited Florence at the home, she's seemed to be in deep thought.

Currently, she's sitting at her piano, just staring at some sheet music while picking at her bottom lip. Michael's trying to take a quick nap in her bed but also listening to whatever melodies pop into her beautiful mind but she hasn't moved in five minutes.

Michael sits up, leaning on his elbows and sighs softly. "Hey." He yawns quietly. She hums in response. "C'mere." He opens his arms when she finally tears her sight away from the music on her piano. She has a hard to ready expression on her face as she climbs into bed and into his arms. "Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?"

"Old people." She says bluntly making him chuckle. "Florence, she's not doin' too good."

"I'm sorry."

She sighs in response, burying her face in his neck.

Michael just rubs her back, occasionally pressing soft kisses against her forehead which ultimately causes her to fall asleep.

+++

"Bryson, we need to talk." Jenna says, letting herself into his office. "I've been thinkin' and I'd like to give bein' a singer a shot."

His face lights up. "Really?" He asks, dropping his feet from his desk to sit forward.

"Yeah." She nods with a smile. "I think it'd be a lotta fun and-"

"Well shoot, I'll write up a contract and then we'll go over it tomorrow!"

"Great! I'll stop by tomorrow." She says then stands, picking her bag up then heading out of his office.

"Morgan!" She shouts when she sees the brunette exiting the men's room. "Hey, guess what!"

"What!?" He asks, matching her energy immediately with a goofy grin.

"I'm gonna be a singer, not just a songwriter!"

"Hey!" He laughs, wrapping her in a tight hug.

She grins, his nose pressed against her shoulder as he takes in a deep breath. She smells good.

She licks her lips as she pulls away. "Where's Michael?"

"I'm- I'm, uh, not sure." He replies, pushing his hair back with a slight blush.

They look at each other shyly then awkwardly split ways.

"What the hell was that?" She asks herself, biting her lip.

"Jenny!" Michael says from behind her. "Morgan said you got some news?"

"Yeah, I do." She grins. "I talked to Bryson and tomorrow I am officially a singer."

"Hey!" He exclaims, hugging her tight, spinning her around. "That's awesome!"

She just smiles back, her hands resting on his chest. "I wanna do some songwritin' tonight." She says, tracing the Mississippi State logo on his shirt.

"Just us or do you wanna invite the guys?"

"Invite the guys." She nods. "It'll be good to have two more heads to think with."

"Cool. My house?"

"Pfft. Yeah. There ain't no room for two more guys at my house." She laughs. "Five o'clock. I'll make supper."

"Okay." He says. "I'll let 'em know." She leans up and kisses him, melting against him when she feels his hands on her waist. "Whatcha doin' with your day off?"

"Talked to Bryson now I'm gonna go visit Florence at the home. Tell her the news." He nods then kisses her. "I'll see ya 'round five."

+++

"Smells great, baby." Michael says when he gets home. Jenna has her own key so she decided to make dinner early. "They'll be here in a bit. I'm gonna take a shower." He kisses her cheek then heads upstairs. Jenna sighs softly, shredding the brisket she cooked up for some sandwiches.

There's a knock on the door.

Jenna washes her hands, drying them off with a dish towel as she heads to the door. "Hey boys." She smiles, opening the door. "C'mon in."

Ernest and Morgan follow her into the kitchen and as soon as that brisket smell hits their noses, they're drooling.

"Smells great, Jenna." Morgan practically moans, making her blush slightly. She leans over the sink and pushes the window up, feeling two sets of eyes on her ass.

"Ow!" They say when her back is turned.

Jenna spins and sees Morgan and Ernest rubbing the backs of their heads as Michael walks past.

"So, what're we doin' tonight?" Ernest asks, leaning against the counter.

"I wanna write some songs." Jenna states, washing her hands again. "And y'all're gon' help me."

"Sure."

"It's gonna a long night." She says, making the boys some sandwiches. "So, sit down and eat and then we'll brainstorm, 'kay?"

"Yes ma'am." Ern salutes, sitting at the table.

After their meal, they move to the burn pit in the yard.

Jenna sits in a lawn chair with her notepad in her lap while Michael and Ern have their guitars. The beers start flowing and the laughs start echoing.

"What about this?"

Michael starts strumming some chords and Jenna nods along with him, already writing down words.

"Yeah, I was just hangin' out, some little west coast town. Found a bar out by the sand, so I made my way in. First thing that caught my eye like nothin' I ever seen..."

Ernest starts bobbing his head too. "Okay, yeah." He snaps a few times.

"...Sunburned auburn hair; a California dream. Yeah, she was shakin' them hips to some old motown song. I couldn't say a thing so I sang along..."

"She was a heartache on the dance floor..."

Jenna is loving this song already and they've just started.

The sun has sunk below the trees and the temperature has dropped. Ernest has been over there smoking a blunt and Morgan has one too many beers in his system.

Michael is totally sober and Jenna, not so much.

"What about a song about your hometown?" Morgan says, picking at the tab on his can.

"I hate my hometown." Jenna says. "What?"

"Why?" Morgan asks, tossing his can into the flames.

"It's too hard to go back. Bad memories."

"Well..." Morgan trails off awkwardly.

"I'm tired." Ernest says, tousling his blonde hair around before popping his hat back on. "Can I crash on the couch?"

"Yeah, man." Michael nods. "You too, Morgan."

"Nah, I'm good to drive home." He clumsily pulls his keys from his jacket pocket. "Hey!"He shouts when Jenna snatches his keys.

"You are too tipsy to drive anywhere." She stumbles out. "Nuh-uh!" She shouts when he lunges for his keys. She shoves them in her bra.

"Dude!"

"Get your ass inside. You too, Ern." The two guys share a look then follow her directions.

Michael looks at Jenna, her hand is on her boob. He takes her hand from her chest and pulls her close for a kiss. She lets her lips brush against his, her fingers twisting in the strands that peek out from under his Hail State hat. When he goes to press his lips against hers, she pulls back.

Her face splits into a sultry, mischievous grin. Jenna sways her hips as she struts back to the house, smirking to herself as she feels his eyes on her ass in those ripped blue jeans of hers.

Michael is practically drooling after her.

He follows her into the house, his heart thumping in his chest. He has never felt like this about another woman before and it's scary to think about.

He's wrapped around her little finger but she doesn't know that entirely yet.

+++