(hazel's outfit for this part of the chapter)

So far Bailey had been a nanny for the family for one week and everything was going great. Hazel was glad Bailey decided to stick around, she thought Bailey was a great person. Hazel finally was done with the crutches and her wound was healing, but she still had to take things easy. She was grateful that the family was supporting her and making sure she didn't overdo it. She appreciated their concern and care.

After waking up to her alarm clock, she got ready for the day. When she was done, she went next door to have breakfast with the others like she usually does.

"Mornin', neighbors." Hazel greets, smiling at the ones who were in the kitchen. Bailey, Brody, Beau, and Summer were in the kitchen. Her eyes widen at seeing the table full of food. "Okay, I know none of you guys made this amazing lookin' breakfast so it had to be you Bailey."

"Why, thank you. And good mornin' to you too, Hazy." Bailey replies, smiling at her. "I made everyone's favorite - I even made yours."

Hazel's grin grew as she hugged Bailey. "Thank you, Bailey. You didn't have to go through all this trouble." She mumbled into her shirt, making the woman chuckle.

"Nonsense, you deserve it." Bailey replies, squeezing her in a gentle hug before letting her go. "Especially since you've been dealin' with your injured leg. How's that going by the way? Do you need anything?"

"I'm good. Thank you though." Hazel responds, smiling warmly at her. "I'm a lot better and I'm so relieved I don't have to use those crutches anymore. It was gettin' annoying." She grumbled and Bailey chuckled.

"I'm glad. And don't worry, I understand. I'm sure I would have felt the same if I had to go through the same thing." Bailey replied. Hazel nodded and went over to her usual seat at the table.

"Mornin', Bailey." Tuck greeted as he walked into the room. Hazel chuckled and rolled her eyes at seeing he had a tank top on. She knew he was most likely trying to impress Bailey by showing off his muscles. She found his crush on Bailey amusing.

"Till that." Tuck grinned as Bailey raised her eyebrows at him. Tuck leaned against a hand on the kitchen island.

Beau stares at his oldest son with narrowed eyes. "Where's your shirt, boy?"

"Oh, uh, did I forget to put that on?" Tuck pretends to be shocked, but he was smiling the whole time. "I'll go grab it. Now, where'd I put it? Was it that way," He points to the right, flexing his muscles. "Or was it that way?" He asked, pointing to the left and flexing his muscles yet again.

Hazel didn't mean to stare, but her eyes lingered on his biceps a little longer than she had intended. He had definitely gotten a nice build over the years and his tank top really showed it off. Hazel blinked, forcing her gaze away, and tried to ignore the heat creeping up her neck. She wasn't blind, Tuck was attractive and he definitely looked good, she could admit that. But she was not interested in him like that. Not even a little bit. No, absolutely not. She wasn't interested in him. She was just appreciating his...Physical features. There was nothing wrong with that, right? Right.

Tuck notices her gaze had lingered on him and smirks. "You like what you see, starshine?"

Hazel snaps her gaze away from him and glares. "In your dreams, Tuck."

He chuckles, sending her a wink, before he heads upstairs. Hazel rolled her eyes at his antics, not letting herself get flustered by his actions. She was used to it and wasn't bothered by his teasing. Though lately she found herself thinking about him a little too much and staring at him a little too long. She knew he was attractive and charming, and he always made her smile and laugh. And he was her best friend, and they always had a strong bond and a connection. But it was just platonic, right? Nothing more. They were just really close friends, and Hazel was content with their relationship. She wasn't interested in anything romantic, not with Tuck. Or anyone.

"Tuck is a very handsome boy, huh?" Bailey teased her with a wink, and Hazel huffed out a breath, feeling her cheeks warm.

"Yeah, he knows that too." Hazel grumbled, avoiding eye contact.

"But seriously, is there anything going on between the two of you?" Bailey asks curiously and Hazel's blush grew as she felt the other's gaze on her too. "And I don't mean to intrude, you can tell me if it's none of my business."

"Oh, no, there's nothin' goin' on. Just best friends, have been our whole lives." Hazel quickly responds, trying not to stutter. She could tell the others didn't believe her and she pouted. "Seriously, guys. You've known me all my life, why are y'all even lookin' at me like that?"

"'Cause you two do seem closer than normal." Beau admits, raising his eyebrows at her. "You sure nothin' has changed between the two of ya?"

"Nothin'." Hazel replies, trying to sound casual. "Tuck and I have been close for a long time. We're comfortable around each other, so it's not a big deal."

Brody chuckles and shakes his head. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Soon Chloe came down to the kitchen, and Hazel was surprised to see how she was dressed. She had on a crop top with her jeans and a denim jacket. Just like what Bailey had on. "Woah!" Beau's eyes widen at seeing what his youngest daughter wore. "Baby, you can't go to kindergarten dressed like that. You look like-"

"Bailey?" Chloe finished his sentence with a proud smile, pointing at Bailey, who looked sheepish. Hazel smiled, thinking it's cute Chloe wanted to dress up like her.

"Sweetie, you are six years old. Bailey is-"

"Late twenties." Bailey intervened with a smile.

Summer sits at the table by Chloe. "Chloe, honey, why don't you put on that pretty little vintage floral dress I bought you?"

"I can't wear that to school." Chloe replied.

"Why not?" Summer chuckled.

"'Cause I don't like it!" Chloe admitted sassily.

Hazel covers her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Well, at least she's honest." She muttered.

"Chloe!" Beau scolded his daughter, sitting at the head of the table by Chloe as Brody sat at the other head of the table across from him.

"You said you always be honest, daddy." Chloe reminded him.

"I also said if you can't say anything nice, don't say it." Beau added.

Chloe rolls her eyes. "Well, which is it, daddy?"

"Look, y'all," Cassidy said with a smile as she came down stairs. "Me and Lily are wearing the same blouse." She revealed, turning her phone around to show the others her friend is wearing the same shirt she is. Then she turns the phone back to herself. "Please go change."

"Why me? You're the one who said you hate this blouse." Lily said. "And now you're wearing the exact same one."

Cassidy shrugs. "I said I hate it on you." Lily looks at her in offense. Cassidy smiles. "I love it on me."

"Problem solved." Bailey puts her denim jacket she wore over Cassidy's shoulders. "There, now they look different."

"No way, Bailey. I can't borrow this. What if I ruin it? Boone gave you this the first night he said he loved you." Cassidy said worriedly.

"How would you know that?" Bailey asked in confusion.

"Seriously?" Cassidy raises her eyebrows at her. "You don't remember when we were in the barn and you were stompin' on it?" Hazel raises her eyebrows at hearing this, glancing at Bailey curiously. Cassidy then held the jacket close to her. "And tellin' it how much ya hate it, then pickin' it up and tellin' it how much ya...Love it?" She asked, saying 'love it' in a sing-songy voice.

Hazel chuckles, rolling her eyes as she kept eating. Bailey stares into space as she rethinks the night Boone gave her that jacket. "He gave it to me when we had tater totchos at Ruby Tuesday's. He pulled out a gift bag and gave me this jacket with two hearts on it and he told me he loved me."

"See?" Cassidy sighs. "This is exactly why I can't take it. You're a mess!"

"She's not wrong." Hazel quipped, sheepishly smiling at Bailey when she sent her a small glare.

"I'm not cryin' about this jacket." Bailey wipes away the tears. "This jacket's just a thing. This heartache's about Boone and the good times we had. That's what I'll remember. That's what I'll carry with me 'till the day I die. Alone."

"And that just bummed me out." Hazel muttered. She felt bad for Bailey. She never knew what it was like to get dumped, but she knew it was an awful thing.

"Well, I guess I could borrow a thing." Cassidy realizes, putting the jacket on. She smiles at Bailey. "Thanks, Bailey. I love it." Bailey smiled, putting a hand on her back in response. She then pulled out a chair for Cassidy to sit between Summer and Brody. Hazel shared a smile with Cassidy, who sat across from Hazel.

"I'm not cryin' about this jacket." Bailey wipes away the tears. "This jacket's just a thing. This heartache's about Boone and the good times we had. That's what I'll remember. That's what I'll carry with me 'till the day I die. Alone."

"And that just bummed me out." Hazel muttered. She felt bad for Bailey. She never knew what it was like to get dumped, but she knew it was an awful thing.

"Well, I guess I could borrow a thing." Cassidy realizes, putting the jacket on. She smiles at Bailey. "Thanks, Bailey. I love it." Bailey smiled, putting a hand on her back in response. She then pulled out a chair for Cassidy to sit between Summer and Brody. Hazel shared a smile with Cassidy, who sat across from Hazel.

"Okay, young lady. Just sign and date the bottom." Dylan speaks, walking over to Bailey with a contract. "We are golden." He grinned. 

"You wrote a contract to be my manager?" Bailey questioned, surprise lacing her voice. 

"Wait," Hazel furrows her eyebrows. "You know how to write a contract?" She asked Dylan, surprised.

"What, you didn't think I knew how to do this? Of course, I know." Dylan replies, giving Hazel an offended look. He looks over at Bailey with a smile. "Business is business, B. FYI, I've already made four calls on your behalf this morning. I make calls right when I get up so my voice is deep. And one of those calls just happened to be to a friend of mine who's daddy is a lawyer who represents a guy whose girlfriend is second cousins with one of the producers of the CMA Fest."

Hazel's eyes widen. "Wow. Say that five times fast." She chuckled, earning a grin from Dylan.

"I've been tryin' to get in that festival for nine years." Bailey admitted. 

"Well, ya never had me as a manager." Dylan told her, handing her the contract.

Tuck then walks into the kitchen and Hazel's eyes widen at seeing he was wearing a shirt that had shrunk. It was a step up from just the tank top, but she could still easily see the muscles on his arms. She could feel her face heat up again, but she quickly tried to stop that feeling. Why was she reacting to Tuck like this all of a sudden? She had never felt this way about him before.

"Y'all know cotton shrinks?" Tuck inquires, pretending to act confused. It was obvious he was just trying to impress Bailey again. "What's that about?" He then grabbed a roll and took a bite. Bailey just stared at him in amusement and rolled her eyes.

Hazel couldn't stop staring at him, she didn't know why. She felt her cheeks warming again and she bit her lip. What was going on with her? Why did she suddenly start feeling this way? She quickly tore her gaze away from him and kept her focus on her plate. She was just going to have to try to ignore it and push the thoughts out of her mind. It was probably a temporary feeling and will pass. She would go back to seeing Tuck as a best friend soon. Because that's all they were, just best friends. Nothing more and nothing less.

****

After breakfast, Hazel couldn't believe Tuck still had the shrunken shirt on. "Please tell me you're not wearing that to school." Hazel chuckled.

"Well, I'm not really sure. What do you think?" Tuck smirked.

Hazel could feel her cheeks heat up again, and she didn't like it. This had never happened before. She was used to seeing Tuck shirtless. So why was she reacting this way all of a sudden? Why couldn't she stop?

"Uh, it's somethin'." Hazel nodded, looking down at her shoes to try and hide her blush.

Tuck raises his eyebrows. "It's somethin'? Is that all I am to you? Somethin'?" 

"Well, what else am I supposed to say?" Hazel chuckles and rolls her eyes. "You look fine." She didn't dare say sexy. Even though that's what she was thinking. She wasn't going to feed into his ego. And besides, they were just best friends. He was just her best friend.

"Fine?" Tuck scoffs. "I'm better than fine. You're not even lookin'." He pouted.

"Trust me, I'm lookin'." Hazel muttered, feeling her cheeks warm. She was really hating this sudden reaction she was having. Why did she have to suddenly start finding him attractive? It's not like anything had changed between them.

"You're not even lookin'!" He complains and steps closer to her, putting his arms on either side of her. "Look at me, starshine."

"What are you doin'?" Hazel squeaked, her eyes widening and her cheeks heating up as her back hit the wall. She felt her heartbeat quicken and she wasn't sure what was happening. Her reaction was surprising her.

"I'm tryin' to get you to look at me." Tuck chuckles, leaning forward until their noses were almost touching. Hazel could feel her breath hitch and she didn't know why her body was reacting this way. "Why are you so embarrassed? There's nothin' to be ashamed of. I'm hot and I know it." He teased.

"Oh, please." Hazel rolls her eyes, pushing him away playfully. "Your ego is already too big. You don't need me feedin' into it." She laughed, feeling her cheeks cool down. She was able to get her composure back, finally. She didn't know what that was all about, but she didn't want to think too much about it. She just wanted to go back to acting normal around him. She was happy with the way their friendship was and she didn't want to change that, right?

"Hey, it's not my fault I'm good-lookin'. Some people are just born with it." He winks at her, sending her a smirk. He then flexes his arms. "You're lucky to be best friends with such a stud."

Hazel laughs and shakes her head. "Yeah, I'm real lucky." She deadpans though she tried to ignore the small skip her heart made after her gaze lingered on his muscles longer than necessary. She was just going to pretend nothing had changed. They were still best friends, and she was just appreciating her best friend's appearance. "Seriously, go get changed so we're not late for school."

"Yes, ma'am." Tuck chuckled and gave her a two finger salute before heading upstairs.

Hazel lets out a sigh and leaned against the wall. What was happening to her? "Are you sure there's nothin' going on between the two of you?" She jumped at Brody's voice and she looked over to see him grinning at her. She glared at him, crossing her arms.

"I already told y'all, nothin's goin' on between us. We're just best friends." Hazel responded, trying not to blush.

"Mm-hmm." Brody nods, but doesn't look convinced. He just smiles at her. "Just tell me this, are ya startin' to catch feelin's for him? 'Cause I'm pretty sure he has some for you."

Hazel's eyes widen and her jaw drops. "What?! No! That's ridiculous! Tuck doesn't-"

"Have feelin's for you?" Brody interrupts her. "Come on, Hazel, you can't tell me you haven't noticed him tryin' to impress you or show off. Or the fact he flirts with you, a lot."

Hazel rolls her eyes and scoffs. "He does not flirt with me. He just teases me, and he likes to get under my skin. It's all in good fun."

Brody chuckles and raises his eyebrows. "Oh yeah? Then why are you blushing?"

"Because it's embarrassin'! You're makin' a big deal out of nothin'. Leave me alone, we gotta get goin' to school." Hazel grumbled and walked out of the house, her face red and her heart pounding.

No, Tuck didn't have feelings for her. Sure, he would tease her, but he's always done that. They've been best friends their whole lives. That's all they are, and that's all they'll ever be. Right?

****

School went by fairly quickly, but Hazel didn't really pay much attention. Her thoughts were on other things. Like how she and Tuck had been best friends since we were kids and now how she's starting to suddenly have feelings for him. Maybe it's not feelings. It's just a silly crush that'll go away eventually. A crush. That's all. There's no need to worry.

(hazel's outfit for this part of the chapter)

After school, she changed clothes to get into some work clothes. She had planned on going next door to see if the boys needed help since they were working in the barn and she had finished with her chores. She went to the barn to help out with the boys working there since she didn't have any homework and didn't have anything else to do. She noticed Tuck had a tank top on again and she tried her hardest not to stare. Why couldn't she stop doing that? She had to get a hold of herself.

"Hey." Hazel greets as she walked into the barn. "What's happenin'?" She asked, noticing the boys working with the hay.

"Nothin' much. Just cleanin' things up." Tuck explained, glancing at her with a smile. 

"I figured as much." Hazel chuckles, putting her bag down on a chair. She was about to take off her denim jacket when she felt Tuck grab her hand.

"Here, let me help you." Tuck grinned, pulling her arm up to her so he could pull the jacket off for her.

"That's not necessary." Hazel laughs, her cheeks warming. "I can take off my own jacket, thank you very much." She was glad her back was turned towards him. She didn't need him seeing her blush.

"Come on, I know you can." Tuck says with a smile. "But I wanna help you."

Hazel couldn't help but feel her heart flutter at Tuck's words, his warm smile making her cheeks flush even more. She felt a strange mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through her veins as he gently slipped the jacket off her shoulders.

"Thanks," She mumbles, trying to regain her composure. She couldn't understand why such a simple gesture from Tuck was affecting her so much.

"No problem, starshine." Tuck replied casually, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before he turned away to hang up her jacket. Hazel couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more in his gaze, something that made her heart skip a beat. But she quickly pushed those thoughts away, telling herself that she was just imagining things. After all, they were just best friends, nothing more.

"You guys need some help?" Hazel asked the boys, trying to distract herself from the thoughts she was having.

"Sure, that'd be great." Tuck nodded and smiled back at her.

Hazel returns his smile, trying to keep her breathing steady as she followed him over to where the hay was. She couldn't help but notice how his muscles flexed whenever he lifted the heavy bales, or how his tanned skin glistened in the sunlight, or the way his eyes sparkled whenever he glanced her way. But she quickly forced herself to look away, reminding herself that these feelings she had was just a crush, and it would pass soon enough.

Hazel had been busy with working, not realizing something was about to fall on her. Tuck quickly ran up to her and grabbed her arm to pull her back, and she ended up falling into his arms. Hazel felt her heart pounding in her chest and her face heating up. She had never been this close to Tuck before, and it was making her feel things that she wasn't used to feeling. With wide eyes, she looked over to see what had fell. It was just some saddles that had fallen, but she knew they would've hurt if they had landed on her.

"Are you okay?" Tuck asked, concern evident in his voice as he looked down at her.

"I'm fine," Hazel assures him, trying to calm her racing heart. "Thanks for the save." She said, her eyes locking with his for a moment. His gaze was filled with such intensity that it made her breath hitch in her throat, and she quickly averted her gaze, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"Of course." Tuck replies, his voice soft. "I'll always be there to protect you."

Hazel couldn't help but feel her stomach flutter at his words, and she couldn't stop the smile that spread across her lips. It was crazy to think that she was falling for her best friend, but at the same time, it felt so right.

"I'm gonna hold you to that." Hazel told him, a teasing tone in her voice.

"Well, it's not a promise, starshine. It's a fact." Tuck smirks, causing her heart to skip a beat. "Now come on, let's get back to work. We'll get those saddles back up and make sure they don't fall down again."

Hazel nodded and followed after him, unable to stop the smile that stayed on her face. Despite her efforts to deny her feelings, she couldn't help but wonder if Tuck was experiencing the same things she was. Could it be possible that he felt the same way about her? And if so, what did that mean for their friendship?

As they all continued working, Dylan got a phone call from Bailey and put it on speaker. "Dylan, we have an emergency." Bailey admitted.

Hazel glances over from helping Tuck and Brody move hay bales when she heard Bailey say that. She was concerned about what was going on.

"What's wrong, Bailey?" Dylan asked.

"Chloe brought your momma's guitar to the audition and another girl, thinkin' it was hers accidentally took it. I told y'all this was a bad idea!" Bailey rambles in a rushed tone. "Hurry!"

Hazel, Tuck, and Brody stop after hearing that and rush over to stand by Dylan. "I'm here, boo. What do you need?" Tuck asked, wincing when Hazel elbowed his side after he called Baily 'boo' and earned a chuckle from Dylan and Brody.

"I need you to come to Tootsie's and pick up your sister so I can go look for that guitar." Bailey explains. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!"

"Bailey, calm down." Dylan said. "The important thing is, how'd the audition go?" He winced when Hazel hit the back of his head and glared at him.

"Not the time for that." Hazel hissed.

"Hazel's right. The important thing is you need to keep Cassidy from going up stairs to her bedroom 'till I find that guitar and put it back where it was! "Bailey insisted.

"Which arm hurts when you're havin' a heart attack?" Brody asked worriedly, holding onto his left arm and then held onto his right arm.

Hazel glances at him in concern, but relaxed slightly. She knew he was just freaking out. "You're fine, B, you're just panicking." She assured him.

"Are you sure? 'Cause it feels like a heart attack." Brody mumbled nervously.

"Bailey, you forgot to tell 'em you got a callback!" Chloe chimed in.

Hazel's eyes widen and she smiles at hearing that. She was so happy for Bailey. "You got a callback? Yes!" Dylan cheers. "Bailey, you are on your way."

"And so am I." Tuck adds. "Hey, remind me where Tootsies is. Is it uptown," He flexes his muscles. "Or is it downtown?" He then flexed his muscles again. Hazel felt her face heat up again and she turned away so she wouldn't see him anymore. She had to stop reacting like this.

Brody stares at him with a deadpanned look. "You do realize this isn't FaceTime?"

"Your point?" Tuck shrugged.

"His point is that Bailey didn't see you when you were flexin' like that." Hazel rolled her eyes.

Tuck grins at her. "But you did. And you know you love it."

"In your dreams." Hazel scoffed and shook her head, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach and her heart pounding.

****

Now Hazel sat in between Tuck and Brody in the truck and Tuck was driving. Why did she and Brody let him drive? He didn't even have his license. Brody looked so nervous and Hazel didn't blame him. She was also nervous, but tried to keep a straight face. Although she was fidgeting with her rings out of nerves.

"I can't believe we let you talk us into this." Brody muttered.

"You're the one who said we gotta find that guitar for Cassidy." Tuck reminded him.

"In an Uber!" Brody exclaims. "You don't have your driver's license. We either should've got an Uber or let Hazel drive! She has her license unlike you." He glared at his brother.

"Yeah, why didn't I drive? I should be driving." Hazel speaks up, chewing on her lower lip. "We're gonna die." She muttered to herself.

"Y'all relax. I'm not that bad." Tuck assured them.

As the teens continued down the road, Bailey called Brody, but half way through the call it ended. Which only caused Tuck to drive faster.

"Will you slow down?" Brody held onto the dashboard and glared at his brother.

"Bailey didn't pick up her cell. She could be in trouble." Tuck replied in a worried tone. 

"Okay, but you should really let me drive instead. I don't want us to get pulled over." Hazel said worriedly. "And I don't want us to get in a wreck either." She added, glancing around nervously.

"Yeah, if you don't slow down you're gonna be in trouble too." Brody agreed.

"Chill, grandma." Tuck retorts and rolls his eyes. "We're the only vehicle on the road."

Hazel shot him a glare, her patience wearing thin. "If you don't pull over I'm going to hit you," She warns, her voice sharp with frustration. "Pull over."

"Ya can't hit the driver." Tuck retorted with a nervous chuckle, but Hazel's steely gaze remained unyielding.

 "You wanna test me?" She challenges, her eyebrows raised in defiance. "Pull over."

"We're fine," Tuck insists, his resolve faltering slightly under Hazel's unwavering gaze. "Like I said, no one else is on the road but us."

But then suddenly sirens behind them. "Not anymore." Hazel huffs and crosses her arms. "This is why you should've pulled over and let me drive." Hazel and Brody looked over at Tuck with a glare as Tuck reluctantly pulled over because of the cops. Hazel couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and anxiety as the police officer approached the vehicle. She knew they were in for it now and she just hoped they would be okay.