American Honey

After pressing accept, I hold the phone to my ear. “Hello.”

I push back from the table and slowly make my way down to the pond.

“I just landed. I’m still on the plane. There’s another plane at the gate we’re supposed to pull up to so we’re just sitting on the runway until it moves.”

“How was your flight?”

“Good until now,” she grumbles.

“Are your parents picking you up from the airport?”

“My mom is. Oh, we’re moving.”

“That’s good.” I hesitate, knowing now is not the time but my curiosity gets the better of me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?”

Her gasp is clear through the phone. “How did you—”

“Bess told me,” I cut her off.

“It’s a long story.”

“One you trusted Bess with but not me.”

“It’s not something I like to talk about.”

A firefly lights up not far from where I stand, painfully reminding me of the night we laughed and chased them behind her house.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Beau—” she starts.

“I hope you have a nice visit with your parents, Bethany. I should go now.”

“I see.”

“Goodbye.”

I end the call after I

hear her subdued voice in return.

“Bye,” she whispers.

Chapter Seven

“You want me to what?”

“You heard me,” I groan.

“Why can’t you pick her up? She’s expecting you.”

Bethany and I haven’t spoken since the call where I asked her about her engagement. She’d called a couple times but I ignored them. I wasn’t prepared to deal with what she had to say.

“I just can’t.”

Bess stands, wiping her hands on her apron. “This behavior is not the Beau I know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I stand firm.