American Honey

“Want something to drink?”

“Uh yeah, sure. Thanks.”

He grabs my hand and my heart begins beating wildly in my chest. Holy shit, this is intense. Beau leads me to an outdoor refrigerator and opens it for me. There’s everything from beer, to whiskey, to wine in there. “Take your pick, you can have whatever you want.”

I stare at the selection before grabbing a Michelob Ultra. I open the bottle and tilt it slightly back. The first sip is cooling and everything I need it to be. Beau watches me with those sparkling eyes and I feel my face flush. By the time I have the first beer downed, a group of people are setting up a table with cups of beer. Out of curiosity, I walk over to them to see what’s going on.

“Hey doll, you want in?” some guy asks me.

“What is it?” I ask still trying to figure it out.

“Beer pong. It’s easy. You just throw the ball and try to make it into the cups. We’re going to play teams.”

Beau looks at me and starts laughing. “Is something funny?” I ask him.

“No, not at all. I was getting ready to play actually. Want to be my partner?”

“Hell no,” Sienna yells. “She’s my partner. Find your own Beau Granger.” She winks at me and links her arm in mine. What the hell are we getting ourselves into?

“I see how it is Sienna. Hope you’re ready to have me and Rob demolish you ladies.” Beau leans against the table with a smirk on his face.

I stick my tongue out at him and get a little braver. “It’s on Casanova. I’m ready, when do we start this shit.” The crowd around us starts laughing and cheering.

Sienna looks at me and busts out laughing. Funny thing is, I’ve only had one beer, so yet again, I have no excuse. The guys decide to be nice and let us go first. Sienna has the first shot and misses by a mile. Rob blows her a kiss and tells her it’s okay. I grab my ball and stare at the cups before locking eyes with Beau.

“Don’t choke Shay.” Beau tells me. He raises his arms above his head stretching, revealing those amazing muscles of his. I won’t let him throw me off.

I smirk back at him and bring my concentration back to the cups. The ball flies gracefully from my hands and as it cuts through the air, I hold my breath. In one swift swoosh, it lands in one of the cups and I jump up and down.

“I made it!” Sienna high-fives me and looks at Beau.

“Drink up sucker! Ya’ll are going down!” she taunts them.

Beau goes first for their team and once again he gives me a look that should intimidate me. “I’ll get you back for that one Shay.”

Sarcastically, I purse my lips at him as he makes his throw. With ease, it lands in the cup and he points at me smiling. I take the ball out of the cup and drink the beer like a champ. I will not go down like a punk.

The game continues and eventually the boys are crowned the winners. We have to drink their cups plus ours. We drink them then I do something I didn’t think I wanted to do. “I demand a rematch.”

“No way Shay, it’s someone else’s turn.” Beau laughs.

“So, they can wait. I want a rematch.” I cross my arms over my chest and stand my ground.

“What do ya’ll say? Can she get her rematch?” he asks everyone when he realizes that I refuse to back down. They all agree with me and the next game starts.

Halfway into the game. I’m batting my eyelashes more than I should be at Beau, but dammit, I can’t help it. It doesn’t help that besides the beer, Sienna gave me a few jello shots. We are winning by a few cups. Maybe I’m making the balls in now that I’ve loosened up some. This is pretty damn fun.

I’m shit talking Beau and loving every minute of it, when Rob suddenly speaks up. I still haven’t been formally introduced to him yet but that’s still ok with me.

“Wait, what is your name again?” I look around trying to see who he is talking to. After I’ve combed the crowd, I realize he’s staring at me.

“Oh, me? I’m Shayleigh.” I answer with a grin.

Sienna just laughs as she tosses her ball and misses again. Rob continues to study me a little longer before responding, “Shayleigh, hmmm I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

As much as I’ve had to drink I wish I could not laugh right now, but I can’t help it. Rob seems to recognize me and shit, this can’t be good. “You think so?” I ask.

“Yeah, didn’t you live here and then move away?”