American Honey

I swallow a gulp as I get ready to speak. This moment has me so nervous. The palms of my hands are sweating inside my pockets and my heart is racing. “Don’t be mad at Sienna, but she gave me your address. I had to see you. I spent the last year feeling sorry for myself and how things went down.”

Her eyes widen like she can’t believe I’m here. Hell, I can’t believe I’m really here. “You drove all the way here?” She asks with her brow scrunched.

“I did. I only stopped once, I had to get here as soon as possible.”

“Why?” she asks.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I pull my hands from my pockets and run them through my hair. “Because, I love you Shay. I love you so damn much and I needed you to see that this is real. That wasn’t just some dirt road summer love, this is the real deal for me. You are it, Shay. You are everything I want and need, and if that means I move up here for you, then dammit, I will.”

The tears that form in her eyes make me want to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight but I don’t want to overstep any boundaries. Shay takes a deep breath and begins nervously rubbing her hands together. “Beau, this scares the shit out of me. I’ve never loved anyone in my life. I met you and you turned all that around. I thought it was easier to shut you out and leave because of the distance, but I do love you.”

Hearing her say those words ignites my soul. Those are the three words I’ve been longing to hear from her beautiful lips. I pull her hand into mine and remember just how electrifying her touch is. I remember how perfectly it fits in mine. Only mine.

“I want to make you happy, Shay. I want to be the reason you smile every day. I want to be everything you want and need, will you let me be that for you? This past year has been fucking miserable. I can’t do it without you.”

“I can’t ask you to move up here Beau, that’s selfish. You have a life down there.” She attempts to argue.

My head cocks to the side and I grin. If only she already knew…but she doesn’t. “Shay, you aren’t asking me to. I told you I will because I want to. I’ll get an apartment and start my own damn business here. If it means I’m with you, I’ll move every damn star in the sky.”

The tears that formed in her eyes earlier begin to cascade down her porcelain cheeks. I can’t fight it anymore, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. I hold onto her tightly as I tell her, “Shh, Shay, don’t cry. I’m here and I’m never leaving you again. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did that night, but I didn’t know what else to do. I never thought I would end up falling for you like I did, but it just happened.”

“Trust me, I know all about that.” she sniffles “I thought I could just go down there and have fun, and then you came along with your amazing self. Who the hell would have thought I was going to fall in love with busty Beau?” she attempts to joke before turning serious. “But Beau, I have to tell you something…”

I can’t hear another word. I have to taste her soft kiss. It’s been a year since those lips have been on mine and my body is craving that sweetness. My lips crash against hers and my insides explode into a fit of anticipation as our tongues collide. Her kiss is like honey. It’s so damn sweet and I can’t get enough. Her arms wrap around my neck as the kiss deepens and I can’t help the growl that escapes my throat. Shay breaks the kiss leaving me completely and utterly breathless. We’re both standing there trying to regain our composure.

“Beau, this is unexpected. I really need to tell you something.” She says still trying to regain her control.

“I know it is Shay, I’m sorry.” I say as I kiss the tip of her nose. “I just want you. I’ll be here until the day you tell me to leave. Just please, don’t leave me again.”

“Beau, listen please.” She says through a shaky voice. With the kiss we just shared, how can she be so on edge? It’s almost like she’s treating me like a complete stranger and I’m not sure how to take this.

A voice breaks through before she can say another word and it startles me. It’s the voice of another guy. “Shay?”

I turn to see a guy standing behind me. My heart begins the slow downfall from this insane rollercoaster. My heart isn’t strapped in and it’s plummeting at a dangerous rate.

“Shay,” he says again. “Is everything ok? Who is this?”

My heart just hit the damn pavement and I look between a very uncomfortable Shay and whoever this guy is. The guy continues to look me up and down. Shay is speechless so I take matters into my own hands.

“I’m Beau. I’m a friend of Shay’s from Louisiana.” I extend my hand to whoever this is in a friendly manner.

He gives me a strange look before raising his eyebrow, “Do you kiss all your friends like that?”

“Wyatt, it’s not what you think.” Shay tells him. My eyes meet her in a strange look as I nervously run my hands through my hair. Her feet shuffle nervously and her hands become just as restless.

“I hope it’s not what I think.” He says. “If it is then I’ll be going.”

“No. I’m ready. Beau was just stopping by to say hi, right?” she looks over to me. As if my heart hadn’t just hit the damn ground, Shay is now stomping on it in an unforgiving manner. Who does Wyatt think he is and why is he with my Shay?

“Uh, yeah. I’ll let you two get going.” I step forward pulling her in for a hug. As I hold her body close, I breathe in every ounce of her sweetness. I moved all the way here to be with her without telling her and some douche has moved in on my territory. I can’t let this happen. Before I break the hug, I softly whisper into her ear, “I moved here for you Shay. I let you go once. That damn summer changed my life. I need you and I love you. I won’t stop until you’re mine. We belong together and you know that.”

I break the hug and give Wyatt a polite grin before walking to my truck. As I drive away, I shake my head. This sure as hell isn’t how I imagined this would go. We were supposed to see each other and everything was supposed to be scripted perfectly. She’s supposed to be my happily ever after. I’m defeated but not for long. Shay belongs with me, my heart knows it. My damn heart led me miles away from home just to be with her. She’s the only one it beats for and I meant every damn word I told her. I won’t stop until she’s mine.