“Well,” she starts, “I was hoping that your father would take me to the beach, but he has another thing that he has to attend this weekend. So I’m going to go to the beach with a couple of the women from my bridge club.”
I look back at my mother. “I’m sorry, Mom, but I have a meeting to get to.”
She gets up, making sure her skirt is perfect and not wrinkled. “Of course, dear.” She smiles and then leans up to kiss my cheek. “Think about tonight for me.” I don’t bother telling her that it is never going to happen. The only thing I do is grab my keys and make my way over to pick up Savannah.
Chapter Fourteen
Savannah
I have changed my outfit no less than fifteen times. I switch out the jeans for shorts and then think that’s too much. Going back over and over again, I finally settle on black jeans and a pink crochet top that falls off the shoulder. I think about changing it when the front door opens, and I hear Beau.
“I’m here!” he shouts.
“I’m in the guest bedroom!” I shout back and then look at myself again. He fills the doorway a couple of minutes later, and I look at him. “Is this too much?”
He looks me up and down, giving me a chance to finally see that he’s wearing blue pants with a white button-down linen top, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing off his tanned arms and his watch. “You look beautiful.” He smiles, and my stomach flutters. I wonder if there will ever be a day when he doesn’t make me feel like a love-sick teenager waiting for my crush to finally see me.
I look down at my outfit again. “Not too much skin?” I point at the shoulder that is showing.
“No.” He shakes his head. “Stop overthinking it.”
“Easy for you to say.” I shake out my hands, walking over to put on my wedges. “This is.” I look at him, there was a time when the Barnes’ family hated me, heck, there are probably a couple of them who still do. I sit on my bed, trying to still my heart. The whole day has made me a nervous wreck. “I broke five glasses today.”
I look at him, and he comes to sit next to me. “If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to.”
I shake my head. “Casey is one of your best friends. I wouldn’t do that to you.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and brings me closer to him, which just makes my heart speed up. The smell of his musk makes me want to just put my head down on his shoulder. “I mean, unless you’ll go without me.”
“Nope,” he says, his thumb rubbing my arm. “Besides, what am I going to tell Ethan when he asks where you are?”
“That I’m at home watching Netflix.” I smile when he glares. “Fine.” I get up now. “Let’s go before I change my mind.” I hold out my hand, and he takes it, getting up.
He holds my hand as we walk out of the house. After locking the door behind him, he opens the truck door for me and smiles, grabbing my face. “Relax.” I sink into his touch. “If at any time you feel that you don’t want to be there, all you have to do is tell me, and we’ll leave.”
“Okay,” I whisper. He leans his head in, and I think he’s going to kiss me on my lips. I don’t move for fear he might back away, and when he comes closer, I hold my breath. I wait for it, but instead of kissing me on the lips, he kisses me right beside my lips. Then he steps away from the door and closes it. I watch him walk around the truck and then get in.
“Shit,” I say out loud. He looks over at me while he starts the truck. “I don’t have anything to bring.”
“It’s a barbecue,” he tells me. “You think Charlotte hasn’t been cooking up a storm all day.”
“I guess you’re right.” I shrug, and he pulls away from his house and I look out, trying not to have a panic attack. The drive goes a lot faster than I thought it would. I thought it wouldbe longer, or at least I hoped it would. We pull into the driveway, and I notice more cars than our usual get-togethers. There are about twenty trucks parked all different ways. We park right behind Jacob’s sheriff truck.
“How many people did he invite?” Beau says, turning and grabbing the door handle. He opens the door, and I follow him out. The sound of country music fills the air along with the sound of people talking.
Beau waits for me, grabbing my hand. “Don’t be nervous,” he says, and with my hand in his, we walk around the house toward the backyard. There are a couple of people who I recognize from the bar who also work for Casey.