Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

TREVOR

O ur feet pound the packed gravel road as we jog, drenched by sweat in the late September heat. Shadows cut across the road from the oak trees, slashing sunlight through the trees. Eli grunts beside me as he works hard to keep up.

“You’re doing better than you were,” I huff out.

Eli runs a hand over his sweaty forehead, pushing at the curls that have escaped from his sweatband. “You could go slower.”

I chuckle. “I’m already running at half pace, half pint.”

Eli tosses me an aggrieved look but doesn’t reply.

We finish up our run in silence, ending up back at his and Colby’s place. I quietly follow Eli up to the apartment over Colby’s garage. These two are ridiculous. I’ve moved into Beau’s house, basically living in his bedroom now too, but Colby and Eli are still trying to give the pretense of dating and living separately. My bet is that Eli will move into Colby’s house before the end of October.

Whiskey greets us, tail wagging enthusiastically, as we enter the apartment. Her silliness earns a laugh out of me.

“Seriously?” I ask as Eli tosses a bottle of water at my head.

Eli skewers me with a hard look. “She likes it here with me when Colby is working. What should I do? Leave her in the big house all by herself?”

“No. You should move into the big house so you can both be over there.”

Eli sucks on his teeth in thought. “It’s too soon.”

“My belongings are still in the guest room, but I sleep in Beau’s room every night.”

Shaking his head at me, Eli gives Whiskey a few pats. “You guys have been dancing around each other for over a year though. It’s different. Makes sense for you.”

“If that’s how you get yourself to sleep at night, honey.”

We toss our sweaty selves onto the small sofa in Eli’s apartment. Whiskey pants down at us, tongue hanging out of her mouth as she seeks our attention. I give her a few sweet pats on her head. Comfortable silence fills the room while we come down from our run, sipping at our ice-cold waters.

“Are you coming to the start of the fall festival this weekend?” Eli asks.

I press the cold bottle of water to my neck. “Yeah, probably. If Beau asks.”

“Colby’s working the event, so I’ll be there. Jackson and Benji were talking about trying to make the trip down. Asking if they can stay here.”

“Miss them,” I murmur. Whiskey tilts her head, so I give her a few gentle ear scratches. Must be a good spot because her leg starts to go, making Eli chuckle softly.

“Benji’s contracting with Nolan for like a year for that world tour. Anyway, he’s been kind of texting about it in the group chat. It’s all hush-hush, but you know how it is with Nolan.”

I rub a hand over my face. I remember exactly how it was with Nolan. “I’ve been bad about reading our group chat. Y’all need to do updates at the end of the day for everything I miss throughout the day.”

“Like a what you missed on Glee sort of thing?”

Such an Eli thing to suggest. “Yeah, like that.”

Eli salutes me with a playful smirk. “Ready for work, sir.”

We hang out for a while longer, but mostly just so I can give Whiskey more love.

She’s such a good girl. How much convincing will it take for Beau to let us get a dog?

The house is quiet when I walk through the back door. Just confirming the idea of us needing a dog. Us. Warmth blooms in my stomach just from thinking of me and Beau as an us.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I wait for the shower to heat up. Thinking it’s just the group chat, I pull it out, only to be accosted with the caller ID of the number for my mother’s federal prison. Suddenly, I am just so over it all. Anger so fierce, so consuming rolls through me, that with one single blink, the mirror is shattered before me.

My phone lies amongst glass in the porcelain sink of Beau’s bathroom.

Fuck.

My hands tremble violently as I stare down at the scattered pieces of broken mirror around the bathroom. Oh, God. Suddenly, air can’t get into my lungs. The bathroom is too small, the air too thick from the steam. I don’t know how long I stand there, just staring at my cracked reflection in the fogged bathroom mirror.

No more running away. I won’t run away. There’s nowhere that I can go where the sins of my parents won’t follow me. Where they won’t reach me. I’ve just got to learn to deal with this head-on. I’ve got to… I don’t know what I need to do but it’s not this. Hiding myself away under the crumbling weight of their crimes is no longer an option.

Beau finds me staring listlessly at the broken glass shards.

“What happened?” Beau asks, voice full of concern.

I take a trembling, small breath. “I got a call from the federal prison. I just…”

“Alright.” Beau gently grabs my forearm, tugging me until I’m out of the bathroom scattered with dangerous glass. “I’m going to clean this up, then we’re going to talk. Can you go sit on the porch?”

Nodding in agreement, I head out to the porch in a fuzzy daze. The cool night air washes over me, settling my rapidly beating heart. Running my hands through my still-sweaty hair, I turn in circles for a few moments, before settling my gaze on the patch of forest at the back of Beau’s property.

“Talk to me,” Beau says from where he stands at the open sliding glass door. “You wanna run?”

“No,” I tell him firmly. I don’t want to run. At all.

“What do you want, then?”

“I want to just… not care anymore. Not give a shit.”

“I think that sort of thing takes time. You’re the psychologist though.”

Such a simple statement, but he’s right. I cover my face with my hands and laugh because that’s all I know how to do.

“Maybe I just need to tell my parents I don’t want anything to do with them.”

Beau nods reassuringly. “You could do that.”

“It’s scary.”

“I bet,” Beau says, taking a few careful steps closer to me. “You need to break free of them if you want a future here. You can heal with me, be safe with me, like I know I’m always safe with you. But I need to know you’re doing the work here, sweetheart. You don’t want me to fix everything for you, and I won’t, but it hurts my heart to see you like this over a phone call.”

“I know,” I whisper brokenly.

“So, tell me what you want and I’ll support you. We’ll make it happen. Tell me what you need.” Beau takes my face in his hands, sweetly swiping his thumbs under my eyes to get rid of the tears that I didn’t even know had fallen. “I love you.”

“Sorry about the mirror,” I say in reply to his sweet love declaration.

He chuckles softly, eyes warm and intent on me. “I’m not worried about that mirror at all. When do you want to talk to them? Both at the same time, separately?”

“I think maybe I need to write them a letter. Everything with your mother… It showed me what real parents offer to their children. I think if I spell it out, maybe in some deep, hidden part of them, they’ll understand.”

One of Beau’s eyebrows arches. “Want to do it now? No better time than the present.”

I nod, unable to say the words. Beau disappears into his bedroom, returning with a legal pad and a fountain pen. “Here. Write it all out. Everything you feel, everything you want to say to give yourself peace. Then we can mail it together. How’s that sound?”

I lean up on my toes to kiss his stubbled cheek. “I love you.”

Beau’s cheeks turn ruddy, but he doesn’t reply. He just leaves me alone in the dining room to write the letter. I sit down and stare at the legal pad for a while. I’m not even sure where to start. But it’s something I have to do to get my life where I want it to be. To give myself the freedom to love, to heal, to just fucking live my own life instead of theirs. And maybe that’s all I need to say.

The pen scratches against the paper as I write my truth.

Dear Turner and Lyla,

Thank you for all the privileges you afforded me growing up. The private schools, the nice clothing, and the fancy cars. But I think I deserved more. I deserved to be loved and cherished, to be looked at as more than something you were checking off a list. I have been bearing the brunt of your crimes for the past few years, punishing myself for sins that aren’t my own.

I don’t think you truly understand or will ever understand how horrible your crimes were and remain. You stole livelihoods from people. I can’t spend my life trying to make up for your wrongdoings and it’s not fair to ask me to.

This letter is my goodbye. I will always love you, but your love isn’t healthy for me anymore. Your love causes me immense pain, because it’s transactional, not unconditional. I won’t be sending money to your prison accounts, and I won’t be visiting. Please don’t try to find me, don’t reach out to me. It’s my turn to live my life as selfishly as I want to. I’ve found love and a place to start over, that is my selfish wish that I’m going to hold on to forever.

Maybe one day we’ll find our way back to one another. Maybe then we can heal, but for now we need to part ways. Please respect my wishes.

Respectfully,

Levi

A tear escapes my eye, tracking heavily down my cheek. I rub the wetness away against my shoulder and sniffle to prevent the flood of tears that so badly want to come. I’m done crying over them. It feels like a closed loop, like maybe my life started the day I found Clay Springs. I will the tears away, just in time for Beau to quietly join me at the dining table.

“Feel better?” Beau asks, eyes searching mine.

“Loads.” I inhale deeply, then blow it out through my nose. “I wish I had done that years ago. Didn’t have the strength until you told me it was an option.”

“Sometimes we don’t know what we need until we’re safe.”

Isn’t that the truth? I throw my arms around Beau’s neck and kiss his sweet mouth. We kiss under the dying light of day filtering through the windows, until our lips are bruised, until I’m sure I’ll remember the weight of Beau’s lips when I close my eyes to go to sleep at night.

The feeling is so profound, so deep, that the urge to share it with Claire overwhelms me. She’s been quiet since I returned to Clay Springs, replying to messages, but mostly staying to herself. I worry about her so much.

“I’d like to tell Claire about the letter and have her meet you.”

Beau’s grin is wide and gorgeous, crinkling his eyes at the corner. “No time like the present.”

Biting my lip, I pull up her contact card and press FaceTime. Moments later, her sweet face fills the screen. I can already tell she’s in her office, despite the majority of us now being off the market. That’s the workaholic in her.

“Hi,” I say softly, carefully arranging the phone to keep Beau out of the screen.

“Long time no see.”

I roll my eyes. “I fell in love.”

Her smile is bittersweet. “I think it was time.”

“I’m cutting contact with my parents.”

Her eyes soften, her smile too. That’s my best friend. “I’m proud of you. Truly, Trevor. I know how hard that is, trust me, you know that I get it.”

I laugh softly, fighting back tears. Too much crying lately. “I know. I’m writing them a letter, telling them how I feel. And I’m staying in Clay Springs. Indefinitely. I know we talked about me not doing escort services anymore, but I’m also done with being a fake boyfriend.” I glance over at Beau and send him the sweetest smile I can muster. “I’m starting life over here. For me this time. I wish you’d come visit.”

Claire sighs. “Maybe soon. I have my own… baggage.”

My gaze falls on her again, taking in her messy hair, shadows under her eyes. I so wish she’d open up to me, lean on me the way she’s allowed me rare moments of vulnerability with her. “You can tell me anything. I’m here for you no matter what. Always.”

“I know, love. Now, can I meet your man?”

Always an expert at deflection. But I let her change the topic, knowing she’s just as uncomfortable being vulnerable as I am. A product of the way we were raised, for show, not for love. I press against Beau and pull the phone further away so we both fit into the screen. Beau smiles shyly and waves, a flush blooming across his cheeks. Unable to stop myself, I kiss his stubbled cheek.

Claire sighs happily, sounding like lovestruck Eli. “Very sweet and dreamy. You’ll take care of my best friend, Beau Callahan?”

“Always,” Beau swears, the word holding a deeper meaning than Claire will ever know. “You’re always welcome here too. Any friend of Trevor’s is a friend of mine.”

Her eyes sharpen, mouth twitching a little at the corners. “I’ll remember that.”

Beau squeezes my neck, then disappears into the bedroom, giving me and Claire a little bit of privacy. I bring the camera closer so my face takes up the entire screen.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Is Davis still there?”

Claire winces slightly, but I see her clearly. “He’s still here as my assistant.”

“Claire…”

She shakes her head. “I’m not ready yet. One day. I love you very much. Please send me pictures constantly. Maybe enough pictures will convince me to take a vacation to come visit you.”

“Alright. I love you.”

Claire kisses the phone screen. “I love you too.”

And then she’s gone. I sit silently for a few moments, thinking over the entire interaction. I want so badly to demand she come here, tell me everything that’s wrong, but that’s not the way to get her here. I have to wait her out. I only hope it’s not too long.

I find Beau in his bedroom, changing into comfortable clothes. I tilt my head at him curiously, and he chuckles at the sight of me. He strides over and kisses me firmly.

“I want to take you somewhere,” Beau says once we pull apart.

I run my fingers through his beard. “You’ve got work tomorrow. We can just stay here.”

“No. This is important. Come on.”

He gently manhandles me into the bathroom. I’ve never taken a quicker shower. Beau dresses in light clothing, long cargo pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and a ball cap. Curious. I lift an eyebrow in question, but he just hands a similar outfit to me.

“Don’t want to get bitten too much,” Beau explains.

Mosquitos. So, we’re going somewhere outside. I hurriedly dress in the clothes he gives me, then eagerly follow him out to the old truck. Angling my head awkwardly, I notice a bag in the bed, along with a few other supplies that I can’t make out in the dark. The door slams behind Beau as he climbs into the truck. His hand settles on my thigh as we reach the main road, heading who knows where.

Stars blink above us due to the absence of clouds in the night sky. The air is still warm, despite it almost being October, because Florida summer lasts until November. Gravel turns to dirt as Beau turns us onto a new road. His hand squeezes my thigh to reassure me that he’s got me, that I’m safe with him, but he doesn’t need to do that. Because I know. I’ve always known.

The truck rumbles to a stop by a river, but even from this distance I can tell it’s clear. Probably spring fed. Maybe we’re close to our spring. The trees are sparse where the truck is parked, so there’s a direct line to the gorgeous night sky.

Beau hops out of the truck, then comes around to open the door on my side. He stares at me for a few moments before tilting his head.

“Take your hair down for me?”

A warm flush spreads over me at his request. But I do as he asks. I take the tie out of my hair, letting it fall loose around my shoulders. Beau aims a pleased grin my way, before tugging me out of the car, towards the back of the truck.

Fondness swells inside me as I watch as Beau lays a pile of blankets out on the bed of the truck, then tosses a few pillows around for comfort. He aims a shy look at me over his shoulder. My sweet Beau. I hope he never makes my heart feel like it’s about to take flight. I can’t imagine that day. Hope I never live to see it if it ever comes.

“I thought we could stargaze for a bit, just hold one another. I want to slow dance with you first though. How’s that sound?”

He somehow always knows exactly what I need, what my soul needs.

I swallow around the lump of emotion in my throat. “That sounds perfect, Beau.”

He smiles awkwardly and tugs me into the safe cage of his arms. The air is humid, almost damp, but I don’t care. Because being in Beau’s arms makes everything else melt away. Until it’s just me and him under a cloudless sky. The whole world is just us. No matter where we are, the world can be narrowed down to just Beau and me. Such a wonderful thing.

“You’re so good to me,” I tell him as he sways me to only the sound of the water, cicadas, and wind rustling through the trees.

“Someone has to be. Figure it ought to be me.”

“Am I good to you too? I make you happy?”

Beau’s eyes practically sparkle. “Sweetheart, just knowin’ you chose me makes me the happiest man in the world. Love you more than anything else in this world.”

“More than the springs? More than the farm?”

It’s a stupid game to play, but I just feel like teasing him. But when he aims a perfect, warm smile at me, I melt even further into his strong arms. Being weak with Beau will always be perfectly safe.

“I’d give all that up for you in a heartbeat.”

I lay my head against his chest while we sway to a tuneless song. “I’d never ask you to though.”

“And that’s why you mean the world to me.”

We dance a little longer before climbing into the bed of the truck. Beau tugs me to lie against his chest as we stare up at the sky. The stars blink down at us, as our future unfolds, big and beautiful. My future is here in Clay Springs, with Beau, with a family I’ll build for myself.

September rolls by with nights spent by our river, events at the farm, and hangouts with Colby and Eli. Hard to believe I’ve only been in Clay Springs for a couple of weeks. Time moves so slowly here that sometimes I wonder if I really ever did have a life before. Like this is the place maybe I’ve always belonged. Childhood in New York City seems so distant now, almost as if it never really happened at all. In some odd way, my life began when I found Clay Springs, when I found Beau.

It took me a few days to work up the nerve to mail the letter, but I did, with Beau standing beside me at the post office as I dropped the letter into the receptacle. Such a huge step, but one that I’ll always be proud of myself for taking. Pride in myself is new, but I think it’s an emotion I could get used to over time.

At the end of September Beau comes home from a Saturday at the farm surprisingly upbeat. Dropping a distracted kiss on my head, he grabs a beer from the fridge, then tosses a brand-new smartphone on the table.

“Uh.”

“The phone has a private line and it’s on my account with the wireless company. But my cousin Trent ensured that no one will be able to get this number. He hasn’t lied to me yet.” Beau leans heavily against the kitchen counter in his work jeans and work shirt. Looking a perfect picture of everything I never knew I needed in a man. “The calls should stop now. If they keep callin’, tell me, I’ll stop it.”

“You can’t fight my battles for me,” I tell him softly, needing him to understand.

“That’s not what I’m doin’.” His southern accent comes out more when he’s tired, when he’s anxious, or when he’s being serious. Seems he’s got all three of those things going on now. “We’re partners. I’m tryin’ to make your life easier. Make your load a little lighter, sweetheart. A new line on my account isn’t a hardship if it keeps you smilin’ at me like that.”

And that’s apparently all he has to say on the topic because he squeezes my neck as he walks towards the bathroom for his after-work shower. For a while I just sit there, staring wordlessly at the phone. Putting up a fight seems fruitless. But I really don’t want to because it’s nice to be cared for by Beau. To be protected for the first time in my life.

The next twenty or so minutes are spent transferring everything on my old phone to the new one. Once it’s done, I turn the old one off, then promptly throw it into the trash. Good riddance. I have no need for it anymore. Beau comes out of the shower, hair still wet, wearing only gym shorts and a faded T-shirt with a hole at the collar. My heart skips a beat just at the sight of him, and it skips another when he smiles affectionately at me, eyes crinkled at the corners.

“I love you,” I tell him because I can. Because he’s mine. Because hell if I’m not in this to win it now.

“Love you too, sweetheart. Now let’s eat and then I kinda wanna eat you for dessert.”

And that’s the end of that conversation. Not that I’m mad about it.

The autumn festival starts on the bright final weekend of September. After everything with my parents, the festival is a perfect distraction. So are my two other best friends that are currently arguing like children in the back of Beau’s work truck.

“No, I’m telling you for the final time, Jackson, licorice is the worst candy on earth,” Benji practically snarls. His hair hangs loosely over the edge of the hairband he’s wearing around his head.

“No, it’s sour apple Jolly Ranchers,” Jackson argues. He winks at me in the mirror as Benji tries to pummel him, only stopped by the seat belt snapping him into place.

“Sour apple is a superior flavor.”

“It’s disgusting. Licorice is better than sour apple.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Stop arguing,” Elijah orders firmly, twisting the dial of the speakers up higher to drown us out. “We’re getting along this weekend.”

“Tell this nut job to stop having bad opinions on candy, then!” Benji shouts with a huff.

I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing at their antics. The farm comes into sight, making my heart swell just at the idea of seeing Beau soon. As if I didn’t just see him this morning. He’d kissed me awake, then fucked me slowly so that I had the gentlest orgasm of my life. Then he’d grinned, showered, and left me in the wrecked bed as if it was a daily habit.

Could be a daily habit. We can make it one. The farm is still pretty quiet considering it’s before opening. A worker waves me into the employee parking lot when they recognize the truck as Beau’s. We all hop out of the car to look around at the farm.

“I want to take pictures with the sunflowers,” Benji says dreamily. He’s the most spirited of all of us. I never know where Benji might be. If he’s not working a job for the agency, then he’s traveling the world. Part of me always wants to keep him close because he’s not much older than me, and I’m oddly protective of him. But another part of me knows Benji can always take care of himself despite his perpetually sunshiny attitude. There’s something nefarious about Benji White.

Then there’s Jackson. He’d kill for us if he needed to without a single question. Jackson tosses one of his trademark winks my way, then looks out over the sprawling farm.

“Show us around, then,” Jackson orders, crossing his big arms across his broad chest.

Benji hits Jackson’s chest. “Try to be a gentleman today.”

Jackson makes a what the fuck face. “I’m always a goddamn gentleman.”

Eli snorts. “Is it opposite day?”

“My mama raised a gentleman.”

“I’d like to have words with your mama,” Benji mutters under his breath. Jackson hears him though and smacks him upside the head. Which turns into play fighting in the dusty parking lot of the farm.

Which is of course how Colby finds us. He blinks rapidly as he watches his boyfriend try to stop Benji and Jackson from doing each other actual bodily harm.

“Everything alright?” Colby asks with a fearful look on his face.

“Colby!” Eli gives up on Benji and Jackson to run over to Colby. Eli lifts up on his toes to kiss Colby’s smiling cheek. The smile on Colby’s face just at the sight of Eli is unmatched. Joy for Eli fills me up because he deserves the devoted love of a good man. Just like I do too.

“Hi, baby.” Colby kisses Eli’s forehead. “It’s going to be a busy day here, but I thought I’d greet you before it gets crazy. Everyone want some coffee?”

A chorus of “hell yes, please” echoes around, earning a deep chuckle from Colby. We all plod along behind Colby and Eli. Every now and then Eli turns his face up to grin at Colby and it’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever witnessed. I wonder if that’s how I look at Beau. I bet it is.

The farm looks so different from the last few times I’ve been here. The pumpkin patch has triple the number of pumpkins as normal. Food trucks are lined up along the pathway leading from the parking lot. Overall, it’s definitely way busier than a weekday. Which sounds about right considering everything Beau has told me to expect.

The coffee cart Colby leads us to is right beside Joey’s food truck. Joey sticks his head out of the window to wave over at us with a cheery grin.

“I’d jump out and say hello, but it’s going to be a crazy day. Want some muffins?”

Jackson’s eyes go big. “What kind of muffins?”

“Pumpkin, blueberry, banana, chocolate banana…” Joey trails off as Jackson wanders over to the window. “Whatdya want, boss?”

“One of each.”

Joey blinks down at Jackson. “For each of you?”

Jackson blinks back. “No. For me.”

Joey is quiet for a beat, then helplessly shrugs his shoulders. “You got it.”

A few seconds later Joey appears with a brown bag. “This has two of each flavor so the other guys can have some too. Can you share, boss?”

“Give me that bag,” Benji says loudly, ripping the bag from Jackson’s hands. He blinks sweetly up at Joey. “Thank you.”

Joey just grins down at the two of them, like he’s dealing with children. “No problem. Back to work. See you later.”

Benji takes a muffin for himself, me, and Eli out of the bag, then hands the still full bag back to Jackson. A struggle ensues for a moment, but ultimately Jackson ends up with the bag, and a half-eaten pumpkin muffin before I can even blink. Jesus. They’re kids. But I love them so much.

“Coffee orders, everyone?” Colby asks, just shy of a yell.

We all proceed to order our coffee. As we wait, we all look around the farm. The place is filling up now that the festival is officially open. My eyes instinctively search for Beau, but he’s nowhere to be found. Colby chuckles beside me.

“He’s not out here. He’s in the sunflower fields making sure we have enough for all the ticketed people today. Worried we’ll get picked out.”

“Ah,” I say stupidly.

“He’ll come find you when he’s done.”

“He told you that?”

Colby shoots me a warm grin. “I just know my cousin. He’ll find you.”

Well, I can’t argue with that. Beau will find me, wherever I am. It’s a truth I know at the very core of me. Colby gives Eli a sweet kiss, a slap on the ass, then wanders off to help his family with the festival.

“How do I get one of these men?” Benji whines around a mouthful of muffin.

“You are always talking with your mouth full,” Jackson points out, his nose wrinkled in distaste.

“Fuck off.”

“Weak comeback.”

“I’ll show you a comeback.” Benji aims a kick at his leg, but Jackson easily sidesteps it.

“Oh! It’s Harper!” Eli says, sounding oddly relieved. Jackson and Benji can be so much together. We all love each other, but Jackson and Benji just rub each other the wrong way sometimes. Usually ending up arguing. I know for a fact one time they thought it was sexual tension, tried to fuck, and that did not go well. So, they’re just friends that argue over every little thing. We’ve all accepted it.

Harper greets us with a shy wave. His service dog blinks at his feet, a vest on to designate she’s working. She’s a gorgeous golden retriever, with big brown eyes focused only on Harper.

Jackson pushes past me to stand beside Harper. “Want a muffin? I have one left.”

Harper blinks up at Jackson, his eyes big and round. “I ate breakfast already. Thank you though.”

“Oh yeah, sure,” Jackson says, sounding awfully put out.

I cock my head as I take the two of them in. Harper’s about my height, but stick thin, no muscle on him. But his long auburn waves, bright green eyes, and smattering of freckles makes him seem sweet. From my interactions with him when I was a fake boyfriend, he’s anything but though. More like a sour patch kid than anything. That boy has a sharp tongue and want for trouble.

Harper looks away toward the crowd, but Jackson’s gaze stays firmly on Harper. I’ve never seen Jackson look at someone with so much longing before. His eyes trace Harper’s face, deep want written all over his own lovestruck face. Oh, sweet Jackson. Our gazes collide and Jackson just shrugs, then he makes a helpless gesture towards Harper with one hand.

“Hey, Harper, isn’t there a pie-eating contest? I bet Jackson could win it.”

Harper’s gaze pings back to Jackson. His eyes slide from the top of Jackson’s head all the way down to his feet, before lifting back up to meet Jackson’s hooded gaze.

“Yeah, maybe.”

Well, that was a bust. Harper looks away again and I grimace, making my own helpless gesture back to Jackson. I’m not going to be able to help with this one. That’s all on Jackson. A frustrated sigh escapes Jackson, but it goes unnoticed by an oblivious Harper.

“What’s going on?” Eli murmurs out of the side of his mouth.

“We’re witnessing a very bad mating dance. Jackson is like one of those birds that bring all the colorful fauna to the other bird only to be denied.”

Eli grimaces in sympathy. “Ouch. Harper seems totally disinterested.”

Seems like it, yeah, but I don’t believe it. I’ll have to play matchmaker later. We wander aimlessly around the festival for a while, sipping at our coffees. Half the time is spent taking photos of Benji around the farm for his social media accounts that have more followers than I could even imagine having. A shudder passes through me at even the idea.

And then my eyes land on Beau cutting through the crowd, eyes firmly set on me.

Even in a crowd of people the man can easily find me like he’s got a homing beacon on me. Like maybe his heart will always be able to easily find my own. Two souls intertwined. The idea is so lovely and nice that I can’t help but smile as he approaches. He grins back, eyes half hidden by the ball cap on his head.

“Happy to see me?” he asks softly.

“Always.”

He kisses me softly, smelling like sweat, the earth, and pure fucking sunshine. Looping arms around his neck, I kiss him again, just to lay claim to him. His hands land on my hips, tugging me closer, before he pulls away from me with a delighted chuckle.

“My mama isn’t far behind,” Beau whispers in a rush, warning in his voice.

“She can’t see us kiss?”

“Not the way I wanna kiss you, sweetheart.” Beau presses a kiss to my temple, and begrudgingly pulls away from me.

Cindy comes around the corner, all messy hair, rain boots, and intention. Her grin grows even wider at the sight of me. I still haven’t done that dinner with her, and this is a good reminder for us to do that.

“Look at all you boys. Harper, your mama is in the office looking for you.”

The words seem to be code, because Harper’s face pinches, and he wanders off with his dog in tow. Jackson stares longingly after him. I think maybe he won’t do anything, before he swears “oh hell” and runs after Harper.

“Aw,” Cindy whispers with a hand over her heart. “Another love match.”

Benji snorts and looks sheepishly away when Cindy glowers at him. “I have to get back to the office, but Beau told me you were here, and I wanted to say hey. Reminding you of that dinner. You owe me a couple of them, honey. Beau been treating you alright?”

“Beau’s perfect.”

Cindy grins at me and winks. “Don’t I know it. Y’all be good. Take a pumpkin on the house.”

And then she’s gone, like a twister touching down and taking back off. Benji and Eli skip off towards the pumpkins. I start to follow, but Beau’s grip on my wrist halts me.

“Come see the sunflowers with me?”

I grin up at him. “Of course.”

He leads me towards the sunflower fields with a heavy hand at the small of my back. Families are scattered around, laughing in joy as they pick sunflowers. But Beau leads me towards one of the plots not being picked. Noise disappears the further we go, until he cuts through a path to lead me into the field. I trust him though, because this man knows these fields like the back of his hands. Like he knows me.

His hand is firm on mine, thumb caressing the tender skin on top of my knuckles. Sun pours down on us, but the air is crisp considering summer is slowly giving up her grips. Beau comes to a stand amongst the sunflowers.

“I wanna tell you something.”

“Alright.”

Beau nervously licks his lips. He pushes his ball cap up on his head a little, so I can see his eyes better.

“I’ve got this crazy idea,” Beau confesses.

“I love crazy ideas.”

Beau chuckles but sends me a worried smile. “I think maybe we could build you an office one day, in the middle of a sunflower field. You can have clients here. See them inside, or out in nature. What do you think about that?”

The force of Beau almost knocks me over. This perfect man. I’m just barely thinking about the future, but he’s already got it halfway planned out. I could assume it’s our difference in age, but I really don’t think that’s it. I think it's just the difference between Beau and me. I worry about the now, and he worries about the then. Makes us kind of perfect for one another.

“I think that sounds perfect.”

Beau smiles shyly. “Yeah?”

“I think coming to work, surrounded by sunflowers to help people, only to return home to you… sounds like a dream come true.”

“You’ll always come home to me,” Beau says gruffly.

“Always,” I reassure him.

And then Beau tenderly tugs me into his arms, kissing me with all the urgency of a man that knows his future is held tightly in the cage of his arms. The kiss goes on and on, until I’m reassured of one single thing. Love is a gentle man that holds my battered heart safely in the palm of his hand. For keeps , I think, in the middle of the warm sunflower field. Beau’s elated smile widens against my lips, and I know without a doubt that I’m home.