26. Boone

Twenty Six

Boone

After Aspen called me this morning, I couldn’t focus on any task for the rest of the day. I was too focused on what she needed to talk to me about and what my mom would have said to her.

When I saw my mom this morning, we made direct eye contact. There was no hiding the fact I was coming from Aspen’s cabin so early in the morning. No words were exchanged between us, just nods and I swear I saw my mom smile.

Going back to the day of our conservation, I downplayed to my mom how I was feeling about Aspen, because I didn’t know how to navigate the situation. I hadn’t felt the spark to get involved in a serious relationship, but I think I’d finally found it with Aspen. There’s an underlying fear that I’ll fuck up the one chance I have at a great woman, and how does someone pull themselves out of that hole if it fails?

Speaking of, Aspen was sitting on the porch swing when I approached the cabins. The stand had closed already, and I avoided going to help clean up because I knew my mom would be there. Mom already knew I was spending my nights at the stand; I couldn’t show up and admit she was right. I felt guilty for not being there. Though, in my head, I was justified.

“Hi, Darling.” I kissed her head and plopped down on the swing. Removing my hat, I placed it on my bent knee.

On the outside, I had to remain cool and collected. Although I was a mess in my head.

Aspen didn’t have a book with her this time, just her glass of red wine. She took a sip and didn’t look in my direction.

Clearing her throat she said, “I think it’s time to be real with myself, and you.” My heart started racing, I had no idea where this was going. Two thoughts popped into my head, one contradicted the other.

“Okay,” I responded hesitantly.

“When I needed someone most, you swooped in and saved me, like some kind of knight in shining armor. Without you, I’d probably be cleaning toilets at the elementary school and living with my parents.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I like you, Boone. I look forward to spending time with you, bringing you a muffin, and sitting with you every night in this spot.” Aspen stopped speaking. I wasn’t sure if she was done or if she was trying to think of what to say next. I needed a minute to process what I needed to say next.

Staring off into the distance, Aspen spoke again. “I want to date you, for real . I want to go out in public with you and not be afraid of what the town thinks. I want to kiss you in The Tequila Cowboy and dance to a cover band. I want to put that hat on my head and claim you, so every woman knows whose bed you’re sleeping in at night.” She refused to look at me as she took another sip of her drink, chugging a little more than the last time.

“I think I’ve wanted you for a while now, probably since the night at the swimming hole. These feelings are new to me and I’m having trouble navigating what to do,” I confessed, my chest felt a pinch of relief letting go of the words I’ve been wanting to say.

“Me too,” she admitted. “I told myself before I moved in that I wasn’t going to let Boone Cassidy break my heart. I thought I was doing all the right things to protect myself from you and your stupid sexy appeal, but I failed.” This time she laughed and so did I.

“Let me prove to you that your heart will be safe with me.” I placed my hand on her thigh. “I want you to claim me, to hold my hand in public, and to dance with me to the shittiest cover bands.” Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I pulled her close into my chest. I cupped her jaw, angling her head so she was finally looking at me. I took a moment to stare into her beautiful blue eyes. Staring at all her features from the slope of her nose to the freckles on the apples of her cheeks. “Let’s try. Let’s take things slow and see what happens.”

Aspen slowly nodded, leaning up to place her forehead on mine. I kissed her, angling my head to the side. Our kisses were sweet and innocent. My hand fell from her jaw and down to her side, my cowboy hat falling from my knee. The hat was the least of my worries, I wanted to cherish the woman I had before me. I was lucky to have someone like her take a chance on being with a man like me. I explored her mouth with mine, and the taste of red wine melted against my tongue. Our lips fell in sync as I got familiar with the way she kissed.

“I want to take you on a date,” I mumbled in between each peck.

“Where could we go that’s better than this?” she said back, quickly placing kisses one after another.

“I’m not saying it’s better. I want to show you off.” I stopped kissing her and buried my face in the crook of her neck.

“Can we go inside first? We can make it quick,” she said, pulling my head away. I looked up as she was biting her lip, ready to tear me apart. I would never deny her that. Standing up from the swing, Aspen jumped up and I wrapped her legs around my waist to carry her inside. I was going to show her just how much I wanted her.

Aspen

Boone and I hopped into my Jeep and went to the Martin’s drive-in movie theater. It was my idea, because who doesn’t love a good movie from the comfort of your car? As a teenager, Penny, Theo, and I would come here at least once a week to watch a random movie on the big projector.

Cars were already jammed inside the space. The snack stand was handing out popcorn, soda, and a variety of different candies. Tonight The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy was showing, one of my favorite comedies. A movie and some alone time with Boone were exactly what I needed after the mentally exhausting day I had. The conversation with Jill had been weighing on me all day. I spent my shift thinking about what I would say and how I would express how I felt to Boone. I think I did a pretty good job. I liked him a lot and wanted to keep getting to know him. Taking us slow and steady was a perfect approach to the relationship. I wasn’t ready to jump straight into the deep end and neither was Boone. In reality, much wasn’t really changing except for how we both would approach the situation. We were taking a step outside the friend zone.

“I’m going to grab us some snacks, any requests?” I asked, leaning over the console to kiss Boone.

“Surprise me,” he responded against my lips.

Climbing out of the jeep, I jogged over to get in line at the snack stand. Standing by myself, I bounced from one foot to the other, taking in all the sights. It’d been a while since I came here, and it brought back a lot of good memories from my childhood and teenage years. Nothing had changed, everything looked just as old as it did years ago. The paint was chipping from the white wood where the stand stood, the old trash cans were a rust color from the weather, and even the grass was so packed down that there was no green left.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by someone calling my name from behind me. “Aspen? Is that you?” a sweet voice sang. Spinning around, I saw Marjorie approaching the line. Marjorie was one of the ladies my mom played dominos with once a week. My stomach dropped when the dread flooded in.

“Oh! Hi Mrs. Winchester!” I said back, trying to sound happy to see her. The lady had a big mouth and couldn’t keep a damn secret. The only thing bigger than her mouth was probably the fire engine red hair that sat on her head. You wanted the town’s gossip, she had it ready to serve on a silver platter.

She pulled me in for a hug, joining me in line. “Congratulations on all the success at the farm stand!” she praised me. “Those muffin jars are amazing. What a perfect idea!”

“Thank you!” I responded, fake smiling at her. “It was nice to see you!” I was trying to dismiss her and avoid having to answer any questions from the nosy woman.

Marjorie looked around, acting like she was trying to find someone. “Who are you here with, sweetie? I hope not by yourself.” She was searching for information to add to her gossip spank bank.

“Uh, no, I’m not alone.” It didn’t matter if I did lie and say I was alone because that would also be talk of the town.

Pathetic Aspen was at the drive-in theater by herself; she must be on drug s. I could see it now.

“A date then? Who’s the lucky man?” she asked, bumping her shoulder into mine.

“Um, uh,” I stuttered, trying to find the right answer. Do I lie and continue the cycle of protecting my parents from finding out the truth, or do I take this newfound confidence and stick up for what I wanted? If Boone and I were serious about seeing where this goes, lying wasn’t going to make anything easier. “I’m here with Boone Cassidy.” I felt the dread dissipate from my body. It felt damn good to say that out loud. I, Aspen, was here, on a date, with the wickedly handsome Boone, and I had nothing to be ashamed of!

“Oh!” Marjorie squealed, bringing her hand to her chest in surprise. “How shocking.” It was now my turn to order.

Before stepping up the counter, I said to Marjorie, “Have a good night, Mrs. Winchester,” to make clear it was the end of our conversation.

With snacks piled in my arms and a Dr. Pepper in my hands, I opened the car door. “I bought one of everything.” I laughed, handing Boone the drink before climbing inside.

“I can see that.” He laughed, grabbing candy boxes from my grip so I didn’t drop the popcorn. “We are covered for many movie nights.”

“Guess who I ran into in line,” I said, opening the bag of sour gummy worms because I needed to stuff my face with candy. Boone looked at me skeptically, obviously clueless. “Mrs. Winchester,” I said, washing the candy down with a handful of popcorn.

Boone huffed, “Oh shit. Did you tell her you were here with me?”

“Yup,” I responded confidently. “Your bachelor status will be nonexistent tomorrow, because it’ll be front-page news by the morning.”

Boone must’ve sensed something in me, worry, anticipation of the inevitable maybe? He took the candy I was inhaling from my grasp and put it down. “What’s going on up there?” he asked, pointing to my head.

Sighing I replied, “I didn’t want to lie. If we’re going to try the whole dating thing out, I have to be honest and ready for the repercussions. You’re probably sick and tired of hearing me bitch about my parents and how they make me feel. It’s been twenty-five years of the same pattern. I couldn’t break anxiety and dread overnight, but telling Mrs. Winchester is a step in the right direction of claiming my life as mine.” Boone was gentle when he grabbed my hand, giving me a soft smile.

“I know, Darling. Why don’t you go see your parents tomorrow and talk to them? I can come with you if you’d like?” Boone said, bringing the back of my hand to his mouth for a kiss.

“No, no,” I sighed. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to be a big girl and grow up.” I’d go see my parents tomorrow; it was time to quit being a bitch and own up. I appreciated Boone’s support, but doing this alone was what I needed. I knew it wasn’t going to go well, but I hoped I was wrong.