Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I stared at Beau’s grandparents house. It was eerily quiet. The only lights on were on the first floor. If they had guests staying in the B&B, it was hard to tell. An inkling of guilt always hit me when I had time to just stare at the houses in the neighborhood. I unwittingly played a part in the downfall of this community. It went against everything I believed in, but I didn’t have a say in any of it.
The front door opened at the same time my cell phone rang. I reached for the phone while watching Chae walk down the front porch steps. What I assumed was Beau’s grandmother followed her down. I saw where his mom, and then Beau, got their looks. She was tall, thin, and didn’t look her age.
I wasn’t sure what to do. Rationally, I understood, if I could see them, they had to be able to see me. Beau’s worrisome feelings had me ducking my head to keep unwanted eyes off me. “Are you there?”
Phone call. Joy. Right. “I am,” I said quietly as if someone might hear me.
“Dasham, where’s my car?” Her tone held zero warmth and was full of accusation as if I was nothing more than a common criminal.
And did she really not know the answer to her question? Then how did I respond? Surely not with the truth, especially if she was with our family.
“Can you just cover for me? I’ve got a week until my birthday then I can drive my own car.” Seemed reasonable. Definitely the truth. If I wasn’t in such an awkward position, I’d pat myself on the back.
“I need my car to go see Donny,” she hissed angrily.
“Then take your brother’s car, or your dad’s. They won’t notice.”
“If I get caught, you’re going down with me.”
“That’s fine,” I said and lifted my head enough to see Chae looking in the direction of my car. Beau’s grandmother turned, following Chae’s interest.
Oh hell, please don’t let them start toward my me. Please.
“I’m done, Dasham. This is the last time. Take someone else’s car from here on out.” Oh yeah, right. I’d never do that. She was the rebel, not me.
“All right,” I said, knowing I lied. At the same moment, Chae started toward my car. Beau’s grandmother waved goodbye before heading back up her steps, inside the house.
“You’re speaking so weird, like in code, or worse, like you belong here. Pretty soon you’re gonna start saying, ‘ain’t’ and ‘y’all’ and ‘fixin’’.”
We were done. I ended the call. As funny as a strong southern accent was, Beau spoke that way. I found it charming and delightful.
As Chae came closer, I lifted in my seat. We stared at one another. Something akin to speculation locked on her face. Hmm. Her purposeful stride never stopped until she reached my car. Out of habit, I lifted a finger to disable the overhead lights then unlocked the doors—because who sat in the wilderness with their doors unlocked?
She dropped down in the seat as if I’d invited her.
“You need to know that the neighborhood’s noticin’ you here every night. They’re startin’ to figure out that it’s you, Dasham Richmond. They’re questionin’ what’s goin’ on. What’s your angle? They’re so consumed with stoppin’ the expansion that they haven’t figured out you’re here only for Beau. Which is weird, because everyone outside of this neighborhood is questionin’ how tight you two are.”
I weighed her words, letting them filter through my mind. “How do you feel about Beau and I spending time together?”
“Y’all are safe with me. I figured it out the night of the party—you had to know I did,” Chae said and turned in the seat to face me. I started to ask why, but she lifted a hand to stop me. She had more to say. “You had three of the prettiest girls from our high school surroundin’ you, and you weren’t interested at all.”
The protective juices I had for Beau reared forward. I instantly built a claim to rebuke her notice. Her hand extended again, this time closer to my face.
“Let me finish. Beau’s the same way as you. In all these years, he’s never paired off with anyone. Not even a childhood girlfriend. I think he can hide pretty well because all anyone thinks about him is his athleticism. What I see is a scared guy. His dad’s an ass, but that’s not it. He’s always been that way. When Beau was a kid, we all hung out all the time. We’d leave first thing in the morning and not be back before nightfall. His dad rarely came here with them. When he left the party with you, I knew for sure.”
Her explanation was like a blow to my psyche. I’d tried hard to come off as a buddy to Beau. Something close to an instant camaraderie and rapport with him. But she was right, we were together every free minute we had. I quickly processed my thoughts, and my only worry was with Beau. Would he pull away to keep his pretense in place?