Beau: There hasn’t been a single moment since that summer that I haven’t thought about you. I know I’ve been distant, but I just wanted to see how you were doing.
His message evokes all of those memories inside and I want to answer, but I’m not sure what to say. What do you say to something like that? Sorry for falling in love with you but not being able to admit it? Sorry for leaving you hanging without a single goodbye? I don’t think anything I could ever tell him would be able to justify any of that. I decide not to answer and try to find more busy work to do. It wouldn’t be fair to Wyatt for me to answer it.
Thirty minutes pass and I have the bathroom practically squeaky clean. I could eat off the toilet seat, not that I want to. That’s just how clean it is. I hear the door open and Dad calls my name. “Hey Shayleigh, I’m home.”
“Hey Dad, I’m just finishing up some cleaning.” I place the cleaning spray underneath the bathroom sink and stand up to admire my work.
Dad comes into meet me and stares at my latest conquest. He shakes his head laughing before stopping and patting the pockets in his pants. “I think I left my phone in the car, do you mind going to get it for me? I have a client that’s supposed to call me back. I can’t believe I took it out of my pocket.”
I look at him a little funny. It’s not like him to ask me something completely off the wall like this when he could just go get it himself. I’m a little baffled. “Uh, yeah I can do that. Let me wash my hands. How was work?”
“Oh, same as every other day. I’d ask how your day was, but I can clearly see. The house looks good, Shayleigh.”
“Thanks Dad. I’m just killing time before the semester starts. You know it’ll be tough on me when I’m back into the swing of things.” I tell him as I dry my hands on my shorts.
He pats me on the shoulder and smiles. “I know, but I’m so proud of you.”
I smile back as I remember he asked me to get his phone. “I’ll be right back with your phone Dad.” I tell him as I turn to walk into the kitchen.
I’m humming one of my favorite Justin Moore songs. Funny how this was the song Beau and I danced to a year ago, I wish I could just learn to let that go. I’m still humming along really getting into it as I open the front door. My heart stops and I have to blink, there is no way I’m seeing this right now. I think I’ve officially lost my mind or I’ve been inhaling too many cleaning products. No way in hell is Beau Granger standing in front of me.
Chapter 15
One Year Later
Beau
Two months ago, I moved abruptly from my comfort zone in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Springfield, Missouri. Why would I make such a sudden move? I did it for her. I let her walk out of my life without fighting like I should have. My gut twists now just thinking of how easily I let her slip through my hands. When she wouldn’t answer my phone calls or texts, I knew something had to be done. Life as I knew it would never be the same again. She wrecked me and I’d let her do it again if it meant I could hold her in my arms one more time. That is why I’m in here now.
Shay’s best friend, Sienna, helped immensely with this whole move. She gave me Shay’s address and I admit, I felt like a creeper the first time I drove past her house. Knowing she was merely a few feet from me made my heart pound relentlessly against my chest. I have to see her, but not yet.
Sienna’s last phone call was a few days ago and I decide it’s time. I can’t live my life in the shadows, lurking around and watching her every move. I need to see her and see if she still feels what she said she did for me last year. Just seeing her from a distance awakens all those feelings and without a shadow of a doubt, I know I still feel all those things.
I park my truck in front of her driveway and let out the breath I’ve been holding. It’s now or never. My feet touch the ground and begin moving forward all on their own. I know what I want and I’m here to get it.
“Can I help you, son?” My eyes look over to see an older man approaching me. There’s no doubt this is Shay’s dad. They are spitting images of each other.
“Yes sir, my name is Beau Granger.” I say extending my hand to him. He takes my hand in giving it a firm shake. His lips curl up into a smile as he tells me it’s nice to meet me. “I’m a friend of Shay’s from Louisiana and I was wondering if she was home.”
He looks me up and down. He looks at me the way you would expect a father to look at the guy interested in his daughter. “She’s here. Would you like to come inside?” he offers.
Panic hits me for a second. She has no clue I’m even here, so I don’t want to startle her by just walking into her house. Standing outside doesn’t make it any better, but this feels safer. “No sir, she isn’t expecting me and I don’t want to barge in. I’ll wait out here if that’s ok with you.”
“Sure, Beau, you said?”
“Yes sir.”
“I’ll send her out here. It was nice to meet you.” He tells me.
“Nice to meet you too sir.”
My hands find my pockets and I begin to rock back and forth on the balls of my feet. It took a lot of guts to finally get me here and I only hope this was a good decision. Will her eyes light up when she sees me? Will she be surprised?
The sound of the doorknob turning churns my stomach. The churning is almost more than I can bare, this is it. It’s now or never. She looks more beautiful than she did a year ago. She still has the power to take my breath away. Her eyes lock with mine and they widen. She’s shocked and I’m hoping it’s in a good way.
After moments of silence and me still rocking on the balls of my feet, she finally breaks the silence. “Beau, um, hey. What are you doing here? How did you find me?”