I leaned back and watched them with a smile. The town really had pulled through for my family. I thought about Rebecca, North Reed, and New York all over again. Damn it, this was hard.
They went for a walk outside after breakfast, and I went to take a shower. There was another call from Mia, and I threw the phone down on the bed. What the hell did she want?
I took my time in the shower, washing off and enjoying the feel of the hot water on a cold day. I had some time before I picked up Rebecca, in my rental this time since she insisted that the limo was way too much for her.
I agreed to that part, but I was still out to impress her this time. I just wish that my former life would stop trying to get in the way.
I got out of the shower and used some of the product that Rebecca had given me to make my hair look perfectly messy. I shaved off the hair that had taken up residence on my chin over the last four days, annoyed at my laziness here. I was always shaved and ready for meetings in New York, even though I did let my hair go towards the end there. Girls seemed to like it, and it was the trend anyway. The only girl I wanted pulling on it now was Rebecca, and she did an excellent job cutting it for me. I went to some high-end places in New York, but nobody had her touch, looking back at my first day here in North Reed. She’d done an amazing job, even w
ith the surprise of seeing me after all these years.
She hit me like a truck that day, still looking so beautiful. Now I was in love with her all over again, or maybe I never stopped feeling that way at all. It filled me with so much peace and fear as I finished shaving and looked in the mirror. Was I good enough for her? I’d messed up in New York in a few ways, one of which I was paying for now with the unwanted attention from Mia.
Mom and Dad were home when I walked back out in my favorite jeans and a button up shirt that brought out my eyes. Today’s date was more of a casual thing than Dallas, and I’d told Rebecca to dress for comfort as well. I wasn’t going to impress her with money, as I tried before. I was trying a completely different method today.
“Don’t you look nice today?” Mom said from the kitchen as she admired me. “What do you have planned for Rebecca, Austin?”
Dad chuckled. I’d already discussed the idea with him. “Our son is going to try and woo that girl the best that he can, Sally. Don’t you worry.”
“I’m not, as long as he keeps the both of them here in town,” she told me pointedly. I shrugged and looked at the clock before getting my jacket.
“We shall see, Mom.” I gave her a hug and a kiss before telling Dad to spoil her tonight. Sliding on my jacket, I walked to the rental car with the thought that Rebecca probably hated that as well. She’d be happy if I drove a pickup and lived here in a small house, but would I be content doing that? Life had been so different for me since the old days here.
I walked out to my car and went to pick her up. Rebecca was dressed in her favorite worn jeans and a pretty teal sweater when she opened the door and smiled at me. Damn, she was beautiful.
“Hey, you,” she said.
“Hi, gorgeous. Ready to go?”
She reached for her thick black jacket, and I helped her slide it on. I locked her door for her and led her by the hand to the car.
“What are we doing?” she asked as I opened the passenger door and gave her a long look. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
I chuckled as she slipped inside. Then I closed the door to walk around to the driver’s seat. I was going to shake things up a bit with my plans, and I hoped she’d be responsive to that. I drove her to the edge of town where a helicopter waited for us.
I felt Rebecca’s gaze on me. “Where are we going for dinner tonight?”
“Not dinner, my love. Today, I am going to show you Texas from a different point of view. Did you know that helicopters are one of the most popular ways to sightsee these days?”
I hopped out of the car and walked around to her side. Kyle was a friend of ours from high school, and while he lived in another part of Texas now, he agreed to do this for me. I waved to him as Rebecca got out of the car, a scared look on her face.
“Is that Kyle Turner?” she asked. I nodded, and he waved at us. “I haven’t seen him for years.”
“He does these tours now for one of his jobs. I hear it’s very safe.” I leaned down to kiss her lips gently, and she sighed.
“I don’t know,” she said as I pulled her toward the helicopter. “Are you sure about this? Have you been in one before?”
I had in New York, but I didn’t want to have to talk about how that was with Mia. I merely nodded, and she looked from Kyle to the helicopter a few times.
“Hi, Rebecca,” Kyle said warmly. “It’s been a while. How’s your family doing?”
“They’re great. I still see your mama at Grayson’s,” Rebecca replied politely. He laughed and nodded, telling her that his mom would never leave town. “So, how long have you been doing this?”
“I got my license right after graduation,” he said. “I take folks on tours in Texas and the surrounding states. There’s no view like the one from one of these. You’re not scared of heights, are you?” I knew for a fact that she wasn’t and grinned when Rebecca shook her head. “Let’s go then.”
Kyle took the front seat, and I helped her into the back, buckling her in as she looked at the mostly glass bottom of the massive bird. “I can see right through it.”
“It offers the best view, Rebecca,” Kyle said. “All you have to do it sit back and relax.”