“I think I’ll probably survive either way.”
“Want to have your first Southern experience?” Beau asks suddenly, changing the subject.
I look scandalized; is he propositioning me? “Your parents are coming back any second.”
Beau rolls his eyes. “Not that. Later though, if you want. My room is on the opposite side of the house of theirs.”
Kinky Southern gentleman.
“Come on.” He grabs our drinks and herds me out of the front door. He motions for me to sit on one of the rockers next to a plastic Frosty the Snowman and then hands me the glass when I sit down.
I take a sip while he sits down next to me. “Oh. This sugar water you gave me is delicious.” I take another large sip, possibly developing diabetes in the process. Worth it.
“It’s sweet tea.”
I guess that’s why the sugar water is brown. “Emphasis on the sweet.” More sips. “What’s the Southern experience?” I eye Beau’s still full glass. I’ve got designs on it if he doesn’t get to drinking.
Beau extends his hands to the dark open space in front of him, settling deeper into the chair that he rocks back and forth. “This is it. Sitting on the porch on a rocking chair with sweet tea, watching the night.”
I give myself some rocks in the chair. Well, this part is pleasant. “But what is there to look at?”
“Nature.”
“It’s dark,” I whisper.
“It’s peaceful.”
“There’s nothing to actually look at. Maybe if there was a TV here? Or we could move these drinks and chairs inside, by the TV.” Inside is always better than outside.
Deep sigh from the owner of the full glass next to me. “Just give it a try. For me.”
“Okay.” It won’t make me like doing this, but at least the beverage selection is top-notch. I down mine and take his cup from him.
He lets me, but not without comment. “Are you sure you can handle this much sweet tea on your first go?” He warns me like I’m a teenager experiencing alcohol for the first time.
“I think I can handle some sugar,” I say with authority even though I know it’s a lie. I’m going to be up for hours after all this sugar.
Beau reaches out and grabs the hand not drinking my new favorite drink and we rock in silence. Bubba comes out and rests his giant head in my lap. That’s nice, too. Even if he is eyeing the drink in my hand and licking his giant chops. And drooling on my pants legs. But he’s so cute doing it I can’t get that mad.
My mind wanders from getting murdered in the sticks, to how Priya’s doing, to if I’m missing any work drama, to if I remembered to water my plants before I left, to if I remembered to record Hallmark Christmas movies before I left, then lands on making sure I got everyone’s presents ready.
Then I get bored.
I resort to examining the ends of my hair to see if I need a haircut. Yes, I could use one.
I sneak peeks at Beau, but he looks so peaceful doing nothing. I don’t disturb him with any chatter, since he had such a good attitude when I dragged him to New York Christmas events. Instead I start thinking about all the things I need to do at work. And continue petting the dog.
My right foot starts jiggling and Beau puts his hand on top of it to calm it down.
I sigh. It’s exhausting doing nothing. How do people do this? And why did I leave my phone in the house? I miss it so much. It’s so shiny and always there for me and holds all the entertainment in the world. And sassy tweets.
His parents save me (and no one is more surprised than me that I’m happy to see them) by driving up to the house and parking in the driveway.
Eve gets out of the passenger seat, waving a bag of food at us on the porch. “Get ready for this magic.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Back in the dining room, Reed sets a black takeout box in front of me. I take a big breath in, the warm box smelling like fried wonderfulness. Wonderfulness that I want in my belly, after a long day of traveling.
