Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
CALEB
Ishouldn’t be staring at her, but I couldn’t help it.
In the glow of the moonlight and fireflies flying around she looked like an ethereal goddess tending to her garden.
Even in the dark, her beautiful brown skin seemed lit from within by the sun.
I ached to cup her bare shoulders in my hands and hold her close.
While Pop and my brothers hugged her when she came around like she was a beloved daughter or sister, I always restrained myself.
Knowing if I embraced her, I’d give myself away by doing something foolish like linger too long or smell her hair to determine the fragrance of her shampoo.
Tonight, I seemed to be losing the battle to stay away from her.
Before I could stop myself, I walked across the lawn and stopped in front of her.
The tiny pearls of sweat that clung to her collarbone made my fingers itch to swipe them away.
Our gazes held for a moment, before I reached out and captured a few of the fireflies near her head, cupping them in my palms. When I brought my clasped hands down between us, her attention fell to my hands as I opened them.
Georgia stared in awe. “How can such a tiny thing burn so bright?” Wonder shone in her words.
“Indeed. I often wonder that myself.” I said while watching her bowed head.
She was too enamored with the lightning bugs to hear my longing. She was the brightest thing in my world. I wanted her to look up so I could see her radiant smile and kind eyes.
All I could think of in that moment was wanting to have more of these small moments with her, make her smile for the rest of our lives.
Getting that flat tire made me want to put my fist through a wall. I hated missing her big moment. My love starved heart craved every second it could spend in her presence.
“I’m sorry…” My voice was so husky, it sounded foreign to my ears. I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry I missed your big speech.”
Her eyes flew up to meet mine. Her brows knitted together in confusion, before her face relaxed into a reassuring smile.
“It’s okay. You had a flat… it couldn’t be helped.” She averted her gaze as the words tumbled from her mouth.
The fireflies chose that moment to make their escape. We watched them fly away to rejoin the swarm that had migrated to the other side of the yard.
I dropped my hands to my sides. I didn’t want our conversation to stop. Usually, we were surrounded by our families. I almost never got to be alone with her.
“What are your plans?”
One of her brows arched in puzzlement.
“Now that high school is over… what do you plan to do?”
Her elegant fingers played with the rim of the garbage bag, as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Oh um… Emory. I’ll be attending Emory in the fall for physical therapy.”
Atlanta? She’d be all the way in Atlanta. Did she plan to stay there when she finished college?
I was only hours away at UKY and planned to come back to Maysboro to help my father run the distillery when I was finished.
I rubbed the center of my chest, trying to take away the ache in my heart.
It took me a second to realize I hadn’t said anything after she shared her plans.
“That’s good. That’s real good. You’ll do well there.” I wanted to be happy for her, wherever her plans led her.
Unsure of what to say next, I balled up my fists in frustration. It felt like I’d said too much and not enough.
“I should get you home.” I said quietly, regretting the words, the minute they fell from my mouth.
Georgia nodded and turned away from me.
For a moment, I couldn’t move. Some of the tension making my shoulders bunch up near my ears eased. Was it all in my head or had I seen a flash of disappoint in those beautiful brown eyes?
No. It couldn’t be.
I shook my head like the movement would dislodge the preposterous idea and tried to persuade myself I was seeing things or imagining things. It wasn’t very well lit out here.
She’d resumed the clean-up she’d been doing before I interrupted her.
“You know Pop always has someone come clean up after these parties. They’ll be here tomorrow.” I didn’t say it to sound like a snob, like I was too good to pick up garbage. I didn’t want to see her picking up trash like she was the hired help.
She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s fine. I don’t mind tidying up a little.”
We always told her she didn’t need to clean up, but she did it anyways. I knew part of it was her grandmother, but most of it was just her kind heart, and the way she cared for our family.
It was moments like this I wished my mama was still alive, so I could talk to her about Georgia and the way I felt about her. Ask her questions about women to know if I was doing the right thing.
I glanced at Georgia’s retreating back, refusing to believe or hope. Pushing the thought from my head, I grabbed another garbage bag to help her finish clearing some of the debris.
Never in all my time pining for her had I ever conceived that she could return my feelings. Georgia had long held my heart, and I’d been happy to be her captive without her ever returning a fraction of what I felt for her. Even though my heart wanted her, my head knew I was all wrong for her.
She could have anyone she wanted. A guy with a much better reputation than mine. I’d watched the boys in town follow her around, hang on her every word, offer to do chores and odd jobs at her grandmother’s house just to be in her proximity.
I threw a plate of rib bones into the trash bag as my curiosity continued to gnaw away at me.
At the end of the summer, Georgia was going to leave Maysboro, possibly forever.
If I was ever going to know… No, it wasn’t just about me knowing if she reciprocated my feelings.
Whether she felt the same way or not, I didn’t want to live the rest of my life with what ifs or regrets.
I wanted her to know. That way, even if she didn’t return my love, I could try and move on, even if it would be damn near impossible.
I wasn’t going to let my head talk my heart out of this.
I dropped the garbage bag on the grass and walked towards her.
Sounds of video game bullets and explosions, along with Ram and Fletcher talking shit to one another carried from the house.
It didn’t deter me. As I drew closer, I could hear her humming some pop song that had been in heavy rotation on the radio.
About ten feet away, I stepped on a twig. The sound made her turn in my direction.
“Caleb?”
I closed the distance between us and without stopping or asking for permission, I took her in my arms. When I looked into her eyes, a mixture of emotions passed in quick succession. I didn’t try to figure out what they meant.
“Georgia Butler… I’m gonna kiss you now.”
Her lips were warm, soft, and plump. I wanted more.
I’d had my first taste, and it wasn’t enough.
I cupped her face in my hands and pushed my tongue against the seam of her lips.
When she parted them to allow me access I groaned and swiped my tongue against hers.
I could taste the buttery sweetness of the dessert she’d consumed earlier and I deepened the kiss.
Now that I had her. I knew it wouldn’t be easy letting her go.