Chapter 7
“Okay, start at the North Star,” Beck says.
I locate the brightest star on the tail of the Little Dipper. “Got it. Now what?”
He grabs my index finger and points it slightly lower in the sky, tracing the shape of a weird looking W. “Right there; those five stars. That’s Cassiopeia—do you see it?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
He pulls me into a side hug. “This is one of the things that I love most about living out in the country. You can’t get a view like this in a city.”
“It’s pretty great,” I agree. “But cities have things that you can’t get in the country.”
He pulls the sleeping bag a little higher. “True… but I wouldn’t have been able to pull off this romantic setup in the middle of a bunch of concrete.”
I smile and snuggle into him farther. Beck laid out a bunch of blankets and a double sleeping bag in the bed of his truck. The moonlight is reflecting off the pond, and the frogs are really vocal tonight. It might seem like nothing special to some people, but to me, it’s perfect.
“It is pretty romantic.”
Beck’s spent the last two years fixing up an old truck with his dad. He just got his driver’s license today, so we’re celebrating with a campout in the bed of it. Well, not an overnight campout, because our parents put an end to our sleepovers around age ten, but we can stay out until one in the morning during the summer, as long as we stay on the ranch. Thankfully, there’s plenty of places to go if we want privacy. This particular spot is our favorite, though. It’s where we first became friends, so Beck and I like to call it our pond.
Tonight’s the night Beckett and I are supposed to finally have sex. We’ve been officially a couple for almost three years, but I didn’t feel ready until now. We’ve fooled around a lot, but we’ve never actually gone all the way. I know some of his friends think he’s an idiot for waiting for me, but what Beck and I have is real. He’s my best friend, and we’re in love. There’s no other person on Earth I’d want to lose my virginity to. It’s even more special because it will be his first time, too.
Beck shifts us so my head is back on a pillow, and he’s leaning over me. “Are you nervous? It’s okay if you’ve changed your mind.”
God, he really is the most perfect boyfriend. “I’m not nervous; I want this. I’m ready.”
“You’re so beautiful, Pres. I don’t tell you that enough.”
“Beck, I just told you I’m a sure thing; you don’t need to keep sweet-talkin’ me.”
He laughs. “That’s good to know, but I’m serious. You’re gorgeous, inside and out. I love you so much, Presley. You’re my world. I don’t ever want to be without you.”
I clasp my hands behind his neck. “I love you, too. And don’t worry; I’m not going anywhere. I don’t ever want to be without you either.”
“You know, I haven’t forgotten what you said all those years ago.”
My eyebrows scrunch together. “Said what exactly? We’ve exchanged lots of words over the years, you know.”
Beck cups my jaw with his hands. “That we’re gonna get married one day.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” I smile at the memory.
“You did.” He nods. “And I want that, Pres. I want to marry you one day. Have kids with you. I know people say this is just puppy love and that we’ll grow out of it, but I know that’s not true. I want you to be my forever, and that will never change.”
“Beckett, you have me. For always.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I confirm. “Now quit talkin’ and make love to me.”
He smiles warmly. “Now that I can do.”