18. Chapter 17 #2
“I made you some fried chicken and macaroni salad. And we have pickles and chips, and your mom gave me some watermelon lemonade, she said it’s your favorite.”
“Did you really make the chicken and macaroni salad yourself?”
Austin ducks his head. “My mom helped me a little. But I did do a lot of it.” He meets my eyes with a look of pride. I reach for him, to hug him. We’ll pause the making out for now. I rest my head on his chest and revel in the sound of his heartbeat.
“I love it, Austin. It’s beautiful and amazing.”
He runs a hand over my hair before pulling away and pulling my chair out for me. He slides into his own seat and starts a playlist of soft country music on his phone. He looks just as nervous as I am. “Let’s pray and then I’ll pull out the food.” He reaches for my hands and bows his head.
His prayer is simple and sweet, and I can’t help but think about future dinners. Us at our own dining table, in our own house. He releases my hands and pulls the dishes from the basket. The scent of the meal teases my nose, making my stomach rumble.
“Sounds like you’re hungry.” He tells me with a laugh and a wink. He puts two drum sticks, several pickle spears, and a dollop of macaroni salad on my plate. “Dig in. I really hope you like it.”
I wish I could claim that I took a dainty bite of my chicken… But I didn’t. The paprika and cinnamon mix on it—I work in a bakery, I know my spices—are heavenly, and I just want to shove the whole drumstick into my mouth.
I’m not one to moan over a bite of food, but this chicken just might make me do that. It’s tender and juicy, and the breading melts in my mouth.
“This is better than my Gram’s. But don’t tell her I said that.” I say with a wink after finally swallowing my bite. Austin grins, not saying anything since his mouth is full of macaroni salad.
“It’s apparently a family recipe passed down from my grandma that grew up here in Clear Creek.” He says around a swig of lemonade. “I really wasn’t sure what to make for you at first, but I think this is perfect. If I do say so myself.”
“It’s delicious. Everything goes well together, all the dishes compliment each other.
There’s nothing like good home cooking.” I know this is a fact.
I come from a long line of amazing cooks.
My mom has somehow managed to cook homemade meals every day, can various vegetables and fruits, maintain a large garden, and still give everyone in the family the attention they deserve.
I hope that I can be just as amazing at being a mom and running a household.
I find myself daydreaming about marriage.
Austin is my husband in the daydream, of course.
He gets drafted, and plays for the Fort Worth Lariats, and we get to stay fairly close to my parents.
And we have tons of babies. I find myself sighing as I think about what our babies will look like.
Rosy cheeks and dark hair. Green eyes that sparkle, just like Austin’s.
“What are you thinking about?” Austin’s hand warms the top of mine. My cheeks are as hot as the bonfire we’ll have later. I bite my lip in a shy smile as I slowly meet his eyes.
“I was thinking about the future.” I whisper.
“Oh yeah? What part of the future were you thinking of?” He leans back in his chair, as if he’s sure that I was daydreaming about him. His eyes darken, and I swear he can actually see some thought bubbles around my head about being his wife and raising kids with him.
My blushing cheeks blaze hotter. “Marriage.” I peer through my lashes at him.
“Children.” He starts to rub circles on the back of my hand and my stomach tightens.
Do I tell him that I want those things with him?
That’s where this is all headed. I know that.
And from the few times that we’ve brought it up, I’m pretty certain that’s what he wants too.
“I want those things with you.” I flip my hand over, and capture his. “I’m past liking you, Austin.”
I swallow the nervous lump in my throat.
“I love you.”
My heart is racing like a runaway tractor. I didn’t intend to say those words tonight. They just came out. How will he take it? Did I go too far? Tell him too soon? I haven’t even discussed saying the L word yet with my mom. And we’ve discussed every aspect of my relationship.
Austin shifts, leaning forward in his chair.
He keeps his one hand on mine, but the other comes up and strokes my cheek.
He chews on his lip, and his eyes rove over every inch of my face.
“I’ve been wondering when to say those words, afraid that I would say them too early.
” His green eyes darken, turning into deep velvety pools.
The pad of his thumb teases the edge of my lips.
“I love you too, Rae. I want those things with you too.”
Hope and elation bloom from my heart outward, covering me in delicious goosebumps.
Austin rises from his seat and leans across the table to capture my lips in a sweet kiss.
I’m so glad there isn’t a candle on the table, otherwise we’d likely burst into flames.
I cup his cheeks and pull him a smidgen closer before releasing him, I know the chaperones are watching.
As we settle back into our seats I find myself just watching him.
Making eye babies—thanks Chrissy for coining that term.
“I have a gift for you.” He reaches into his pants pocket and produces a small square box. It’s bigger than a ring box, so I tell my racing heart to calm down. I’m willing to bet it’s a necklace or a bracelet. No matter what it is, I know I’ll love it.
Even though we just kissed, my breath still hitches at the contact of our fingers as I take the box from his outstretched hand.
Gingerly I slide off the ribbon and slowly open the lid.
Inside is a white gold necklace with a horse shoe pendant, my birthstone in the shape of a heart situated in the curve of the horseshoe.
“Austin, I love it. It’s so pretty.” I stand up and hold it out to him. “Put it on me?” I turn around and pull my hair out of his way. He fumbles a little with the clasp, those tiny things are tricky. Gently, he lowers it to my collarbone and secures it.
He rests his hands on my shoulders, before wrapping his arms around me. I grasp his wrists and lean back into him, relishing the warmth of his chest against my back and the rhythm of his pulse under my hands.
“This has been my best birthday yet. Thank you so much, Austin.” I turn my head and press a kiss to his cheek.
We stand and stare off across the Rolling R’s empty fields for a few minutes, watching as the sun begins its descent, painting the sky in purples and pinks.
“I’ve got to clean everything up and light the bonfire. The guys should be here any minute.” He starts collecting all the dishes. “Go show the girls your necklace.” I can feel his eyes on me as I step off the porch.
“It’s so pretty.”
“Do you think it’s a real diamond?”
“You’re the luckiest girl in the world.”
“Is he a good cook?”
“Did y’all kiss enough?”
Chrissy and Jaimie ooh and awe over my necklace. I hear all their questions, but my mind is still back on the porch. I’m still staring at him as I finger the necklace. Those amazing muscles stretching and lifting mesmerize me. And the way those jeans cover his strong thighs...
Chrissy’s hand waves in my field of vision and the throaty purr of an engine along with the sound of spitting gravel wake me from my dreaming. The guys have arrived.
Chrissy can be a great actor, she oozes drama. Except for when it comes to hiding her crush on Carson. Jaimie and I share a sly grin and a giggle, watching Chrissy pat herself down for wrinkles and make sure every hair is perfect before we head for the fire pit.
We all gather around the bonfire that is now roaring.
The fixings for the s’mores are in the picnic basket that Austin had brought dinner in.
I snatch a roasting stick from the stack that the guys brought.
I’m perched on a sanded down log, leaning against Austin, Jesse is strumming his guitar, and I’ve got a marshmallow roasted almost to perfection.
I freeze and just take it all in. I don’t want a moment like this to end. I’ve had a lot of those moments lately.
Austin’s jean-covered thigh leans against mine.
His arm is around my back and I rest my head on his shoulder.
He smells like home: fresh air, leather, and a scent that is pure Austin.
I’m glad he doesn’t go crazy with the Axe body sprays.
I could get lost in his smell. In the feel of his body against mine.
His rib cage expands, then shrinks against my arm pressed to his side.
I turn my head and gaze up at his face. Sigh.
A fine layer of stubble covers his firm, angular jaw.
He can apparently feel my eyes on him. He turns and gives me a smirk at first, then a full on heart-melting grin. His temple comes down to rest against mine. “I love you, Rae.”
My heart flaps wings and flies away at his words. What more could I want? All the questions and what-ifs can wait. He loves me. And I’m going to bask in this feeling for as long as I can. This time right here, right now is all that matters.
“Enough eye babies over there. Let’s make some s’mores.” Chrissy laughs and smacks my shoulder as she grabs a marshmallow.
Austin tells her to grab one more marshmallow. “The best s’mores always have two marshmallows.” He told her.
“And chocolate and graham crackers.” I add with a wink.
I twist my roasting stick over the flickering flames, and watch as smoke rises into the sky.
Sparks float and fall around us. Sparks just like the ones flying off of Austin and me today, and well, almost every day we’ve known each other.
Every kiss today has been amazing. We just feel right.
“Ready for your grahams and chocolate?” Austin’s warm voice slides over me like molten chocolate.
He holds out a graham cracker topped with two pieces of chocolate.
I pull my roasting stick from the fire and center the marshmallows over the chocolate.
Austin presses another graham square on top and I slide the roasting stick out of the sandwich.
After I set the roasting stick down, I turn back toward Austin. But I don’t reach out to grab the s’more from his hands. Instead I lean forward and open my mouth. I’m being so brazen. And I know Chrissy and Jaimie will tease me later for this.
I hold myself awkwardly, mouth open, heart racing. I’m so tempted to just close it and take the s’more from Austin.
Austin’s eyes meet mine, and tension crackles between us, louder than the popping of the fire.
His hand moves so slowly, and the s’more finally touches my mouth.
I crunch down and liquid chocolate and melted marshmallow ooze into my mouth.
I don’t understand how this is romantic, but it is.
Austin feeding me is romantic and I just want to giggle and eat s’mores from his hand all night.
The rest of the night flies by in a blur. We talk, and then we just sit and sing praise and worship choruses as Jesse plays his guitar. Austin set the bar high for birthday celebrations. It can’t get better than this, can it?