Page 64 of Beau & Autumn

I move off the stool as she tentatively takes a bite. I never noticed how dainty she is with her food. Is everything about her totally perfect?

“So, you have no objections to the pros and cons? Queries? Hesitations?”

“Well, for one you’d never annoy me, and if I annoy you then you have to tell me. Mold me, if you will. We won’t ruin our friendship because we’ll be open and honest with each other.” Apart from the fact I think I already love you. “I do like your cat, and he likes me. We have a bromance goin’ on, I might even make a place for him in my gaming room. He can be a cool cat.”

She giggles. “A cool cat?”

“Yep, and I don’t sketch much these days, but when I do, you’re welcome to watch on one condition.”

“Yes, husband dearest?”

I grit my teeth. Fuuuuuck. “You get to show me how to take better pictures. I always seem to have a thumbprint at one corner, or it’s out of focus, or the light is off and you can’t see the subject…”

“I can do that.”

I come up behind her as she turns. “So we have a deal? We’re really gonna do this?”

She takes a slow intake of breath, her chest rising slightly. “Yes, we’re gonna do this. First I have to text my parents and subtly mention we’re dating, you know, before we rip the band-aid off.”

I feel the thrum of my heart in my chest hearing her words, beating in rapid succession. “Good plan. I’ll start with tellin’ my sister I’m interested in you. By ten o’clock tomorrow morning the whole of Stoney Creek will know we’re dating.”

She stares up at me. “Any regrets?”

I shake my head. “None. I better start looking for a suit.”

Her eyes go wide as she puts her hand over her mouth and gasps.

I frown. “Are you okay?”

She shakes her head then says, “I have less than two weeks to find a wedding dress!”

18

Beau

Two weeks later

We stand outside the town hall in Jackson. Yes, we drove out of town to get hitched as we figured it was the best course of action so we have a chance to tell our families ourselves and not let them overhear it from a local who saw us come out of the registry.

I bought a new pair of dark dress pants online and teamed them with a white collared shirt with a bow tie.

I already polished up my black patent shoes. I even went to the barber yesterday and got a quick trim and tidy to make myself look more presentable, or what I consider a groom should look like. I also had a special gardenia corsage made at the florists which I’m waiting to give her in a little box.

Autumn looks like an absolute vision in a knee length white floaty dress, with long see-through billowy sleeves and a sweet little lace trim. It’s more like a fancy summer dress than a wedding gown, but I like that she's gone to the effort to wear white. Her white cowboy boots top it off nicely.

She’s curled her hair and pinned each side up with silver slides, her long tresses bobbing down past her shoulders. She’s the most stunning sight I’ve ever seen.

My heart constricts when she approaches and I feel all the blood rush to my ears. I don’t deserve her. She’s a goddess.

Now’s about the time to give her the corsage. It’s a white gardenia with some green foliage which I think she’s going to love. “You look so beautiful,” I say as she smiles almost shyly. “I wanted to give you this because I know how much you love flowers.” I open the box and pull out the delicate arrangement.

The sight of it brings a little gasp to her lips and a smile to her face as she looks up at me.

“Beau! It’s beautiful.” She holds out her wrist so I can fasten it on. “Thank you so much.”

I smile, happy that she likes it. “You ready?” I clear my throat, as she links her arm with mine.

She takes a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

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