Page 17 of Back in the Country
“Thanks.” I add a coy smile and then back up out of his reach. He swallows hard, and I throw an internal celebration that I have this effect on him.
“Let’s uh, go see what they have to eat.”
Taking my hand again, he intertwines our fingers as we make our way through the crowd. A bluegrass band I don’t recognize is playing in the distance, and the crowd is loving it.
I’mloving it.
We’ve only just gotten here, and this is already one of the best dates I’ve ever been on. Everything about this, about us, is so easy—so natural. I think that’s why his easy dismissal of me all those years ago hurt so badly. I’d been convinced that once he’d gotten that piece of me, he’d see we were made for each other.
He didn’t.
Despite being the best night of my life, the rest didn’t work out the way I’d dreamed. Instead, I’d left brokenhearted and started dating the first guy who gave me any attention to get back at Waylon. It worked and it didn’t.
I’d ended up being with Caleb for over three years, and we’d been happy until we weren’t. It took a long time for me to realize that he was never going to make me truly happy, and I was never going to be who he wanted me to be.
If his still-arriving texts were any indication, he hadn’t accepted either of those revelations.
He hated my connection to my hometown—to myfamily—and that was something I could no longer tolerate. I hadn’t been myself, and there was always something missing with Caleb.
Not something—Waylonwas missing.
“What do you think about this place? They have these jerk chicken nachos that are supposed to be really good.”
“Oh! Can we get one of those fried onions too?”
“Sure, baby.” He squeezed my hand as we got in line. With food in hand, and beers from the tent across the field, we found a bench made from two stumps and a wooden plank. It was simple and absolutely perfect.
“Did you get all unpacked?”
“Yes and no. I don’t feel particularly settled there, and I think I’m just anxious about Sorren coming next week.”
“He’s doing well. You know that, right?”
Looking out at the makeshift stage, I focus on the music as I try to rein in all the emotions associated with my brother’s homecoming.
“I guess part of me is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. I’ve been in some online forums for families of service members who have been injured.” I can’t quite meet his gaze as I say the words because no matter how prepared I think I am, so much is still unknown.
“We’re all going to figure it out together, okay? You’re not alone in this and neither is he.” He waits till I look at him, and the emotion there rocks me to my core. “I promise.”
“Okay.”
We finish our snacks in a comfortable silence surrounded by music and laughter. The song ends, and as the slow strum of the next filters through the speakers, I turn to Waylon and hold out my hand.
“Dance with me, Way.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He pulls me flush against his chest and I gasp. Waylon chuckles, and I tilt my head back and laugh.
“This has been anamazin’date, Way.”
“First of many, I hope.” He tightens his hold on me, and I revel in the feel of the hard planes of his body against my curves.
Pressing up on my tiptoes, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his head down. I can feel his heart pounding in his chest where we touch. His breath catches right before I slant my mouth over his and claim mysecondfirst kiss from Waylon Thayer.
7
WAYLON
