American Honey

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “That was one hell of a homecoming,” she teases.

  “I’d greet you this way every time I saw you if I wouldn’t get thrown in jail for public indecency.”

  “We’ll just have to limit ourselves to private property.”

  That gave me an idea. “Have you ever camped out?”

  She grimaces. “I wouldn’t really call it camping, but when I was younger, I went to a Girl Scout summer camp.”

  “You were a Girl Scout?” I grin.

  She nods. “Sold cookies and everything.”

  “You taste better than any cookie I’ve ever had,” I joke, nibbling her neck.

  “I doubt that, but whatever you’re doing feels good so don’t stop.”

  “I have no intention of ever stopping when it comes to you, Bethany.”

  Her fingers thread my hair as she pulls my mouth up to hers. Travelling and our unique way of making up, exhaust her. Even though it’s barely past nine, she curls up on her bed and falls asleep. I take the time to go back out to my truck and collect her suitcase. In our haste to get inside, we forgot it earlier. Since she’s asleep, I move slowly up the stairs with it, careful not to bump it against anything and wake her up. I want to take care of her, just like her impulse is to take care of me.

  Once I have it up in her room, and in a corner ready for her to unpack, I undress. Sliding under the covers I pull her flush against, my lip curling into a satisfied grin as her body molds itself to mine, even in sleep. I was an idiot to consider throwing this away. Pushing her away is a mistake I’ll only make once. I know now it was wrong to think because of my injury that maybe I wasn’t man enough for her. What I’ve learned is it takes a true man to admit their weaknesses.

  I’m lucky enough to have the love and support of Bethany despite them.

  Epilogue

  Eight Months Later

  “We’re going to be late,” Bethany groans, arguing but not really arguing as I lift her dress up.

  “No such thing as being late to a picnic.” I ease her down onto me and we both moan as I fill her.

  Number one perk of moving in with Bethany, other than just being around her all the time, has been the on-the-fly sex. We can be on the sofa just hanging out and she’ll slide into my lap, or at breakfast, if I catch a glimpse of her gorgeous breasts, I can just bend her over the kitchen counter, and lastly like right now, some hard and fast up-against–the-wall sex before we walk out the door.

  Is it strange owning and working a farm I’m not currently living on? Some days, but being able to fall asleep next to Bethany every night makes it worth it.

  Slipping my hand between us, my fingers furiously circle her clit until she comes all over my cock. Ladies always first, I wait till she’s done before I follow. She teases me about it, but ever since I regained feeling in my foot, sex standing up has been my downfall. I can’t lie; it makes me feel powerful, and knowing I’m not going to trip or drop her takes all the anxiety out of it.

  “Ready, hornball.”

  I lower her legs and kiss her. “I love your pet names, darling.”

  She gives my ass a squeeze before going to the bathroom to clean up. Ever since she went on the pill, we’ve been condom free. I’ve never experienced that before her, the feeling of absolutely nothing between us. If I thought sex was addictive before, it’s even more so now.

  “All better?” I joke once she’s all done.

  “I should have just left it and had you explain to your parents why I had cum running down my leg.”

  I cringe and shake my head as she laughs at me. Once she’s close enough, I pull her in for another kiss.

  She pulls away, grabbing my hand and tugging me to the door. “No way, mister, we’re already late enough.”

  “Like being outside will stop me,” I argue, vividly recalling the time I bent her over the back of my truck, that time on the front porch or the time chasing fireflies turned into chasing each other.

  She slips into the driver’s seat. I let her drive my truck one time and now it’s her favorite thing to do. She’s lucky she looks so sexy behind that wheel; only thing I love more than my truck is her.

  “Are we bringing anything?” I ask, suddenly realizing my hands are empty.

  She tilts her head to the back of the truck. “I carried the cooler out when you were in the shower. There’s extra ice and a fruit salad in it.”

  “I would have carried it,” I argue.

  “I know but I didn’t want to forget it so I just loaded it while I was thinking about it.”

  That’s my girl. She doesn’t wait for someone else to take care of her. She just does it. It doesn’t always work out well. I smile to myself remembering the first time I met her. If she hadn’t been stuck under the table she was trying to put together all by herself, she might not have made as great of an impression on me. I won’t ever know for sure, but either way, she’s had me hook, line and sinker since day one.

  Bethany parks not far from where the tents are set up. We’re lucky it’s a good day for a picnic. We’ve had nothing but rain the past week but it was sunny yesterday and there isn’t a cloud in the sky today as well. The ground has dried up nicely so it’s grassy and not muddy where the grills are set up.

  The kids are running around blowing bubbles while the grownups are socializing in circles not far from the keg. There’s a table with drinks and cups for folks to serve themselves.

  I grab Bethany’s hand, lifting her knuckles to my lips. “Uh oh, somebody brought a box of wine. I’m guessing I’m driving home tonight.”

  She giggles, covering her mouth. My girl loves some wine in a box.

  I carry the cooler over to the drink table and take out the fruit salad, passing it to Bethany. I watch her walk it over to the dessert table, my eyes glued to the gentle sway of her hips. She turns, right before she reaches the table and gives me the ‘stop looking at my butt’ glare. I ignore her and just keep on staring. She goes around to the backside of the table and starts talking to Bess so I grab a beer and head off to find my dad.

  As I suspected, he’s manning one of the grills. “Hey, Pops.”

  He lifts his bottle to mine and I clink it. “Hi Beau. Farm is looking real good, son.”

  “Thanks. We’ve had a good year. The food bank is thrilled and we’ve been able to barter for a new tractor.”

  I should have known better than to mention a new tractor to my dad and expect him not to want to see it. I just didn’t expect him to leave mid-conversation and stick me with grill duty.

  “How’d you get stuck grilling?” Bethany asks a bit later as she walks up.

  “Mentioned the new tractor to my dad and he took off. I didn’t want the fish to burn so I figured I’d hang out here until he got back.”

  “What glass is that?” I tease, pointing to her wine.

  She smacks my stomach lightly. “My first.”

  My dad makes it back not long after to reclaim his grill duties. Bethany and I make the rounds together to chat and mingle with everyone in attendance. Once the food is ready, we head over to some picnic tables and chow down. As the sun sets, we light tiki torches while the kids start roasting marshmallows. I ease down into an Adirondack style chair and pull Bethany into my lap.

  “Mmm,” she mumbles, snuggling against me.

  “When do you want to head home?” I ask, gently kissing the back of her neck.

  “Soon if you keep that up.”

  “Let’s go.”

  I collect our cooler from the drink table while Bethany says our goodbyes. She’s had a few glasses of wine so I drive with her cuddled up to my side.

  When we get to the house, she pops into her office to check her email while I head out to the back porch. After a couple minutes, I ask her to join me.

  “It’s dark out here. Want me to turn on the porch light?” she asks from the doorway.

  “It’s not that dark. Come here, baby.”

  Silhouetted from the light inside the house, she almost glows
before she closes the door and joins me out on the porch.

  “I poured you a glass of wine,” I say, passing it to her.

  “Oh, baby, I’m already a sure thing,” she teases, taking it.

  “And I’m sure about you.” I lean over and kiss her cheek.

  “It’s so beautiful out here,” she murmurs.

  “I have something for you,” I say, handing her a glass jar with a firefly inside.

  “Aww. Little guy. When’d you catch him?” She sets down her wine and lifts the jar to get a better look.

  As she moves it the ring slides across the bottom, clinking on the glass. Her eyes widen as they focus on the ring. “Beau?”

  She looks up at me but I’m not there. Her mouth drops when she looks down to see me on one knee in front of her.

  I take her free hand and wrap both of my hands around it. “Bethany. In a moment you are going to free that little firefly from that jar and I hope let me put that ring on your finger. You freed me, darling, from the fear that I wasn’t good enough. Even when we didn’t know if my foot would get better, your feelings for me did not waver in the slightest. You are the most caring, generous, crazy, beautiful woman I know and I’d be honored if you would consider becoming my Missus.”

  Even in the dim light the hint of tears glisten in her eyes as she nods her head. I stand, pulling her into my arms and kiss her. She stays wrapped up in me as she opens the lid of the jar to release the firefly. I lift one arm from around her and reach into the jar to collect her ring.

  “This was my grandmother’s ring on my mom’s side of the family. She’s been saving it for me and swore I couldn’t have it without her blessing. She was thrilled when I asked for it for you.”

  It slips right on. “It’s a perfect fit,” she sighs.

  “You’re my perfect fit.”

  The End

  Ashley Johnson

  Chapter 1

  I hate doing this over the phone right now. It’s trifling, dirty and plain screwed up, but I’m doing it anyway. I’d never want it done to me this way, but it’s been two agonizing months of this so-called relationship and it’s a bust. He’s sweet, amazing even, but he’s just not what I want. I don’t need a stage four clinger and when he threw the words ‘I love you’ two days ago, I knew it was time to cut that damn ship loose. Sail away, far far away because Shayleigh Dougherty doesn’t do love and surely not this soon.

  Love may be amazing and all those things women swoon over, but to me, it’s nothing but a four letter word. People don’t truly stay in love. No one in my life has truly been able to rely on love. Mom ran out on Dad and I years ago. Apparently, being a Mom just wasn’t her thing. I don’t care, we’re better off without her.

  She’s the reason we left Louisiana and moved to Springfield, Missouri. Talk about a change, but Dad and I have been happy here. Although I had to leave my best friend in the world behind, thanks to technology, we’re able to talk often. It’s like we’ve never missed any time together and I’m grateful for her. Sienna has and always will be my rock.

  “Look Brandon, I don’t think this is working anymore.” I say as nicely as possible to him.

  “What do you mean Shayleigh? I thought things were going good. I mean I told you I lo-“

  “Stop Brandon, don’t say it please. I told you it was too soon for that.”

  “I can’t help how I feel about you. So, basically I proclaim my love for you and you throw me out the door? Why won’t you talk to me and let me in?” he begs. I can practically picture him standing there running his hands through his hair wondering what the hell happened. Honestly, he should have seen all the signs coming. I haven’t wanted to have sex with him in two weeks and I’ve barely let him kiss me. Part of me was being nice, not wanting to give him too much hope, but putting him through this torture is unnecessary.

  “Look, I’m just done okay. This was fun and you’re great, but I can’t pretend to love you when I don’t.”

  “Can I at least come see you so we can talk about this in person?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I really do wish you the best Brandon. I hope you find everything you’re looking for. I’m just not that girl and you’ll see that one day.”

  He doesn’t say much more, matter of fact all I hear is him breathing into the phone. I’m sure the wheels in his head are spinning while he tries to decide what he can say to me.

  After what seems like an eternity of awkward silence, he finally speaks. “Shayleigh, I can be better, but if this isn’t what you want then I’m sorry. I’ll never forget you.”

  I’d love to tell him I’ll never forget him, but then I’d be lying. That relationship was so short, tomorrow he’ll be old news and I’ll probably never think of him again.

  “I’m sorry Brandon, bye.”

  I hang up cowardly before he can say anything else and let out a sigh of relief. I walk over to the refrigerator and grab a beer. The doorknob turns and I look to see my dad walking in.

  “Hey kiddo, grab me one will ya?” he asks.

  “Sure thing Dad.” I hand him the bottle I just had for myself and decide I don’t want one anymore. “How was your day?”

  “Long day at the office, I’m tired. How was school?”

  I’m a nursing major at a local college. Helping people is therapeutic for me. It makes me feel good and it truly feels like it’s my calling in life. There’s some sort of peace that takes over me when I’m helping others. It’s like I have a real place in this world.

  “I had a few tests, but nothing major. I’m just glad the semester is almost over.”

  “I hear you. You work hard and I’m proud of you Shay. Did you decide if you want to take classes this summer?”

  I’m getting ready to answer him when my phone rings. I can’t help but groan thinking Brandon is calling to beg me to take him back. When I see Sienna’s name, my face lights up and an unmistakable grin spreads across my face.

  “Hold on Dad, Sienna is calling!” I run to my room, shutting the door behind me as I answer her call. “Hey girl.”

  “Hey long lost best friend!” she squeals into the phone. “What’s going on up north?”

  “Ugh, don’t get me started. I broke up with Brandon today.” I tell her as I flop down on my bed.

  “Finally? You told me you wanted to a few weeks ago and you haven’t said anything, so I figured you maybe decided to keep him around.”

  “Seriously? If I were there right now, I’d probably punch you.”

  “What? I mean he does love you.”

  “Shut it bitch or I’m hanging up the phone.” I tell her. She’s laughing so hard, it almost sounds like she can’t breathe.

  “Okay, I’m sorry. You know I had to give you a hard time. I only get to see you via Facebook or Skype, so that’s my excuse. I’m glad you didn’t stick around and be unhappy with him. I would have done the same thing.”

  “Would you have? It sounds horrible, but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. I don’t mind being single.”

  “That’s my girl. So Shay, I have a question for you.”

  “If you’re asking about the size of his penis, give it up. I’m not telling you.”

  “I gave up asking forever ago. You wouldn’t tell me. Either you were embarrassed it was small or it was so big you didn’t want to brag. I totally get it.”

  “Sienna, what the hell do you want?” I say trying not to laugh too hard.

  “Okay, I wanted to know what you’re doing this summer. I haven’t gotten to see my best friend face to face in years and I really want you to consider spending the summer with me. We’re 22 years old Shay. Please?”

  My heart begins racing at a rapid speed as the nerves take over. Spend the summer in Louisiana? What if I see my mom? What if I don’t? I mean not that I want to or anything, but I’d rather not. Sienna is right. I haven’t seen her face to face in years, more like ten years to be exact. I haven’t gotten to tell Dad yet, but I wasn’t planning
on taking summer classes and I’ve been saving money from my job at the bookstore. Living with Dad does have its perks. I still contribute money, but can save a good chunk of it.

  “Are you sure about this?” I ask her pretty much second guessing myself. I could sit here and make a list of pros and cons, but that would take too much time.

  “Shay, think about it. We could spend the entire summer together and I bet it’d be like we never missed a beat.”

  This isn’t the first time Sienna has suggested this, but I had classes scheduled. There are no excuses now to hold me back. I only have one life to live and a part of me is thinking this could be a positive experience.

  “Okay Sienna, you win. I’ll come down for the summer.”

  “Ohmygod!!! Shay, are you serious? You promise?” She squeals into the phone. I almost have to pull it away from my ears.

  “I promise. I have two weeks of classes left and then I’m all yours.”

  “I seriously can’t freaking believe this is really happening! I’m so excited! Do you want me to look up flights?”

  Hearing the word flights has my heart racing and my chest begins to tighten. Airplanes scare the shit out of me. I’ve driven my brand new Camaro around, but have yet to really stretch her legs. This trip down to Louisiana is just the ticket.

  “I’m going to drive.”

  “What? Are you sure? That’s a long drive Shay, are you sure?”

  “It’s ten hours, I can handle it. I’ll leave early in the morning.”

  “This is the best day of my life, seriously. I can’t believe you will really be here.” She says.

  I can’t believe it either, but come two weeks from now, I will be back in Lake Charles, LA. I knew one day I’d be back to see Sienna, but never did I think it would be this soon. Hopefully Dad takes the news rather well. We have never really spent any time apart like this since we’ve lived here. I know he knows the impact Mom leaving had on me and just like I’m worried about possibly seeing her, I know he will be too. I’m not going for her though, I’m going to see my best friend and hopefully have the best damn summer of my life.