by Taylor Hart
"Can I tell you something."
Genova nodded. "You know it."
"Beau was there."
"What?" Genova's eyes widened. "Tell everything."
Sara went through all of it, starting with the slightly stalker-ish basketball player and down through the talk with Jonathon in the cemetery.
"Wow," Genova said. "So Jonathon recognized that you and Beau have this thing between you."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
Genova laughed. "Girl, everyone at the Varsity Center sees it. And talks about it."
"What?"
Genova nodded. "I haven't wanted to tell you because of everything with your dad. But, everyone really talked about how Beau went with you."
Sara put her hand to her head. "Man."
Genova patted her back. "So you have two men that like you. And…that you like." She let out a light laugh. "Such problems."
Sara shoved her lightly.
Genova laughed. "Hey, it's a good problem to have."
"No, it's not. I had a plan, Genova. I had a plan and now everything is falling apart. And I don’t even have my dad to give me proper advice and here I am . . . and not that you’re not proper advice . . .”
Genova squeezed her shoulder. “I understand.”
“And I don’t know if it even matters because Jonathon went to go play basketball after I bared my soul to him."
Genova nudged her shoulder. “Ah-that's just how guys are."
She thought of her own brothers. "True." But she still felt miserable.
Genova patted her back. "What do you want to do?”
Sara wiped her face with her hands and took a deep breath. “Date both of them.”
Genova laughed.
Sara covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know. I mean, I do like both of them but that's so weird, right?"
Genova sat up, putting her hand to her mouth. “Why?"
She shrugged. "It just makes me feel like I'm not being loyal to anyone."
Genova gasped and then let out an excited giggle. "Why not give it a trial run with both of them?”
“Right.”
“I’m serious.”
Sara's heart raced. “How?”
Genova rubbed her chin like an old man thinking. “Hmm. Well, tell both of them that you want to date . . . both of them.”
Sara laughed again. “You can’t be serious.” She sighed. “I wonder what Beatrice would say?”
“Why not? If they get mad, you don't worry about it. But, at least you're being honest with yourself about how you feel. And, they can choose to date you or not."
Her heart raced. Could she really do that?
“Do something unexpected, Sara. Do it for yourself. Do it for your dad."
"He told me to marry Jonathon."
Genova pointed at her. "Okay, but he also said to marry a good, God-fearing man. So, that leads me to think if your dad were here, that's ultimately what he would want for you, right?"
Sara nodded, suddenly feeling lighter. "I think you're right."
Genova smiled. "Of course I'm right." She pointed to Sara's phone. "Now, text both of them and tell them the plan."
She texted Beau first, her hands slightly shaking.
I think it's time to officially date. If you want.
Chapter 28
Later that afternoon Sara chatted with some of the students at the Intervarsity Center.
"Sara."
She turned and saw Beau coming toward her like a heat seeking missile.
"Hey."
But he had his arm around her and he was pulling her away from the group of students she was with. "We need to talk."
She laughed, at how hurried he was. Nervous energy flooded her. After she'd texted him, she hadn't gotten a reply and she'd been thinking about him all morning.
He dragged her away from all the students and paused next to the exit door.
“What?” She asked, letting out a little laugh.
His eyes were wild. "You … that text." He ran a hand through his hair. "Are you serious?"
She couldn't help but grin. "I am. But … I have to get to class. And it's a hike across campus, so we'll talk later." She pushed the door open.
He followed her. "No way. I'll drive you."
She laughed. "I need to walk."
Once again, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and moved her to his truck. "I want to drive you."
She giggled at how crazed he was acting. "Fine."
He opened the door for her and she got inside.
He ran around, then got in and started the truck. "Where to?"
"The Fine Art's building."
He began driving. "Talk. Tell me what you meant?"
"Well, exactly what I said."
"What happened with you and Jonathon?" he cut her off.
She didn't know how to explain it.
"Don't think, just speak."
"Ruff!" She barked.
He turned and gave her a sharp look, then smiled.
"You think you can order me to speak like a dog, you get a bark."
He laughed, then lightly pushed her shoulder. "You're funny."
She laughed, too, feeling antsy and ridiculous.
"We don't have that much time if you have class, so tell me what happened between you and Jonathon."
She decided to tell him the truth. "I … well, as you can imagine, after our dancing display, Jonathon noticed that you and I …" she didn't know how to finish. "He noticed that things are different between us now."
Beau looked suspicious. "What does that mean?"
"Beau," she said, she'd been trying to think of a way to explain it to him. "Listen, for a year I've been building up this thing between me and Jonathon."
Beau nodded. "Right, this fallacy you have."
She glared at him. "Look, I don't know what Jonathon and I are or what we'll be, but I also realized that I have feelings for you, too."
Beau pulled up to the Fine Arts building and parked, turning to face her. "Yes, you do." He grinned. "It's about time you saw that."
She shook her head, feeling restless. She didn't know how this would work. "So, the point is, I have feelings for you that need sorting out.” She looked out the window, trying to avoid his eyes. “But that doesn’t mean that I don't have feelings for Jonathon, too." She looked back at him and gave him a severe look.
“Of course,” he whispered. "So where does this lead to us dating?" He smiled, again.
Her heart raced and she knew she had to just get this all out. "I spoke with Jonathon this morning and I told him that I wanted to date the both of you."
Beau frowned.
"I needed a chance to get to know him, really know him again. I don’t want to be disappointed in what he’s not anymore—or what I thought he was—but be able to rediscover our relationship.”
Beau seemed frozen in place, his jaw line flexing. “I don't understand.”
Sara sighed. “But, I told him I want to date you, too. And, if either of you don't think it's fair or you don't want to date, that's fine, too." Her palms were sweating at this point.
Beau narrowed his gaze.
"So, it’s up to you, Beau. If you want to date, then let’s date. If you don't, I understand. I had to lay it all on the line.”
Beau took a deep breath. “I like on the line.”
“We have to have rules. So, I don’t want you kissing me or telling me stuff that gets in my head or—”
Quicker than Sara could anticipate Beau’s lips were on hers. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer to him.
“Beau!” She pushed back from him, ignoring the fact he tasted sweet to her, like cotton candy from the fair.
“I just had to do that before you finished setting down all of the rules.” He was unapologetic.
She couldn’t stop the nervous energy that buzzed through her. She wagged a finger at him. “You can't do that."
"Okay."
Her mind spun
. "I have to get to class. But I do have official rules.” She patted her backpack. "And we'll go over them later."
“Really? Official rules?”
Sara nodded. “Genova helped me pound them out.”
“All right. Pass ‘em over.” He put his hand out.
“I’ll tell you after class.”
He reached out, like he was going to kiss her again. Instead he picked up her hand and kissed the back of it gently. “That’s not a real kiss. It's just a back of the hand kiss. Did you go over that in the rules."
She swiped at him, but laughed. "Stop."
He laughed, too. “I’ll pick you up after class.”
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to," he said and nodded. "I need to."
She laughed.
His eyes got serious. “I’m so happy, Sara.”
Sara felt the pounding in her chest ease. “I’ve got to go.”
“Okay, then.”
She got out of the truck and ran for class, thinking that she loved the man's eyes when he was excited.
Beau waited for her in the hallway outside of her class.
The friend she was talking to pumped her eyebrows when she saw Beau and told her to have a good Thanksgiving.
Beau picked up her hand.
She paused.
He shrugged. “What? I haven’t even seen the rules, yet.” He grinned wide.
She kept her hand in his. They walked out into the empty atrium. Light flooded in through the long windows and a Greek statue pointed students toward a large door to the theater.
He motioned to an empty table and they sat down. “I brought dinner for us while we go over these rules. Is that okay?”
Sara liked the way his face looked so—relaxed. “Yes.”
They sat and Beau pulled out the sandwiches, letting her pick what kind she wanted.
Sara pulled out a typed up sheet with five rules on it.
Beau snatched up the sheet. “Oh, no.”
Sara took the sheet back. She put it down and unrolled the sandwich. “Oh yes. And, thank you for the food, by the way. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
Beau opened up his own sandwich. “You need to eat. You’re definitely too thin.”
Sara laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been called that. I mean, I’ve never been heavy, but too thin?”
Beau looked her up and down. “You’ve had a hard couple of months, Sara. You’ve lost weight for sure.”
Sara tried not to blush that he’d noticed her weight. She pulled the rules to her. “Rule number one: I make all the rules.”
Beau snorted a little of the water that he was drinking.
“Rule number two: You can’t complain about rule number one.”
Beau wiped his face. “Seriously?”
“Rule number three: Eighteen days are allotted to each you and Jonathon between now and January thirteenth, when school starts again. During each of your eighteen days the other will have one weekend.”
“Wait a second, how is this going to work?”
Sara wiped her face and took a drink. “Remember, you don’t have to agree to this.”
“If I don’t agree, will you still date me?”
Sara shook her head back and forth. “Nope.”
“And you’ll still date Jonathon?”
Sara shrugged one shoulder. “He agreed.”
Beau motioned with his hand and said, “Keep going.” He looked resigned and grumpy.
“Since I’m here from now until December eighteenth, I will exclusively date you, except for one weekend that will be allotted to Jonathon. After the eighteenth I will be going to the ranch for Christmas. Jonathon will come visit me for a week there, and I will visit him in Cody for a week. School starts January 13, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Beau finished his sandwich and was lounging back in the chair, sipping his water. “Are those all the rules?”
“Rule number four: You are allowed to call once a week on your off eighteen days.” Sara smiled at Beau patronizingly. “Oh, and rule number five: no kissing.”
Beau scooted his chair closer to her and pulled the rules over. “You seriously wrote these out with Genova?” His eyes glinted against the shadows coming into the atrium. He ran the back of his index finger down the jawline of her face.
She shivered, feeling the tension between them. “Yep.” She couldn’t help looking at his eyes, blue and clear—with a touch of deep blue ocean in them at the moment.
He kissed her purposefully, letting his lips linger after.
“I told you that kissing was out.” She didn’t acknowledge the fact she hadn’t pulled away or, frankly, tried to do anything to avoid it.
He pulled away and kept tracing her face lightly and brushed his hand down her hair. “Did Jonathon agree to no kissing?”
“Of course—he has to follow the rules too. He has no problem with the rules.”
Sara recognized his patented half-smile. “He must not like kissing you as much as I do.” He playfully pulled on a strand of her hair.
Laughing—she hit his hand away.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly. “Can I kiss your cheek?”
Sara felt herself getting weak. “Umm . . . I guess I didn’t clarify that, did I.” She giggled.
He kissed her chin. “Can I kiss your chin?”
Sara put her hand up to his chest. “Beau—.” The scent of his aftershave settled into her.
He grabbed her hand. “Can I kiss your hand?” He kissed the back of her hand, then turned it and kissed the inside of her wrist.
She giggled, again. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I haven’t agreed to the rules, yet.” He kissed up her arm and spoke like a Frenchman. “I cannot have you thinking of anything but me, Madame.” He kissed quickly and lightly to her elbow. “For you will be mine.” He was dramatic and foolish and Sara secretly found it irresistible.
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked over her whole face. His voice came out husky and gave her chills. “Let’s just forget this whole thing and elope? You can have your brothers there, and I’ll have my mom. It’ll be perfect.” He kissed her again, and Sara realized it was a kiss that was claiming her for himself. It was sweet and measured and left her wanting more.
When she didn’t answer, he sighed. "Fine." He stood and asked, “What are your plans for tonight?”
She stood, trying to clear her head of him. “Umm, I don’t know. I mean, I should study, but most classes don't have anything due until after the break."
Taking her hand, they left the building and started for his truck. Snow was coming down even harder.
She was still reeling from his kiss and she wanted to enforce the rules, but … she had been weak.
They got to his truck and he opened the truck door for her.
She got in, laughing. “I guess this means I’m riding in your truck. You're still rocking the whole cave man thing, you know.
Beau laughed and shut the door. He ran around and got in, starting the truck. “Okay, I’ll be more official. What are your plans for tomorrow? When do you leave to go home?”
Sara sighed dramatically and smiled. “I'm staying and working."
He froze. "What?"
"I got a job and it just doesn't feel right to go home right now."
"Okay. So, what do you have tomorrow?"
"I only have one class tomorrow—taught by a man that is seriously masochistic—wanting to grade one hundred and fifty page business plans rather than give a final.”
Beau shrugged. “I emailed and texted everyone this afternoon that class was cancelled for tomorrow. With all this snow they need to be getting on the road to go home.”
She looked around, it was snowing pretty hard. "So class is cancelled."
He nodded. "Yep, and well, I actually just found out I’m starting to date this really hot blonde, and I want to do something with her tomorrow that will impress her.”
Her heart leapt and
she pulled out her phone, seeing his email. “Really, who would this be?” She pretended to be unconcerned.
Beau pulled onto the main street and shifted into a lower gear. He went slowly through the city because they never plowed the streets in town.
Sara felt annoyed with the snow. “I’ve never understood how they can get away with not plowing their roads.”
Beau shrugged. “The city has no money for that.” Beau moved past her street.
“I guess I’m going to your house?” She scooted over next to him and turned on the radio.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
“That’s part of the rules.” She kept messing with the stations.
He laughed. “Right, I forgot . . . that you can change the rules.”
“Exactly.” She flashed a wide grin. "So I pick the music."
He laughed and slid an arm easily around her and pulled her into him. “So do I need to sign something in blood, or how does this all work?”
Sara found a station and leaned into him. “Nope. Honor code is the best policy.”
“Ugh.” Beau made an unhappy face. “I always hate honor codes. They really do leave a person feeling guilty.”
She sniffed and smiled. “That’s the breaks.”
He kissed her cheek lightly. "But I'll just have to get used to the guilt."
“Hey! I can see you’re not good at keeping a code.”
Beau laughed. “I said I was going to start dating this girl tomorrow, I’ve agreed to nothing tonight.” He parked.
She looked up, noting they were at the Invinson Home. "What are we doing?"
He pumped his eyebrows. "We're going to visit Martha and Larry, what else?"
Chapter 30
Martha opened the door to Larry’s apartment, her face beaming with pride. “He’s done it. Come in.” Waving them in, she hugged Sara to her.
Beau pushed in behind her, reaching for Martha and pulling her into a hug. “He didn’t?”
Startled, that Beau seemed to know more than she did, Sara inched forward into the apartment behind him. "What's going on?"
Larry’s face looked slightly pale, but Sara could see that the twinkle was back in his eyes and, although he had oxygen attached to his nose, he seemed relaxed and happy.
Martha put her hand out to Sara with a shy smile on her face. Sara picked up her hand and gasped. “Oh my goodness.” Warmth flooded through her, and she looked into Martha’s eyes.