Along for the Ride

by Casey Peeler

  Her confirmation and sureness in her voice allows me to know that no matter what happens with my dad, I’ve got her to support me. Laurel has helped me understand that you need to hold on to the ones you love and mend those relationships that are broken because at the end of the day, family is what matters most.

  Chapter 56

  Belle

  Watching those two dance warms my heart. Looking to Chase, he places his hand on my small of my back and guides me to the dance floor. As we sway to the music, I close my eyes and focus on this moment. The two of us are in our little town with people that love us. Moving to look him in the eyes, he smiles then leans down, bringing his lips to mine. I’d give anything to have him alone right now. Smirking, he must be reading my mind.

  “Soon enough,” he whispers, kissing me once more as the song turns to the newest country line dance. Laurel grabs me and I feel empty without Chase, but soon we are out there laughing and tearing up the dance floor. I have no idea how long we’re out there before the band takes a break. Laurel and I are talking as we begin to exit the dance floor when I hear it. My song. They are playing my song. Tears start to build in my eyes as my hand goes to my mouth. I hadn’t expected to hear it tonight echoing through the speakers, though I’ve heard it being played many times on the radio. However, tonight in my hometown, it’s different. It’s like the first time I heard it at home. Chase walks up to me and holds me in his arms as we sway to the lyrics. Looking around, everyone in the room is singing as they dance to my song. I was wrong when I said that’s the best feeling on tour. This is what it’s like to know you’ve made it; when you go home, they are always there no matter what. They don’t act like fans. They are real and true like family. When the song ends, they continue to dance as the next song begins to play. As my eyes find Chase, he smiles toward me. "They’ll always love you, Bella Blu." Smiling, he pulls me in close and as I look up to him, his lips meet mine.

  “Wanna get outta here?” he questions. Looking to Jake and Laurel, they are still dancing and in their own little world. Earlier tonight, there wasn’t but one place I wanted to be. Looking up into the night sky, I wish upon a star that Chase is reading my mind.

  “Yeah, let’s go.”

  Chase holds my hand as he leads me from the dance floor. Without a word, we walk to his truck. Once I’m in the passenger seat, he closes the door and walks around. Once he’s settled, he looks my direction with a smile. With his right hand, he opens the console, passes me a tallboy and my heart swells at what he’s trying to do. He’s giving us our own second chance. Please God, don’t let there be a train tonight. Taking a large drink, I pass it to him as he puts the truck in reverse and we drive out to the trestle.

  Chase

  The moment we hit the main road, I know I've tried my best to not rush this evening. Belle has begged me all week to go to the trestle and I was able to come up with an excuse each and every time. There was no way we could come out here before tonight.

  As I pull onto the wooded path, my heart is beating a million miles an hour. Trying my best to look calm, I turn off the engine. Looking to her, she is smiling and I bet she thinks this is about that night all those years ago. It is, but it’s so much more.

  Opening the console, I grab two more for the trestle and walk around to help her from the truck. As she slides out of the truck, I close the door and start to walk toward the trestle. She pauses and I turn to face her.

  “You’ve been holding out all week for tonight, haven’t you?” she says with a smile.

  “Maybe,” I grin and begin to lead her down the path to the trestle.

  As the trestle comes into view, I pass her one of the beers and we both open them as we walk aboard the wooden planks. “Help me balance,” she says as she steps onto the metal rail. Stopping in the middle, we take a seat for a few moments and enjoy the silence. Tonight, we aren’t jumping. Instead, we’re enjoying a night together in our favorite spot.

  “So is tonight what you imagined?” she asks.

  “Yes and no.” She looks at me confused.

  “It’s what I imagined and so much more. Bella Blu, how’d we get here? How did this become our reality?”

  Placing her head on my shoulder, she thinks before speaking, “I think it’s like you said before. It wasn’t the right time yet. There’s no way we’d have made it if we’d dated back then.”

  “I like to think we would have.”

  “Yeah but being in love at that age is like waiting on a bomb to explode.”

  “What do you think life will be like when you go back to Nashville?”

  “Hopefully normal,” she laughs. Sitting there for a few minutes, we continue to drink our beer with nothing but the sound of rushing water below us. “Can you believe how our lives have changed?” she asks.

  “They are so much better than I imagined. Don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, it’s been pretty awesome so far, and coming home has been a breath of fresh air.”

  “Come on, I wanna show you something.” Taking her by the hand, I help her stands as we walk toward the other side of the tracks to the place where we visited not too long ago and fear filled our souls.

  “Chase, are you sure we should go to this side?” she questions.

  “Everything is going to be perfect tonight. There are no trains on the radar, and if so, we’re in the clear,” I say, trying to be funny, but it’s obvious she isn’t amused. Pulling her to my chest, I kiss the top of her forehead. “I’ll never let anything happen to you. You know that, right?” She shakes her head yes.

  Walking toward the grassy area, I pause when we get to a point that is free of tall weeds and has an amazing view of the stars. Wrapping my arms around her, we both look up at the sky. “What do you think of the view here?”

  “It’s amazing.” For the next ten minutes, I hold her in my arms and we soak up the night sky. As a star shoots across the sky, she points to it. “Chase, did you see that?”

  “I did.” My heart begins to pick up speed like earlier tonight as I pull my phone from my pocket, open my music, turn up the volume, and begin to play a playlist of a few of our favorite songs, beginning with "Dirt Road Anthem." We dance and sing playfully to the song and as it fades to "In Case You Didn’t know," my world stands still while she moves in my arm. Pulling her to my chest, I know she must hear my heart beating like crazy. Instead, she looks at me and her eyes never leave mine as I sing the entire song to her, but as the last song I’ve chosen begins to play, her breath hitches. As "It’s Your Love" begins to play through my little phone speaker, tears begin to form in her eyes. I pull her into my arms and we continue dance in the country night air with no one watching but the stars and critters. It’s perfect. Tonight, we don’t cut up and sing like we usually do. Instead, her eyes never leave mine as our foreheads rest on each other. They tell a story. It’s a story of friendship, fear, love, and forever. When the song ends, my lips brush hers as my hand weaves through her long hair. Her lips dance with mine and I never want to break this spell. As we begin to slow our pace, my heart knows what I want, and as she pulls apart, I look into her eyes and kiss her once more before pouring my heart and soul out to her.

  Looking her in the eyes, I speak from my heart. “Bella Blu, the day I met you, I fell harder than a kid should. You were the perfect girl for a guy like me and I was lucky enough to call you my best friend. Over the years, I wanted more than you were willing to give, but I couldn’t let you go. As adults, I knew there was a reason for our bond to be as strong as it was. You’re more than I deserve, but I can’t imagine living life without you. You’re living your dream, but you are my dream. My life doesn’t exist without you.”

  My hand falls from her hair as I reach into my pocket before bending to one knee. Her hand covers her mouth with a gasp as she realizes what is going on. Looking up to her, the night sky illuminates the world enough to see her beautiful face as the most important question of my life escape my lips.

  “Bella B
lu, will you marry me?” It’s straightforward and simple, but when I think about us and what words describe us, there aren’t any that are relevant. Within seconds, she begins to shake her head yes. Taking her ring finger, I slide on the perfect solitaire diamond for the perfect woman for me. Standing, she wastes no time as her lips find mine. Scooping her into my arms, I carry her across the trestle and to my truck.

  Pausing, she looks at me with a smirk. “So how ‘bout we find out what this front seat's like?” Wasting no time, I crawl in with her and we discover exactly how that feels. Holding her in my arms, I’m thankful she was never meant to be a prom date, because as of right now, I’m gonna marry that girl.

  About the Author

  Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.

  After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.

  Casey is an avid reader, lifestyle blogger and author. Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!

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