Southern Storm

by Madison, Natasha

  “You guys need to get a room,” Casey says, making everyone laugh. “Good thing we got you that wedding gift.”

  Savannah looks at me, and I shrug. “No clue.”

  “Well, we didn’t know what to get you two.” Casey comes over to us now. “You know, since you gave us five hours’ notice. So …” He looks at Olivia. “We did the only thing we could. We are giving you my cabin in the woods for the weekend.”

  “You leave tomorrow,” Olivia says, all excited. “It’s a one bedroom in the middle of nowhere. There isn’t even a Wi-Fi signal.” She folds her arms over her chest, side-eyeing him.

  “I bought it so I can get away,” he says, putting his arm around her shoulder.

  “Humanity,” Olivia says. “It’s perfect for newlyweds.”

  “Um,” Savannah starts, mumbling, “we can’t.”

  “Trust me, you can and you will,” Kallie says. “We already fixed it up with Ethan.”

  “Well, then,” I say, and she looks at me. “Looks like we have a honeymoon.”

  “I guess so,” she says, and Billy comes over with two glasses of champagne.

  “Here you guys are. It’s time for the toast, Jacob.” Billy looks over at Jacob, who nods and walks toward the two tables set up around a wooden dance floor.

  “Is that a dance floor?” Savannah leans in and asks, and all I can do is nod. I take her hand in mine and walk over, sitting down in a chair, and she sits next to me. “These are real plates.” She looks down. “Who had time to do this?”

  “I think it was Kallie and Olivia,” I say, and she gets tears in her eyes. One slips out and starts to roll down her face. “No tears on our wedding day.” I lean in now and kiss her on the lips, something that I have been dreaming about forever.

  “It’s just a little bit,” she starts to say. “I don’t deserve all this.”

  I take her cheek in my hand. “You deserve everything.” I’m about to kiss her again when I hear the sound of clinking glasses and look up to see Jacob standing in the middle of the dance floor with his own glass of champagne.

  “If I can have everyone’s attention,” he says, and we both look over at Jacob. “Time for the best man’s speech.” He looks at us. “Usually, you are given time to prepare a speech, but it’s just like these two to just YOLO everything.” Everyone laughs, and I look around to see a handful of people who have attended, and I also note the people who attended are the only ones I would want at my wedding. There will be no drama; there will be no one trying to one-up. Or no one making sure we follow all the rules at a wedding. It’s perfect, and it’s us. “Savannah and Beau, you are my two oldest and dearest friends, and I couldn’t be happier for you like I am now.” He holds up his glass of champagne. “To your happily ever after.”

  Everyone picks up their glass and holds them with a smile. “To happily ever after.” I clink my glass with Savannah and take a sip.

  “We need to say something,” I say, and she looks like a deer caught in a headlight. “Okay, fine, I’ll say something. You stand beside me looking beautiful,” I say, and we get up, walking to the dance floor.

  “If I can have everyone’s attention,” I say, and they stop, looking over at us. “Before the food comes out, and the party starts. I …” I slip my hand into Savannah’s. “We just want to thank you all for coming this evening on such short notice.” Everyone laughs. “Ethan”—I turn to look at him—“thank you for allowing me to marry your mom.” He smiles and nods at me.

  “You’re welcome, Uncle Beau,” he says loudly, making everyone laugh.

  “Kallie and Olivia, who pulled off this amazing wedding in the short time. For Charlotte and Cristine for organizing all the food.” I look over, and they all just look at us with love. “And to each and every one of you who showed up today to be a part of this day. And to my wife.” I look over at her. “Thank you for making me the luckiest guy around.”

  Everyone cheers, and Savannah looks down almost as if she’s shy. “Time for the first dance,” Casey says, going over to the small DJ booth they have set up.

  “We are going to dance?” Savannah asks from beside me, looking around. “What song?”

  “I have no idea,” I say, finishing my champagne and walking to the table to put down the empty glass. She follows me, downing the champagne. “We’ve danced before.”

  “But not in a wedding dress and suit and all this,” she says nervously, looking around.

  “Relax,” I say softly, “It’ll be okay. Just pretend it’s only you and me. Just look at me.” I turn and lead her to the dance floor.

  I put one hand around her waist and pull her to me. When I hold up my other hand, she puts her hand in it, and I bring it to my chest. “The music hasn’t started yet.” She looks at me and then smiles. “Shouldn’t we wait for the music?” It’s right then that the music comes on, and I throw my head back and laugh when the first beat comes out. “What song is this?”

  ““Die a Happy Man,”” I say, leaning in and kissing her. Then I sing the words to her.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Savannah

  Can someone’s face crack from smiling too much? I wonder to myself after all the guests have left our wedding reception. Married. I’m married to Beau. I look down at my left hand and take in my massive ring, my heart filling so big I think it might burst. “If you don’t like it, we can exchange it.” I hear his voice and look up at Beau.

  His jacket is tossed somewhere. “No, it’s just a little bit too much?”

  He shrugs his shoulders, walking to the little makeshift bar that they set up. I look around, and it is just the way I thought my wedding reception would be. I mean, when I thought about it, which wasn’t often, I wanted this, and I wanted him. He hands me a bottle of beer and sits down on one of the chairs. “Did you have fun?” He takes a long pull of his beer.

  “I did,” I say, taking my own pull of my beer. “I remembered,” I say. “The kiss. I remember every single part of it.” He looks over at me. “I just wanted you to know.”

  He smiles now. “Good to know. We’ll have a lot to compare it to.”

  My stomach literally does the wave. “Is that so?” I take another pull.

  “Yeah,” he says, and he looks at me as he finishes his beer. “Let’s go to bed.” He stretches his hand out, and I just watch him with I’m sure what is shock on my face or maybe even fear. “Not like that, Savannah. I mean, let’s go to sleep, so we can leave for the cabin early in the morning.”

  I grab his hand, picking up my dress a bit and walking to the house. “What are we going to do for two days?”

  “Sleep,” he says. “Talk.” Then he looks down. “There are things that I need to tell you.” My heart suddenly rushes fast. “Nothing to worry about. Just some things that should be said now that we are married.” I swallow.

  “I like that idea,” I say, thinking it’s time to finally tell him how long I’ve been in love with him.

  “Good,” he says. Turning off the lights, we make our way upstairs, and I don’t know if I should go to the spare bedroom or not. I mean, I know that he said he wants to sleep, but does he want to sleep in the same bed as me? This is stupid, I think to myself. We’ve slept in the same bed before, just not as husband and wife.

  “I have all my stuff in the other room.” I point at the spare room with my thumb. “I’ll go change in there and meet you.”

  “Yeah, that sounds good,” he says. The floor creaks under his steps as he walks toward me. “Do you need help getting out of your dress?” The way he looks at me, my hands get clammy and my knees almost wobble. “I can get the zipper for you.” When he stops in front of me, I can barely see his face with the lights off, and I want to see his eyes.

  “Do you want me to?” he whispers, and I suddenly forgot what he had to say. The only thing I can remember is that the last time he kissed me was ten minutes ago, and it’s been far too long. He moves behind me, his fingers touching my arm lightly. My body is on high al
ert as he moves my hair from my neck. I look over my shoulder at him, his hand going to the zipper. He leans down now and kisses the back of my neck. If I wasn’t looking at him doing it, I would think it was my imagination. He unzips the dress, and I want him to take it off me and carry me to his room. I want to get lost in him. I want him to get lost in me. I want to get lost in us.

  “Thank you,” I say to him, then turn to walk past him. I’m almost past him when he grabs my arm.

  “I’ll see you soon,” he says, leaning down and kissing me. His lips on mine, his tongue dancing with mine. I thought that after the first couple of times we kissed that the butterflies would stop. I thought my heart wouldn’t speed up, but I don’t think I will ever be used to it. Just as fast as he kisses me, he is gone, leaving me holding myself up. I walk to the bedroom and hang up my wedding dress, then I get into the shower. After all, I did dance my ass off all night long. When I step out, I slip into my shorts and tank top, and I’m surprised to find Beau in my bed when I come out of the bathroom. He’s on his back, the covers at his waist, and he’s shirtless. One hand is propped behind his head, the other hand rests on his stomach, and his eyes are closed. I wait to see if he opens them, but when I hear small snores, I smile to myself and slide into bed beside him. I turn on my side and fall asleep fast, replaying our wedding day in my dreams.

  His smile, his touch, his kisses—so much I don’t want to wake up. But something on top of me is pushing me down, and when I open my eyes, I see that Beau is all over me. I’m on my side and his front is to my back, his legs are on top of mine, and his arm is around my waist. I smile to myself, trying to find a way out of his grasp when I have to suddenly pee. I move just a touch, and he holds me tighter.

  “I have to pee,” I whisper, and he opens one eye. “Morning,” I say, and this time it’s me who goes in for a kiss. Sure, it’s a fast kiss, a peck on the lips, but the fact I didn’t second-guess myself is huge. I think it even stuns him, giving me a chance to run to the bathroom.

  “What time is it?” I ask from the bathroom after I pee, and I’m washing my hands.

  “A little past seven,” he grumbles. I laugh when I walk out, and he’s sitting on the edge of the bed. “I must have drunk a bit too much last night,” he says, looking over at me. “I didn’t think I did.”

  “Well, do you remember we got married?” I joke, and he laughs.

  “The only thing I remember clearly is us getting married.” When he gets up, I look him up and down, and for once, I don’t feel guilty about it since he’s technically mine. “Do you want to grab some coffee and hit the road?”

  He closes the distance between us, and I can do nothing but stare at him. “Yeah, that sounds good.” My mouth is suddenly dry. “I can be ready in ten minutes.”

  “Okay, me, too.” He leans in and kisses me, and unlike my kiss, this one is all tongue. His hand tangles in my hair as he turns my head to deepen the kiss. He slowly ends the kiss, and my eyes slowly open.

  “I’ll meet you downstairs,” he says, walking away from me. I wait for him to get to his room, then lean my back against the wall and let out the huge breath I was holding. I shake my head, trying not to think of him and his kisses while I overpack for the two days we’re going to be away. I do, however, pack the lingerie that Olivia slipped me yesterday when I was getting dressed. I just shoved it into the backpack without even looking at it. I put on my cutoffs and a tank top that falls just above my belly button. I slip on my flip-flops while I braid my hair and then walk out at the same time as he is walking out of his bedroom, wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt.

  “You ready?” I nod and walk downstairs with him.

  “How far is this?” I ask, and he grabs his phone and puts in the address.

  “It looks like a couple of hours,” he says, putting on his sunglasses, and the sun reflects off his wedding ring. “We can stop at the diner in town, or we can—”

  “Out of town,” I say, and he just nods. “They are probably camping out to see if we walk in and if the news is real.”

  “I already confirmed it while I was brushing my teeth,” he says. “Being mayor and all, I put out a statement.”

  “A statement,” I repeat. He hands me his phone, and I see the statement right on the top.

  From the desk of the Mayor

  I am very happy to announce that yesterday I married my best friend, Savannah Harrison. We exchanged vows surrounded by our immediate family and friends. It was everything that we wanted.

  We thank you for your privacy in this matter and will be sharing our official portrait as soon as we get back from our mini honeymoon.

  Mayor Beau & Savannah Huntington

  “Very official and very real,” I say, looking back at him. He just smiles at me. “There is so much we have to talk about.”

  “We do,” he tells me. I hate that he has his glasses on, and I can’t see his face.

  “What’s on your mind, baby?” he says the last word softly.

  “Well, where are we going to live?” I ask, trying to ignore how his term of endearment makes me feel.

  “We can live at my house when you don’t have Ethan,” he says, “then we can stay at your house when you have him. Besides Ethan loves my house.”

  “You’ll be okay with that?” I ask. “You didn’t even bat an eye or think twice about it.”

  “A house is just a house,” he says, looking over. “It’s who is inside that house that makes a home. You’re my home.” I reach in my bag to take out my sunglasses so he can’t see the tears in my eyes.

  “For my whole life, all I wanted was a place to call home, and when I bought my house, the only thing I could think of was making a home for Ethan,” I tell him, sharing another piece of myself I haven’t told anyone else. But that is the way it is with Beau. He gets all my secrets and guards them. “I filled it with all the furniture I could. I hung pictures all over the place. I have his growth chart on the frame at the back door. I wanted him to feel like his home was his comfort place. I didn’t even think of it the way you just said it.” The tear now falls, and I look over at Beau, who grabs my hand and kisses it. “But you’re right. A home isn’t the house; it’s the people in it who fill it with love and memories.”

  “That is what we are going to do. Fill whatever house we live in with love and memories,” Beau says, his voice soft. “We’ll make a home.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Beau

  She is quiet the whole way up to the cabin and keeps her head turned, looking out of the window. After I told her that I would live anywhere with her, she went quiet. We pull up to the house, and I look around. “When we were driving up,” she says, “I wasn’t sure what to expect since it is so dense with trees.”

  I shut off the truck and look at what Casey calls his cottage. “Only Casey could have a secret hideaway house that is brand new.”

  She laughs, getting out of the truck. “It’s so pretty,” she says, waiting for me to come around the side of the truck.

  “He said that there is a lake right behind the house, but I don’t know what he’s talking about.” I look at all the trees that surround this house. “Let’s see inside.”

  She follows me up the steps, and I take out the key and open the door. We walk in, and it smells of pine wood right away. We take a couple of steps into the house, and I see the whole back wall is floor-to-ceiling windows. “I found the lake,” she says, pointing out the windows at a huge lake. We walk past the kitchen on the left side, and I do a once-over, seeing that all the appliances are brand new. The huge L-shaped couch on the right is so massive you could sit at least ten people on it. We step to the back windows and see that we are actually on stilts, something that you wouldn’t see from the front of it. The dense trees are all around the lake so unless you live here or know about it, you would never know this is here. “There are the steps.” She points at the steps that lead down to the lake. I turn to look up and see that there is a railing looking down
into the room.

  “Are you hungry?” she asks, walking to the fridge. All I want to do is grab her ass and pull her back to me, kissing her again and again. But this time, I don’t want to stop until she’s under me, saying my name over and over again. She opens the fridge, and we see it’s fully stocked. “Do you want me to prepare stuff and then we can go and sit by the lake?”

  “Yeah,” I finally say. “I am going to bring our bags to the bedroom.” I walk out of the room fast before she sees my cock is dying to come out and say hello to her.

  Taking our bags, I go up the stairs that I didn’t notice before, and I spot the master bedroom that has a view of the lake. I dump the bags right next to the king-size bed and go back downstairs. She is cutting up fruit, so I help her by finding a cooler to carry everything in. We head down to the lake, the sound of the water hitting the rocks, and spot two Adirondack chairs on a dock. I wait for her to pick a seat and then sit next to her. I open the cooler, taking out a beer for me and one for her. “I can get used to this,” she says, taking a pull of her beer. “Would you be able to do this all year long?”

  “Live up here?” I ask, taking a pull of the cold beer. “I mean, I’d love to vacation here, but I think I would need to be a little bit more in town.”

  She nods, and for the rest of the afternoon, we make idle chitchat. Both of us are nervous about what tonight will bring. We head back up to the house when the sun goes down. “What were you thinking about eating for dinner?”

  “We can throw a couple of steaks and potatoes on the grill,” I say. She takes the stuff out of the bag while I get the steak out.