The Best Of Me

Chapter 11

Harmony

           Pretty much since I woke up I've been checking my phone every 5 minutes waiting for a text or call from Brantley. Around 3 I started to think that maybe he'd lost my number or worse. Maybe he was so drunk he forgot that he asked me out or maybe he just changed his mind and he wasn't interested in me after all. I mean what would someone like him want with someone like me anyway? And what was wrong with me? I was lucky he was even asking me out so why did I jeopardize it buy telling him he had to be sober? As long as he wasn't driving it was none of my business what he did. I wasn't his girlfriend and I wasn't his mother. I just wish he'd at least text me already. Even if he changed his mind I hoped he would let me know.

It was 4 o'clock when rang. I didn't recognize the number but I knew it had to be him. Suddenly I wished he hadn't called. My throat was dry and my hands were shaking. I had to answer though because if I didn't he might think I changed my mind. "Hello" "Hey Harmony, It's Brantley. You gave me your number at the bar last night." I laughed as I said "Yeah. I remember. I wasn't drinking and even if I was I wouldn't forget giving you my number." "Yeah. I don't know why I said that. So you still wanna go out tonight?" "Definitely" I hated that I sounded so flipping desperate. "Great. Text me your address and I'll pick you up at 6 if that works for you." "Yup. See you then." I held the phone to my ear for awhile after he hung up as if I was trying to memorize the sound of his voice.

I spent the next two hours running around my small motel room trying to figure out what to wear. Every outfit didn't feel like the right one. I didn't even know what we were doing to know how to dress. I settled on a nice pair of jeans and a nice top. I kept putting on makeup and deciding it didn't look good so I'd wipe it off and do it again. I settled on just a bit of eye liner, eye shadow, and lip gloss. The closer it got to 6 the more nervous I got. Around 5:45 I started second guessing the minimal makeup and jeans but it was too late to change and that's when I realized I ahdn't done anything at all with my hair. There was a knock on my door. "One second" I grabbed my brush and quickly put my hair up into a ponytail. My last thought as I passed the full length mirror before I opened the door was that I must not want a second date since it didn't even look like I'd tried to look nice for the first.

I forgot all my worries, I even forgot how to breathe when I opened the door and stood face to face with Brantley. He was standing there in ripped jeans and a leather jacket looking every bit the bad boy I imagined he was. I didn't feel so underdressed any more but I was still worried that Brantley was expecting more. I didn't realize how long we'd been standing there just staring at each other until Brantley asked me if I was ready. "Yeah, just let me grab a light jacket then we can go." He stayed outside my door while I ran to get a jacket and he put his hand on my back as we walked outside.

I stopped in my tracks when I realized he was laeding me toward the big black Harley in the nearest parking spot. I stopped so abruptly and unexpectedly that Brantley ran into me. "Oh. Sorry. Why did you stop?" "You're driving that?" "Of course I am that's what I drive." "Don't you have a truck?" "Yeah but it's not as fun to drive. Come on you can trust me. I won't let anything happen to you." Something about the way he said it made me believe him. At that point I would trust Brantley, a practical stranger, with my life and I couldn't even explain why. I was absolutely terrified. I always thought that guys on motorcycles looked hot and all but I had never had the desire to actually get on one. No matter how sexy the driver. Without even a second thought I climbed on behind Brantley and strapped on the helmet he handed me and as he revved it up I wrapped my arms around him.

For the first few minutes I was too scared to even open my eyes. I could feel Brantley's even breathing through his back as I held onto him for dear life. After a little while I was finally calmed enough to actually open my eyes. We were already out of the city and the trees appeared to be flying right past us. It was actually really cool. I relaxed a little bit and that's when I noticed how tightly I'd been holding onto Brantley. I felt a little bad about that. Another few minutes passed and I loosened my hold on Brantley even more and I even sat back a little. The sight of everything passing us by was such a beautiful one. I felt free and strangely I felt safe. I peeked over at the speedomter and wasn't at all surprised to see we were going over 100 miles per hour. As the city got farther and farther behind us I started to wonder exactly where it was we were headed. Brantley yelled back and asked me if I was okay and I told him that I was.

The vibration of the bike kind of made my butt numb after awhile. Probably because I wasn't used to it. The actual seat wasn't uncomfortable to me it was a little similar to riding a horse except that horses don't vibrate. I sat staright up and really enjoyed the ride. If my dad saw me right now he would kill me and mymom would have a heart attack. Melody would be encouraging me though. I could almost hear her voice in my head. "It's fun isn't it" It was more fun than I'd had in such a long time. No matter what happened tonight I would never regret saying yes to Brantley. After about 45 minutes we pulled onto a dirt road that led to a barn. Brantley parked and climbed off before offering me his hand to help me off. My legs were a bit shaky and Brantley saw me and laughed a little before putting his arm around me to steady me. "I wasn't really sure where we should go tonight. I realized I don't know much about you or the things you'd like to do. All I really know is that you're from Georgia just like me. I know the guy who owns this place and he let me borrow it for the night.

Brantley led me around the side of the building where there were just rows and rows of peach trees. There were lights strung up in all the trees and there was a table for two with a candle in the middle, covered plates at each setting and a pitcher of what looked like peach tea in the middle. It was stunning and so perfect. Brantley must have had someone set it all up for him because the candle had just been lit and the tea had barely started condensating. He walked around and pulled my seat out for me and then took his own seat. I took the cover off the still warm food and smiled to myself. I was almost expecting something super fancy with the way everything looked but it was just pot roast with potatoes and carrots. Brantley poured us each a glass of tea and we started to talk and to eat. The roast was actually venison and I told Brantley how much I loved venison and that it was my favorite food. After we ate Brantley laid a blanket down and we talked and laughed and watched the Tennessee sunset. It was turning out to be the perfect night. I wasn't ready for it to end yet.

"I had such a great time tonight. Thank you." "Me, too Harmony. I haven't had that good of a time in awhile. When can I see you again?" "I'm off Tuesday night if you want to do something then." "Tuesday night is great but what about lunch tomorrow? I can pick you up at one. I'll drive the truck." "sounds good to me." "Great." We got to my door and for a minute I thought he was going to kiss me instead he told me goodnight and he'd see me tomorrow. I was a little disappointed but not discouraged. We had had a great time and I knew he felt the spark between us just as much as I did. I couldn't wait to see him tomorrow.