The Best Of Me

Chapter 16

Brantley

      I watched Harmony sleep afraid to move not wanting to wake her. The sun was shining off her long black hair. Black doesn't reflect it absorbs but I swear I could see the sun reflecting from her hair. The blanket was at her waist exposing her back. I traced every line and every curve with my eyes wanting so badly touch her. Last night had easily been the best night of my life I thought I'd felt love before but I had never felt anything like this in my life. I really had to pee but I was afraid that if I moved Harmony would wake up and she really needed her sleep. I had seen the fleeting fear in her eyes every time I made a sudden move so I had been extra careful with her. I never wanted to be the source of her pain or her fear. It made me wonder though. I knew she had a bad experience with her ex but I didn't know how bad. I kind of had a feeling about it now though.

I slowly wiggled out of bed without waking Harmony. I didn't want to get out of bed but I really had to use the bathroom. When I walked back into the bedroom Harmony was sitting up and smiling at me. "I had a great night last night, and this morning. Let's do it again sometime soon." "What about right now?" "Um, I'm a little sore but in the best way possible. So rain check?" "I'm holding you to that." "How bout tonight?" "Tonight, tomorrow night, every night after that." "Probably not every night especially since I work nights." "Yeah You're right we can do it during the day, too." She threw a pillow at me laughing and I caught it. She had the most amazing smile and I loved being the reason for it. When she was truly happy, like right now, her hazel eyes were more green than brown and they lit up so bright. I wanted, no needed, to know what troubled her but I didn't want to dim the light in her eyes. We'd talk later.

After a day of doing nothing but sitting around the apartment Harmony was making me dinner. I watched her cooking and thought about how nice it would be to see her cooking in our kitchen in our house for our kids. I knew I was getting a little ahead of myself but I knew without a doubt she was the one I wanted a future with. The smell coming from the kitchen could only be described as heavenly. Harmony was a small town southern girl so I didn't for a second doubt she was an amazing cook. My phone beeped alerting me to an incoming text. I grabbed my phone and read the text from my manager and friend Steve. "Hey, I got you booked for a tour. It's a pretty good one. Rehearsals start Monday tour starts in 2 months." I text back. "Sounds good." I looked back up at Harmony smiling and singing along with the song on the radio. My heart was here in this apartment how was I ever going to leave?

I walked up behind Harmony and wrapped my arms around her. She leaned into me and kissed me before shooing me away from the stove. She was one of those women that didn't want anyone in her way while she was cooking which was fine with me I could watch her from afar. I would wait until tomorrow to tell her that I was going on tour. Tonight we had to talk about her ex though. I knew some of what he'd done to her but I had to know everything. I had a feeling I didn't really want to know though.

I watched Harmony as she told me all about Justin. About how he'd force himself on her anytime she said no. About how he hurt her. She told me about the baby and I saw her eyes go so dark it was scary. The pain I saw on her face was more than I could handle but I couldn't let her know that. I wanted to kill him and if he wasn't in jail I probably would have climbed on my bike and drove to Georgia right then and there and killed him with my own two hands. But of course if I killed him I'd be the one in jail and that would cause Harmony pain, too. So it was probably a good thing he was in jail.

I got up and went to the fridge and poured Harmony a glass of wine. I know she avoided drinking around me but she needed it and I could handle it. Surprisingly being around alcohol didn't even tempt me these days. When I offered it to Harmony she tried to turn it down at first but I insisted so she took it from me and drank it. I wanted so badly to hold her and tell her that everything was okay now and she didn't have to be afraid anymore but I knew that my words although well meant were just words and wouldn't be enough. I also got the feeling that she didn't want to be touched at the moment. I wasn't at all sure what to do so I just sat there awkwardly waiting for some kind of sign telling me what I should say or do. Harmony finished her glass of wine and I took it to the sink and washed it for her. She was starting to fall asleep so I picked her up and carried her to bed where I layed down next to her and just held her while she cried herself to sleep.

Harmony was all smiles in the morning as if last night's conversation had never happened. I was afraid of upsetting her again so I decided I'd wait to tell her about the tour. Harmony was only working until midnight tonight because it was a Wednesday and the bar wasn't open past 12. "Do you have plans tonight or can you drive me to work then pick me up a little after midnight?" "I can do that. Do you wanna go do anything? We can go for a drive. It's a bit chilly but we can bring blankets. Fall asleep under the stars." "Sounds good. I don't know how much actual sleep we'll be getting though." The smile on her face when she said that did things to me that she could never understand. God, I wanted her so bad right now.

I waited for Harmony to come out the back door. I couldn't stop thinking about all the things I wanted to do to her and with her. She walked out with Ashley and they were laughing and talking. "Hey can you give Ashley a ride home? Her car broke down and her boyfriend isn't answering his phone." "No problem." Ashley asked me about a thousand questions in the 5 minutes it took me to get her home. They weren't about my music like most people asked. She was concerned about her friend. She asked about my intentions with Harmony and if I was really done drinking. Stuff like that. I thought how after this meeting Harmony's dad would be easy. I actually couldn't wait to meet him and I doubt he'd have as many questions as Ashley. When Ashley got out Harmony laughed and apologized for her friend but I told her it was fine and I was glad she had a friend that cared that much about her.

I looked up at the stars in the sky as I held a sleeping Harmony in my arms. I leaned over to tuck the blanket around her and layed back on my arm. It was such a perfect night. Truth be told it could be storming all around us and I wouldn't notice as long as I held Harmony. First chance I got I would visit her dad in Georgia and ask his permission to ask her to marry me. It was fast but when it's right, it's right. I pulled her close to me and held her a little longer before waking her up. We had to get dressed and get back to the apartment. Once there we could sleep. Or we could not sleep. Either one worked for me. I still hadn't told Harmony about the tour though. I'd have to tell her soon. 

  

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How do you think Harmony is going to react to Brantley leaving so soon?