To Not Let Go

Chapter Five

     Renne checked the time on her phone again before tossing it onto her bed, frantically running around her room, attempting to get things ready for her lunch date with Marjorie, which she was running late for due to sleeping through her alarm, and taking forever to get chores done. Grabbing a ball cap, Renne threw it over her messy hair, making her way out of her bedroom. 

      Sprinting down the stairs, Renne grabbed her keys off the wall, jogging to her truck. 

      "Hey, hey, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Swayde called from across the yard, walking towards Renne who had just hopped into her truck. 

      "Meeting Marjorie for lunch, and I'm late." Renne opened her window so she could better talk with Swayde. Starting her truck, she leaned out her window just as Swayde walked over to her. 

       "When do you think you will be back?" Swayde asked, folding his arms, leaning over the open window, acting like Renne had all the time in the world to have a conversation with him right now. 

      "Who knows. Marjorie and I can talk all day. Why are you wondering?" She tapped her foot against the floorboard of her truck anxiously, checking the time on the dashboard. Renne hated to be impatient because she wanted to stay and talk to Swayde, but at the same time she also despised being late to anything. 

      "I was hopin' to take you out on a movie date. We can go see that one movie you have been talking a lot about." Swayde grinned, his blue eyes sparkling, making it even harder for Renne to leave. 

     "Man, two dates in two days? I'm feelin' awfully special right about now." Renne shot a smile back. She was forever thankful that he still works at Renne's grandparent's ranch; it meant that she got to see him practically every day.

    "Good. You should feel special. Well, you go have fun with Marjorie. Tell her I said howdy, and let me know when you get back here, and I'll come pick you up. I should be done with work around 6 tonight." Swayde leaned in, dropping a kiss on Renne's cheek, making them turn a shade of pink. He loved how, even now, he still had the ability to make her blush. 

      "See you in a bit, honey." 

     Swayde reluctantly stepped back from Renne's truck, tucking his hands in his pockets. "Drive safe. Don't speed. I know you're in a rush to get there."  

      Renne threw her truck in reverse, but kept her foot on the brake long enough to reply, "You know me too well." She chuckled; Swayde knew how her usually great driving turned not so great when she became rushed. "Thanks for bein' concerned." 

     "You're welcome. Plus, I don't want to go to this movie alone, and you can't go with me if you get hurt wrecking your truck." 

     "Yes sir." Renne released her hold on the brake, backing her truck out of her spot. As she pulled away, she saw Swayde still standing in the same spot. A smile rising to his lips, he gave Renne a wave, watching her drive away.

     Once she was out of Swayde's sight, Renne pressed her foot down harder against the gas pedal, her truck speeding down the back roads leading into town. The wind coming from her open window caused something to catch Renne's eyes. On her dash was a picture of her and Swayde from years ago. Even now, it was still her favorite picture of them together. Seeing Swayde's picture hiding part of the speedometer reminded Renne to drive safely. Slowing her truck slightly, Renne grinned, knowing Swayde was probably back home knowing she was on the road disobeying him. 

       To pass the time, and prevent her from speeding anymore, Renne thought about how her and Marjorie met.  The 71 year old and Renne became instant friends when they met a few months ago when Swayde and Renne were babysitting Renne's sisters kids for a weekend. After taking her nieces and nephew to supper at a pizza place, Swayde and Renne took them to get ice cream, where Marjorie approached Renne, while she was waiting in line. Marjorie had told Renne how cute of a couple her and Swayde made, and how cute their kids were. With a chuckle, Renne had told Marjorie that they were actually not her kids, rather her sister's children.