Blissfully Unaware

Chapter Nineteen

Beau

    I can feel my heart in my chest. She is gorgeous. The way her dress follows the curves of her hourglass shaped body. The green in the dress makes her own green eyes seem brighter. The way her loose curls fall around her face. Then there’s that genuinely shy smile, the most honest facial expression this girl can give. The one that tells me she’s truly happy. I love that smile. If I’m honest with myself, I love that girl too. I have since I was nine years old and that amazing girl kissed me. Granted she did run away, but when her mom passed away I finally found out why. I couldn’t fault her for wanting to protect her mother. Her mother was a great woman. But, at the same time I wish I could have protected her from her father’s abuse. The damage that could have been prevented, we could have been together sooner. I could have showed her how a really man shows his love. Unfortunately there’s no changing the past I can only make her future, our future, better and filled with love and kindness.

    We were having so much fun, talking and making jokes. I didn’t have the anxious feeling I would have when I went out with a girl. Sawyer could put me at ease with a simple smile. I wanted to be closer to her, touch her, the whole time. My face hurt from all of the smiling this beautiful girl made me do and it was only the end of dinner. I still had a whole dance to make it through.

    We arrived shortly after seven, the parking lot was beginning to fill. We found a spot in the back, didn’t want some idiot dinging David’s new truck. He only let me borrow it because of Sawyer. He and my mom were oddly ecstatic when I told them I was taking her to the fall formal. He handed me the keys earlier and told me to show her a good time and to be the gentleman he knew I was. He knows more about Sawyer’s abuse than he told me, but seeing her face that horrible night I had a better idea. Tonight will be perfect for her. I made sure of that.

    As we enter the gym everyone stares. The guys scanned Sawyer, looking for that shy loner girl they were all used to. The girls gasped and gossiped, not believing I would be with such a girl. Little did they realize she meant more to me than any of them ever did. I feel Sawyer’s hand tighten on my arm. I slip her hand into mine and lead her to the dance floor drowning out everyone else.

    “Babes, look at me. It’s just us here. I’m going to dance with my girl and pay no mind to anyone else because my girl is the most beautiful girl here. Inside and out.”

    Sawyer pulls me in for a kiss. Her lips touch mine and I can feel the urgency to deepen it. I bite her lower lip begging her to wait a bit longer.

    “I want you so badly, but I want you to enjoy our first dance. I have plans for those lips later.” I shoot her a sultry wink.

    The first slow song is From the Ground Up by Dan + Shay. I place my hands at her waist as she wraps hers around my neck. We fit each other perfectly. She rests her head in the crook of my neck. I press my body against hers.

    “Thank you for tonight Babe.” She whispers.

    “Anything for my girl. I’d do anything possible to make you happy Sawyer.” She nuzzles my neck.

    “It’s hard for me to trust people Beau. Everyone I’ve ever loved has left me, or hurt me. Luke took off to college without looking back, my mom died, Trenton. Well, you know what he did.” I feel wetness on my neck.

    “Oh babes, don’t cry. I’m not going anywhere. When you say it’s over is when we will end. We never have to be apart unless that’s what you want. I promise you that. I’m in this for the long haul.”

    “I don’t deserve you Beau. You’re too good to me.”

    I pick her chin up and make her look me in the eyes. “You are worth so much more than me, but I will spend every day trying to be the man that deserves you.”