Drew
“I’ll bring the firewood; you bring the cooler.” Luke lifted his tackle box from the boat and into his truck.
Drew nodded. He stowed away his own fishing gear in the garage and turned back to Luke. Things between them had slowly gotten closer to normal over the last four months, mostly because Luke’s stubbornness refused to allow anything else.
After giving Drew a week to cool off, Luke showed up with the boat and basically forced him into the truck. Not many words had passed between them that first morning as they sat out on the water, but it was a start. Then they spent some time together working on his truck and the deck out back that needed to be replaced. Luke and Anna still worked together every day, but the three of them hadn’t been together since Anna’s confession four months ago.
Luke rolled his eyes. “You’re too quiet. It’s not going to be weird tonight, right? We’re past all that.”
The three of them being together again felt awkward as hell in Drew’s mind, but he wanted to talk about it as much as he wanted to pull his fingernails off with a pair of pliers.
It was July 4th and Sage Hill’s Independence Day Festival. At fifteen, Drew, Luke, Anna and Allison started a bonfire tradition down river from the festival for the fireworks.
Drew slapped his best friend on the back and headed inside the house without a word. He wasn’t sure how he felt about tonight, but there was one thing he knew for certain. Six months had passed since he’d been given a second chance with Anna, and he thanked God every single day for it.
He peeked around the corner of his living room where Anna sat tucked under a blanket, his dog Roxy cozied up on her lap. The morning sun shone through the blinds, glowing off her beautiful face. Leaning against the doorway, he watched as she read the book resting on her knees. He’d been hinting for weeks for her to move in, but she hadn’t yet agreed. Even on nights when she did go home, she’d be back at his house before breakfast just like today.
She caught his stare, rewarding him with the gorgeous dimpled smile that could make him do pretty much anything she ever asked. That also extended to not doing things he knew she needed him to wait for, which was damn near impossible with her looking so tempting. But hell would freeze over before he broke another promise to her. Before he caused the fear to come back into her eyes and the doubt spiral that he would leave her again.
He loved waking up next to her more than his physical need to brand her as his. It would always kill him that he hadn’t been her first, but he planned to make for damn sure he would be her last. She was in control of the base rounding for now, and when she was ready, he’d make it everything for her.
Turning his favorite hat backward in preparation for a kiss, he shooed a grumpy Roxy out of the way and pushed Anna back into the couch.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he whispered, staring into those emerald eyes.
She lifted her head, her lips brushing the shell of his ear. “You smell like fish,” she whispered back.
He kissed his way up her neck and across her jaw. “Do I smell bad enough that you want me to stop?”
The hitch in her breath that was his kryptonite made him pull back when he got to her collarbone. He studied every angle of her face, the way her lashes fell over her eyes and she bit her lip under his examination. She’d never stop being the shy girl who was afraid to hold his hand in the sixth grade when feelings they didn’t yet understand had gotten tangled with their lifelong friendship.
Drew leaned in slowly, watching her eyes fall closed as he kissed her. He tilted her head to deepen the kiss and reveled in the fact that no matter how many times he had kissed her over the last six months, it still felt like he was lucky she allowed him to be near her.
She rolled to straddle him. “Go get in the shower. We’re going to be late for lunch with my family.”
He stood, throwing her over his shoulder as he walked to his room.
“Put me down,” she squealed.
Drew tossed her on the bed with a wink as he closed the door to the bathroom.
Showered, dressed, and ready, twenty minutes later, he watched as she touched up her makeup. The tubes and brushes lay strewn across her side of the bathroom cabinet. She’d become comfortable here with him. Now if only he could convince her to make the move home permanent, to share this house with him forever.
She caught him staring in the mirror as she painted her lashes. “Why are you staring at me today?”
“Admiring the view.” He smiled, grabbing her around the waist from behind.
Drew placed kisses from her ear all the way down her neck to her bare shoulder, running his finger gently under the strap of her red and white striped tank top. Her eyes closed with a sigh. “It’s really hard to get ready with you distracting me like this.”
He spun her to face him, lifting her onto the counter. “I have something for you.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up. She loved surprises just as much as he did.
His hands cupped her face, staring into her flickering green eyes. “Just a little something to say how happy I am and how much I love you.”
He handed her the long white box from his back pocket. She slowly opened the blue bow, then stared from him to the bracelet.
“It’s the same one,” he said as his fingers traced the charm bracelet he’d given her for her seventeenth birthday. The tiny sun at the beginning was the first he’d placed there. The heart, letter A, softball, Christmas tree, and graduation cap were also still there from before, but he’d added more. There was the sapphire promise ring she never took off until the day he walked away from her, his championship baseball pendant from when his college team won the conference tournament. The game he now knew she was at. He’d also included a half heart, because his had never been whole since he left.
“Each one tells our story,” he whispered.
She stared at him, tears glistening in her eyelids. “How did you do this?”
“Your mom. The box labeled Drew and Anna under your bed was pretty helpful. I’m just glad you didn’t burn it.”
“Me too,” she said. Her legs wrapped around him, pulling him to her. He fastened the bracelet on her wrist as she continued to examine it.
She held the tiny rhinestone pendant between her fingers. “What’s this?”
“It’s a piece of your homecoming crown. It fell off in my truck after the dance, and it’s been in there ever since. I may have moved it to the glove box of every vehicle I’ve ever owned. Traci shined it up a little before she added it.”
“You’ve had it all this time?”
“You’re not the only one who kept things.”
“What’s this one?” She touched a smooth brown-speckled rock.
“I picked it up at the river a few months ago when you said you loved me.”
“Wow…” She looked from the bracelet to him and back again. Drew’s heart threatened to pound right out of his ribcage from the emotions swimming in her eyes.
He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek, slowly moving in for a tender kiss. Her mouth parted eagerly, and her hands went to his hair, thighs tightening around him.
“We’re already late for lunch.” She giggled, fingers brushing the buttons of his red polo shirt. “I thought you were scared of Max.”
Drew’s hands roamed a trail from her thighs, over her navy blue skirt, up to her hips with a squeeze. “I’m not scared of Max. I’m bigger now. I could probably get a few good punches in before he knocked me out.”
She broke their kiss way too soon with a raised brow, and he growled, tickling her until she squealed.
They loaded everything into his truck and pulled up to her parents’ house a few minutes later. From Drew’s peripheral vision, he caught Anna staring at the bracelet dangling from her wrist. Her head lifted, gaze meeting his with that mega-watt smile. She turned to face him, kneeling on the bench seat, and it took every ounce of will power he had not to grab her hips and pull her to straddle him.
Drew leaned to kiss her, regardless of her family waiting in the backyard, but a tap on the window jerked him back.
“Are you two getting out of the truck?” Beth asked, hand firmly on her hip. “We’re about to eat without you.”
Anna gave her sister the go away now glare he’d seen so many times when Beth caught them tangled together, but instead of arguing, she grabbed her apple pie from the backseat. Drew followed her to the backyard. Kinley rushed immediately into Anna’s arms as she rounded the corner, her jabber almost unintelligible.
Max was home for the holiday weekend and sat on the deck with Kevin. At least Drew had an ally if things went south.
Charlotte jumped into Drew’s arms, but the little traitor was no help in making a buffer, squirming down as soon as she saw the tree house and waddle-running like toddlers do. A slide had been added to the massive wooden structure since his days spent up there kissing Anna.
Max grabbed Anna in a hug, swinging her around. He eyed Drew suspiciously, brows narrowed in concentration for what seemed like eternity before extending a hand his way. “Good to see you, Drew.”
Drew returned the handshake, and Max yanked him in closer, squeezing much harder than necessary. “Promise me you’ll take good care of my baby sister this time.”
“I will.” It came out with far more authority on the outside than he felt on the inside.
Max slapped him on the back with a laugh, falling into a seat at the picnic table. “Good. Cause you’re old enough for me to beat you if you break her heart this time.”
Drew returned Max’s laugh with a nervous one of his own, but as he moved to sit, Beth tugged his arm.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked.
“Sure.”
He followed her away from the crowd, and they sat facing each other in two Adirondack chairs by the river.
Beth’s hands twisted in her lap until she leaned forward and smiled. “We’re having Jace’s dedication at church tomorrow.”
“Yeah, Anna and I will be there. She’s really excited about standing up with him.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Kevin and I have been discussing it, and we’d like you to stand with her too.”
He smiled, equal parts shocked and honored. “Really?”
Drew followed Beth’s gaze to Anna, where she cradled Jace against her at the picnic table.
“Yeah, really. Kevin and I can’t think of a better man, but I need to know one thing.”
Drew’s voice cracked with emotion. “Anything.”
“I need to know you’re going to be there.” She reached over, her hand resting on his knee. “I need to know you are one hundred percent in this and you aren’t going to change your mind tomorrow. I know you’re not that nineteen-year-old kid now, and I’ve always known you two belonged together, even when you didn’t, but I need to hear you say it. That you are planning to be a permanent member of this family.”
“I am.” He quickly assured her, eyes burning with tears. “I’d ask her to marry me right now, but I’m not sure she’s ready. I’ve waited my entire life to be her husband…to be part of this family.”
Beth crossed her arms with a smile. “You know, you’ll probably want to get a ring first.”
His gaze shifted to the water then back again to see Beth’s jaw drop open.
“Do you already have a ring?” She all but shouted it, and they both scanned the yard to see if anyone had heard. “Oh, sorry. Do you already have a ring?” she whisper-yelled instead.
“Yes, I have a ring. I’ve had it for a while now. Beth, I have no doubts Anna is the only one for me. There’s no way I’m letting her go again.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” They stood, and she pulled him into a hug. “So you’ll do it?”
“Absolutely, I’m honored. Does Anna know about this?”
“No, I wanted to talk to you before I said anything to her.” Beth started toward the yard to rejoin the group.
“Hey, Beth,” he said, and she stopped, glancing over her shoulder. “Can we keep the ring thing between us? When I do ask, I’d like it to be a surprise.”
She nodded, and Drew kept his place in the chair. He rolled over their conversation again while his fingers rolled over the two-carat diamond in his pocket. The thought of being a permanent member of this family only made him want it…right now.
He’d carried the ring with him since he bought it. He even scheduled a secret 5 a.m. meeting with Traci at her jewelry store. They designed the perfect ring for Anna without spectators, and he swore her to secrecy this time.
After lunch, Anna and Drew played in the tree house with the kids. An hour later, each one slid down the slide, distracted by chocolate cake. Anna moved to sit on Drew’s lap when they were alone, nose brushing his neck. The top of her head nearly bumped the wood ceiling.
He wrapped his arms around her with a kiss in her hair. “You know, it was in this very spot a nervous twelve-year-old me decided to kiss you.”
She lifted her face to his, and her fingers slid torturously slow over his week-old stubble. Drew’s lips met hers, and he tried to keep the kiss quick, but emotions from the conversation with Beth mixed with the memory of kissing her for the first time overwhelmed him. He had to break free from her mouth before he broke his promise and stripped her right there with her family yards away.
“Wow,” she murmured, eyes still closed. “Not sure that tops the first kiss in here, but it’s definitely a close second.”
Kissing his way up her neck, Drew nipped her ear. “You mean I’m not a better kisser than I was eighteen years ago?”
The teasing smile on her face turned serious as she brushed her thumb along his jaw line. “I was helplessly in love with you before your lips ever touched mine.”
“There’s not a day in my life where I haven’t loved you.” Tears burned the back of Drew’s eyes as he stared at his Sunshine, the love of his life, while the diamond burned a hole in his pocket.
His hand moved there, but before he reached the ring, Elise popped her little head into the tree house, informing them it was time for the festival.
Drew breathed out a sigh, of relief or frustration he wasn’t sure.
Every light post in the park was decked out with patriotic decorations, and flags hung around the white gazebo. A local cover band played on stage in front of the growing crowd of lawn chairs, and kids ran in circles from the inflatables, to the turtle races, dime pitch and back for face painting and ice cream.
After spending a few hours with friends and neighbors of Sage Hill and their ‘oh how precious you two are’ and ‘aren’t they just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen,’ Drew and Anna walked hand in hand to the bonfire Luke already had burning.
Drew’s steps faltered slightly when he saw Luke pulling the cooler from his truck, but somehow the awkwardness that was supposed to be there didn’t show. Luke approached them, squeezing Anna in a hug as he always did. Her laughter sparked an unexpected smile from Drew.
Sitting her feet back on the ground, Luke peeked from behind her like a shield. “You gonna punch me again?”
The guy excelled in cracking jokes to diffuse uncomfortable situations. It worked damn near every time, and Drew loved the idiot like a brother. In the end, he wasn’t willing to lose either of them, so his only choice was to let it go.
Drew jabbed him in the arm. “I wasn’t planning on messing up your pretty face again, but the night is still young.”
They grabbed a drink and their seats as greens, blues, and reds began to light the night sky. Drew could only stare at the woman sitting next to him. Watching her far outweighed the beauty of any fireworks show. His mind wandered weakly to the Independence Day Festival years earlier. In that memory, Drew sat behind Anna and Mason, trying to drink himself into oblivion.
Drew kissed her temple, inhaling the citrus scent that calmed the storm raging inside. He lifted her into his arms on his lap and reminded himself he’d never have to live without her again. Someday soon, he’d give her his ring and marry her as quickly as she’d allow.
Over her shoulder, Drew caught a glimpse of Luke in the lawn chairs behind them. The slight shake of his head told Drew that Luke knew the direction of his thoughts. Unfortunately, their silent conversation hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“Am I missing something?” Anna said with a laugh.
Luke leaned back in his chair, arm around his date. “Nope, I’ve seen that look before, and I don’t need another fist to the face.”
“Very funny.”
Her head cocked in curiosity, teeth pulling on the side of her lip. Drew let out a discouraged breath. “Let’s just say the last time we were all here, I wasn’t having the best time.”
Her eyebrows pulled down, confused. She clearly didn’t remember her last Independence Day Festival as vividly as Drew did.
“The last time Luke and I saw you here, you were sitting in this very spot next to Mason, and I was sitting back there with Luke, listening to you say things like, ‘Maybe my parents will go to bed early.’ I spent most of the night trying to get that image out of my head.”
She scrunched her nose, the look in her eyes apologetic.
He placed a kiss behind her ear. “It wasn’t my most pleasant evening, but it only makes me more thankful you’re here now.”
Seeing her that night with Mason had still been better than not seeing her at all. Even if it broke him a little more inside.
The fireworks ended, and the roaring flames turned to a flickering smolder. Anna moved to load the truck while Drew doused the fire with water.
“Tonight was great,” Luke said with a slap on Drew’s back.
“Yeah, it really was.”
“And I’m…” Luke closed his eyes, pulling in a deep breath. His expression pinched with the weight of his thoughts—a rare occurrence. “I’m glad we’re okay…that things are okay between us. I couldn’t handle losing you guys.”
Luke stared down at his boot, fidgeting with his hands. It was his tell that his thoughts had turned to Allison. Drew knew better than anyone that Luke hadn’t let anyone else through his armor since they were teenagers. He nodded in agreement and pulled his best friend into a hug.
“You ever think about dating someone you might let stick around for more than a night?” Drew asked, out of earshot from Luke’s date.
“A few years ago, I did. There was this girl that…” Luke shook his head. “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.”
He walked away with a wave over his shoulder before Drew could press him further, disappearing down the grass-covered path with his date.
Drew moved behind Anna as she loaded the chairs away, the quiet trickle of the flowing water the only sound now that they were alone.
She spun and raised an eyebrow. “We have to be up super early in the morning for Jace’s dedication at church. We do not have time for crawling in the back of this truck.”
“There’s always time for that,” he whispered.
Taking two steps back, Drew pulled his shirt up and over his head.
“Let’s go for a swim,” he said, and her gaze quickly focused on his tattoo. Damn, he’d get another one right now if it meant she’d always look at him that way.
He unbuttoned his shorts, slowly stripping down to his boxer briefs.
“No!” she shouted adamantly. Her arms crossed over her chest in a way she thought made her look tough but only accentuated her cleavage in the tank top.
Drew continued backward into the water. She’d already taken a few steps toward him. He’d win this battle.
“Come on, Sunshine.” He gave her his most persuasive voice standing waist deep in the water. “Please.”
“Turn around,” she huffed, rolling her eyes.
“I’ve seen…”
“Turn around or I’m getting in the truck and leaving you here.” She cut him off with a smirk, reaching into her pocket and waving the keys.
Drew turned into the moonlight. “You just don’t want me to see where that sexy tattoo of yours is hiding.”
Her soft hands brushed gently over his shoulders, and his whole body set fire from her touch. He turned to face her.
“Who says it’s sexy?” she whispered.
“If it’s on your skin, I guarantee it’s sexy.” Drew kissed her neck while every inch of exposed skin brushed his in the cool water on a hot July night. His lips met hers, parting them immediately. The water flowed around them as his fingers brushed down her sides to squeeze her hips. “I’ll never be able to get enough of you.”