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He scoffs until he realizes I'm being serious. "I may love you, Ryan, but I am not letting you get anywhere near my hair with a pair of scissors."
"Fine, but I think you would look adorable with a buzz cut." I turn my head and watch as we near the car.
He sets me on my feet but traps me between his body and the car with his hands resting on the car hood. "Are you seriously saying that had I let you cut my hair, you would have buzzed all my hair off?"
"Well, what did you think I would do? I ain't no beautician!" I turn and yank the door open.
"Thank God for standing my ground!" Beau says under his breath before shutting my door.
He thinks I didn't hear him, so I drop the smile before he gets into the car. "So, what are your plans when we get back?"
He shrugs. "Who knows. It depends on what kind of mood my father is in. He was pissed that I took off, and all I did was leave a note. I turned my ringer off when we arrived because he kept texting me."
"You didn't tell me that!" I'm a little hurt that he didn't say anything.
Sighing, he takes my hand. "I told you I just wanted to focus on us while we were here. Had I answered or even told you, I'd never hear the end of it. He would yell at me continuously, and you would nag me until I talked to him." I notice him wince as soon as he realizes he saidnag. "I didn't mean it like that, Ryan."
"Yeah, I know, and it's true. I wouldn't have been able to have a good time until you had called him back." I lightly punch his arm. "But don't keep stuff like this from me, please. I already harp on my mother for letting your father keep shit from her."
"Oh, I think she's handling it perfectly. I'm surprised he hasn't gotten fed up and called the wedding off," Beau states.
"You know, I've never asked you what you really thought of our parents getting married. I mean, aside from the obvious?" I give his hand a little squeeze, urging him to answer.
"Honestly? I think your mom will be good for him. I can tell he loves her, and for him to change a certain aspect of his life for her, well, that's got to count for something."
"You mean the whole Daddy Dom thing?" I try not to grin, but it's useless.
"Yeah, that…"
He parks the car in a city parking lot and then takes my hand as soon as we are out of the vehicle. I love that he wants everyone to know that we are together. Most guys my age are usually annoyed when their girlfriends want to hold hands in public. Not Beau. I study him briefly as we walk down the sidewalk, and I smile. He's a good guy, one of the best, if you can believe it.
"If you keep staring at me like that, I will have to take you back to the beach house…" He never looks at me, but he grins.
Chuckling, I lean into him more and squeeze his arm with my free hand. "Sorry, I was just admiring the arm candy I have with me."
He turns his head and cocks his brow at me. “Arm candy, huh?" He nods his head. "I can live with that."
We both continue the banter back and forth while looking through the shop windows. When we come across a shop with photo albums and keepsake items, I ask Beau, "Have you bought a wedding present yet?"
"Nope. I haven't even thought about it, honestly." He shrugs.
"Well, how about we get them one together?" I start to drag him into the store with me.
"Oh, because that will go over really well with your stepdaddy," Beau snickers.
I stop and look at him. "So, even if we weren't together, we wouldn't be able to go halves on a gift for them?"
"Who the hell knows anymore..." Beau frowns.
I pull on his hand. "Hey, don't. It's still our time, remember?"
He pulls me in and kisses my forehead sweetly. "You're right. I'm sorry. Let's find something, and then we can find someplace to grab lunch."
Gripping his hand, we do just that. After buying a matching photo album and frame for newlyweds, we head over to a quaint little pub and find a seat on the back patio facing the beach. I don't think I've ever been happier than I am now. I feel like a real couple, and Beau has been nothing but the best this whole trip. I will savor this time and remember it always.
Eighteen
"You look so beautiful, Mom!" I say breathlessly when she finally steps out in her wedding gown.
