Page 70 of Keeping it Local

Everything in me told me this would be an important night for us, and I was ready.

Chapter 25

Beth

Tonight was the big night. I was running late, but I was finally here, and the tent looked beautiful. Twinkle lights lined the ceiling of the tent, and there were giant electric candles in the center of each table. People were running around trying to prep still, but the place exuded “special night.”

After Megan had texted me earlier from work, I went to her office, driving her home to help get her changed and in bed. She burned up when I felt her, and every so often, she was still running to the bathroom to get sick.

She was missing her big night. It didn’t feel fair that I was here, and she was home, sick in bed.

I tried to put that to the back of my mind though. I wanted to soak up the last few days of Port St. Clair and enjoy what time I had left with Johnny.

Last night, when we were on the Ferris wheel, I couldn’t help but think he was going to bring something important up before we got stuck and I freaked out by the height we were at.

I shook my head, trying to clear it. That was wishful thinking anyway. Maybe I could talk with him after the festival was over though. We’d really never had a full adult conversation about what our relationship could look like, and if he was on board, I wanted to give long distance a shot. I knew he still had baggage from his marriage, but I was willing to put in the effort if he was.

My stomach did flips just giving myself the hope, but I knew it wasn’t the time.

“There you are!” Johnny came up, giving me a quick kiss before raking his gaze over my body. “You look gorgeous.”

I’d taken Megan’s advice to heart when she told me this was the biggest event in town of the year, and if you can’t dress up for that, what could you dress up for? I borrowed one of her dresses. It was emerald green and went down to my calves with a ruffle on the bottom. It was low-cut, lower than any of my dresses, but when I’d tried it on for her last week, she squealed, saying I had to wear it and that it showed everything off without looking trashy. Instead of heels, I wore a pair of wedge sandals that I hadn’t had on all summer, and I curled my hair, pulling back the front. She insisted I wear a shade of her red lipstick. When I’d looked in the mirror earlier, I almost hadn’t recognized myself, but my freckles still showed through my makeup, and I felt like it was the glammed-up version of myself that I just wasn’t used to.

“I’m going to get lipstick on you.” I leaned back, before he kissed me anyway.

“You think I care?” I felt Johnny’s hand roam against my back, before giving my butt a squeeze.

“The place looks amazing. I’m sorry I couldn’t help more.”

“You helped plenty. Plus, Megan needed you,” he said, his hand still grazing my lower back.

He, along with Lane, Ted, and Miranda had done wonders in the tent. Last night, it hadn’t looked like this, and I needed to remember to take photos to show Megan how it all turned out.

“Can’t believe you’re tonight’s auctioneer. I might have to bid on something just to get some face time with you.”

“Never.” He chuckled. “I always have time for my girl.”

My heart swelled. I liked the sound of that, and I took deep breaths not to read too much into it. I didn’t need to overthink anything. I could talk with him tomorrow, and we could level set before I took off for Randall next week. It would all be okay.

“You have my clothes?”

I lifted the bag toward him, and he gave me a quick kiss before heading in the other direction to change.

As he changed, I found where all the silent auction items were and placed the bid sheets below each donation. Guests filtered in, and even with my back to them, one voice in particular stood out to me.

The program was getting started soon, and I was set to be stationed in the back of the tent with all the silent auction items. I made my way to the back of the room, and my eyes connected with Johnny’s. I silently whispered, “Hi,” to him and gave him a low wave next to my hip.

The music died down as Johnny stepped onto the stage, and Greg stepped on stage next to him, microphone in hand, booming through the speaker. They were ad-libbing back and forth, and I knew even though it wasn’t the original plan, this would still be a great night that Megan would be proud of.

“Beth?”

Was someone saying my name?

“Beth!”

I looked over my shoulder, and Michael was standing behind me.

“Michael? What are you doing here?”