Page 36 of Forever Mine

I shut his door, and Beau is standing at the passenger door with it open for me.

Ollie hollers from the back as I get in, “Are you going to play it loud, Aunt Nat?”

Beau is walking around to the driver’s side, watching me through the front windshield. “You know it, kid.”

As soon as Beau turns on the car, I find the music on my phone and blare the song through the speakers. The whole way across town, we sing along with the windows down. I pull the visor down to see Ollie in the back seat, and he smiles at me, nodding his head along to the music.

I join in, earning an even bigger smile from him.

Beau is quiet the whole trip. If he wanted to say anything, he would have to do it over the loud music. For just a moment, I let myself reflect on everything. It shouldn’t be this hard. I love him, and he loves me. It shouldn’t be this hard.

Chapter19

Beau

Ifucked up… again.

I know I did. It was stupid. One night after a game, Ford and Lilian asked me to take Ollie out to dinner so they could have a date night. It was nothing. Ollie and I were enjoying our meal when Marlene and Max showed up. Of course, Max and Ollie wanted to eat together, and we ate a meal. Marlene flirted, but I made sure to talk about Natalie, and absolutely nothing happened. But just thinking about it, I know where I fucked up. I should have told Natalie about it. Hell, I should have had Natalie there with me.

We pull into the parking lot, and Nat and Ollie are both out of the car before I can get around to their side. I reach for her hand and hold my breath, wondering if she’s going to let me or not. When her hand fits into mine, I breathe out a sigh of relief.

“What do you want on your pizza, Ollie?”

As soon as she asks the question, I’m shaking my head because I know what the kid is going to answer. “Pineapple!”

She stops and looks down at him. “Pineapple? You want pineapple on your pizza?”

He nods. “I swear, it’s really good, Aunt Nat. Try it with me.” He points at me. “All of them say its gross, and they get me my own pizza, but they won’t even try it.”

Natalie holds her hand up for a high-five. Ollie doesn’t hesitate and smacks his hand across hers. “Well, you’re in luck, little nephew. I happen to love pineapple. Have you tried it with pepperoni and pineapple? That’s my favorite.”

He shakes his head. “No, but I love pepperoni, and I love pineapple.” And then he squints his forehead. “Do you really like it, Aunt Nat, or are you just joking with me?”

Natalie laughs, and the sound goes all through me. I’m learning that I love to hear her laugh. “I promise. I love pineapple on my pizza. I never get to eat it, though, because this guy will only eat meat on his pizza.”

Ollie jumps up and down excitedly. “Well, any time you want pineapple pizza, I’m your guy, Aunt Nat. I’ll eat it with you.”

They both walk ahead, and I listen to them laugh and joke with each other. All this time, I’ve kept their interactions limited, and they’ve missed out… because of me.

When we get inside, Ford is waving at us, and we make our way to a table in the back. The place is packed, and we squeeze between all the tables to get to our family. Ford, Lilian, Huddy, Elle, and Austin are all sitting down. “We went ahead and ordered pizzas since they were getting so busy. We got a little of everything,” Ford says.

Ollie slides in to sit next to Ford. Nat slides in next, and then I follow, still holding her hand. I just don’t want to let her go.

Natalie looks around the table. “Where are Lucas and Issi?”

Elle leans forward with a grimace on her face. “Issi was tired, so they went home.”

Natalie nods, and we all listen as Ollie tells everyone what Nat’s favorite kind of pizza is. When the server comes, we order drinks, and I make sure to order Nat a pepperoni and pineapple pizza. All this time, I had no idea that she even ate that on her pizza. She always just said whatever was fine when I asked her. I want to kick myself because now I'm wondering what else she has given up because of me.

We talk about the soccer game and Blaze Whiskey, and Elle asks Nat about the gym. It seems like no time at all has passed before they are bringing all the pizzas out. “And last but not least, I have a small pineapple pizza and a small pepperoni and pineapple pizza.”

Natalie looks at me, surprised, and smiles. “Did you order that?”

I nod. “Yeah, I didn’t know it was your favorite. I know now.”

The look she gives me makes me want to order twenty more pizzas especially for her. I’m learning that it’s the little things that she appreciates. I think she’s happier right now than she was when I gave her the diamond earrings she’s wearing.

I release her hand so we can eat, and I notice my brother across the table barely eating. “What’s up, Austin? Where’s Ally?”

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