When I got back out to the sidewalk, it’d gotten even busier than it was before I’d walked off. I caught sight of Cassidy and just watched her. A smile was broadcasted across her face and seeing her happy made me smile.
“Hey you.” I leaned down to kiss her on the temple and she gave me that same shy smile she always offered.
I handed the flowers to her, “What are these for?”
“For our first date. A girl on a first date needs flowers, doesn’t she? And these specific roses mean something. The white one represents our new beginning and the red one represents your beauty and the love I hope will grow between us.”
She raised an eyebrow, “What about the blue one?”
“Some people think the blue rose is an expression of inner feelings such as love at first sight.”
“Aren’t you a romantic?”
I winked. “For you, anything sweetheart.”
I settled into my folding chair and draped my arm over the back of her chair as we watched the parade go through. It was always the same people, the same floats, and the same horses, but it was home. It reminded me why I loved this little town. It may not be much, but it was mine. The firetruck blared its horn signaling the finale of the parade had come and gone.
The crowd dispersed and I knew we’d be waiting a little while to get out of town and over to McCoy’s field where they set off the fireworks every year. I sat and watched Cassidy Mae, her eyes lit with the joys of small town life.
Rhett and Reagan had meandered our way.
“Hello, big brother. Cassidy Mae.”
“Ma’am,” Rhett said with a tip to his cowboy hat.
“Y’all enjoy the parade?” Reagan had directed her question to Cass and stood waiting for an answer.
Her smile said it all. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen a Fourth of July parade. I forgot how much fun they can be.”
“Y’all heading over to McCoy’s now?”
“Yep, we’ll be going that way shortly, waiting for people to clear out of the streets first.”
“Well, we’ll see you over there.” Rea winked at Cass before turning back to Rhett who offered his arm. She willingly placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and I tempered the flair of anger I felt. Reagan was my baby sister. I’d been raising her for as long as I can remember. Ever since Mama had run off when we were little. She could do better than Rhett Bishop.
I shook my head, turning back to Cassidy Mae, who was watching as they walked away.
“What’s going on between those two, I wonder?”
I wasn’t exactly sure if she thought I’d have a response or not, so I just shrugged.“Better not be anything. He ain’t right for her.” I mumbled.
She cocked an eyebrow at me. “Pot calling the kettle black much? You think I’m good for you…”
“Cassidy Mae, I don’t know how many times I gotta keep telling you this. No matter how many times you belittle what we have, I will always prove you wrong. We’re perfect for each other and someday you’re going to finally believe me.”
I didn’t give her a chance to reply before I ran my hand against hers asking permission to hold it, which she granted me.
“You ready to go darlin’? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting a whole year for some fireworks.” I smirk and she shakes her head. We grab our chairs and head back to the truck.
“Charmer…”
“Damn straight, sweetheart.”
I opened the truck door and held it while she hopped in. Pulling her hand to my lips, I kissed it once before shutting the door and walking to the driver’s side.
The trucks had started to line up by the time we got to McCoy’s. I parked a row back from everyone else. This was our night. The first fireworks show of many for us. And I didn’t want to share it with the rest of the town. Tonight was about me and my girl. She hopped out of the truck and I followed suit. Cassidy Mae went to pull the chairs out of the truck bed to sit in when I stopped her.
“We won’t be needing those darlin’.”
“Oh…okay.” She slowly sunk back into herself and I hated myself for it. I hated telling her no. Like she’d been doing something wrong, when that wasn’t the case. I’d planned for tonight and I wanted her to enjoy every second of it.
“Hey, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just thought of something better for the fireworks.” I grab the totes I’d packed up early and start setting up our fireworks viewing area in the back of my truck. A gasp came from behind me and I looked back to see Cassidy Mae’s sweet smile.
“You did all this for me?”
“Of course, I did, sweetheart. I told you. It’s our first date and it has to be perfect. Let me do this for us.”
A small nod and I turned back to setting up things. Blankets are placed gently in the truck bed followed by accent pillows. The beer is on ice in the cooler and the food is ready to go whenever.
I helped her into the truck bed first.
“This is perfect, Beau. Thank you for doing this.” A tear slid down her cheek and I rushed to her.
I lifted her chin to swipe away the tears with a finger. “Hey, why the tears?”
“It’s just… it’s been a long time since anyone’s done something this nice for me.”
“Well, expect it more often then, baby. Because I plan to spoil the hell outta you. You deserve nothing less.”
She shook her head, but didn’t verbally disagree this time. I felt like I’d won for once.
“I’ve got some snacks in the cooler for you too. In case you were hungry.”
“What kind of snacks are we talking about here?” Her curiosity got the best of her as she poked around in the cooler behind us.
“Twizzlers? God, I haven’t had these in years.” That
