Talk About the Direct Approach...

Chapter Twenty-Six: I'm watching you Bucko

I'm almost certain that everyone froze as soon as the words left Carter's mouth. Even Cayton did, and since he is currently holding on to me so I wouldn't fall, I'm suspended in mid air watching the scene unfold.

I seemed to be the only one who was able to move. Carter and Bethany both stood, just staring at each other, and it was obvious everyone else could be spontaneously exploding and they wouldn't notice. Still, neither of them made a move towards each other. Everyone else is frozen in anticipation, not wanting to miss anything, waiting for one of them to make a move.

Since it seems I'm going to receive no help from Cayton, I push myself upright. Scanning my eyes over the yard, I notice that my graceful slip up pales in comparison to Carter finding his mate. But I'm certainly not complaining.

Then I look to Carter, who is smiling like he just won the lottery. Yet the idiot still won't move.

Bethany, honestly, looks a little bothered by something. Surely it can't be because of Carter? Shouldn't she be overjoyed, at the very least happy? Isn't that what mates are supposed to feel for each other when they first meet?

Granted, it wasn't that way with Cayton and I, but that is a completely different story.

The hopeless romantic in me is urging them to do something, have some type of romantic love-at-first-sight moment, but when it's clear that they're going to stare at each other like morons, I decide I'm going to step in.

"This is what you're supposed to do," I say, putting my hands on Carter's back and giving him a shove in Bethany's direction. Amazingly, I manage to make him stumble forward a few steps, before he gets some sense to actually move on his own.

And that, my friends, is how two mates finally come together.

Carter, not one for wasting time, grabs Bethany by the waist and kisses her. Almost immediately, Bethany has her arms around Carter's neck, and everyone comes out of their permafrost and cheers for the new couple.

Two things pass through my mind: the hoe has found his mate is the quiet, secluded girl. And Trina is going to be very disappointed that Carter is no longer available.

I dust my hands off and walk back to my own mate.

"I honestly didn't see that coming," he says, watching Carter and Bethany. I shrug and lean against him, in a better mood even though I totally face planted the hardwood a minute ago.

"Neither did I. But I guess that explains why he was so antsy earlier," I respond. "Now if only our meeting could have went that quickly."

"Wouldn't have been as much fun though, now would it?"

I don't know what his definition of 'fun' is, but clearly it's a little twisted.

"Yea, 'fun'," I add air quotes around the word fun, while giving him a look that tells him I think he's crazy. He chuckles at my look, then the smile drops immediately and I notice him tense up some. He takes a step towards me and rests one hand on my waist, forcing me to come closer to him even though he's covered in dirt from his football game and I'm in a white dress.

I'm about to question him, when I hear the source of his discomfort behind me, congratulating the new couple who finally decided to come up for some air.

I roll my eyes at Cayton and shove him slightly, not so much minding our closeness, but minding the dirt stains.

"Cayton, you can let me go," I try, not really understanding why he's getting so defensive. It's just his father. Yea, things aren't so great between them, but it's not like he's coming over to bitch slap me.