With This Heart(37)

“ That was the best lap dance I’ve ever received, by the way.” He wasn’t going to drop it.

I didn’t shift back toward him. “How many have you had?” I asked, concentrating hard on the gravel road splashing rocks as we exited the highway.

“ Just the one. But it was by far the best I’ve ever had,” he spoke confidently.

I tried to hide my all-consuming smile. “Beck. Turn into the flea market.”

“ Alright, but there’s no coming back from this experience,” he declared, turning right into an expansive parking lot.


I know he was being silly, but his sarcasm wove around me, making it feel as though going to a flea market together actually was a big step. I shook my head clear of the thought, unbuckled my seat belt, and hopped out of the car. The sign a few miles back wasn’t bluffing-it had to be the biggest flea market in Texas. The parking lot alone could have been a small metropolis. There were trolley cars looping around the perimeter, taking people to the entrance who didn’t want to walk the half mile themselves. Beck bypassed them and started weaving through parked cars.

“ Wait for me!” I shouted, picking up my pace so I could catch up with him. The wind whipped my hair and I turned toward the sky, noticing the dark rolling clouds blocking out the sun completely. At least the flea market was covered because the sky looked like it was going to open up any second. When I looked back down, Beck was studying me with a serious gaze— one that couldn’t be mistaken for friendship. I stuck my tongue out at him and he pretended to lasso me toward him. I played along and he pulled me into him so he could kiss my cheek.

“ Do you think they have real lassos here?” I asked with gleaming eyes.

“ I’m pretty sure they just call it rope?” he answered with a hint of a private smile.

After hours of wandering around, we stood at the entrance of the flea market with our purchases in hand. We stayed together at first, picking out the most heinous items and containing our laughter until we were far, far away from the vendors. But then when I spotted a gift that I had to purchase for him, I decided we had to split up for a little while so I could surprise him.

“ Alright, time to see who won,” Beck said, sitting down on a bench just beside the front doors.

I followed him over and set my bag in my lap. “Who won?”

“ Yeah, who found the better stuff?”

“ Ah,” I nodded, and unpeeled the top of my bag to look inside. “I got one thing for you, but it’s not a gift or anything and it definitely doesn’t mean I’m like pining over you. I just knew you had to have them when I saw them.”

He smirked and opened his bag as well. “Well, that’s okay because I found something for you, too. But mine definitely means I’m pining for you, so you should take it as such.”

I rolled my eyes playfully and tugged out his gift. “Here,” I said, handing him the tissue-wrapped items.

“ You shouldn’t have,” he joked before he’d even unwrapped it. I hit my shoulder against his.

“ Open it, you fool.”

With a laugh, he tugged off the paper to reveal a pair of ceramic salt and pepper shakers. In the shape of zombies. Really awesomely-realistic zombies. His mouth dropped open as he turned them in his hands.

“ You win,” he declared with a look of awe. Ceramic zombies will do that to you.

“ Not fair,” I poked him. “I should get to see what you got me before the winner is declared.” Although I knew there was no way he was going to top my gift.

“ Okay, here,” he said, shifting the shakers into one hand and handing me a little cardboard jewelry box out of his bag.

I’d never been given a piece of jewelry before, so when I opened the lid and found an old tarnished locket, I was speechless. The heart locket was tiny, barely half an inch tall. It was made of gold, or fake gold, I couldn’t tell and I didn’t actually care. My eyebrows scrunched together as I felt tears burning the back of my eyelids. I couldn’t cry over something so silly, but there was something deeply personal about the gift.

Beck was watching me with a steady focus, but I couldn’t meet his gaze. Not yet. I fumbled with the clasp on the side until it gave and then peeled the locket open. Inside, there were two tiny black and white photos. On the left was a young girl with a bow and frilly dress. On the right was a soldier in uniform. They looked to be the same age and I knew they were a couple. This had been the girl’s locket.

“ Look on the back.” Beck motioned for me turn the locket over.

I closed it and flipped it gently in my palm so that the back of the heart was facing up. Inscribed on the tarnished gold in perfect cursive were the words: with this heart .

“ I thought we could replace the pictures,” he offered timidly. “Or you could be a creep and leave the old couple in if you want.” It was so like Beck to do something extremely thoughtful and then follow it up with a joke to try and lighten the mood. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. So, I turned toward him on the bench and leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on his lips. His mouth was slightly open so it was awkward, but the moment our lips touched, he pressed back into me with equal amounts of fervor. His empty hand wrapped around my neck and brought me closer to him. I opened up for him, letting him slip his tongue past my lips. He tasted sweet, like the funnel cake we’d shared earlier. I needed more of him and the way he gripped my hair told me he needed more of me as well.