“Okay, let’s go.” He tilts his head to the side indicating to follow him, so I do. We walk just a few store-fronts down the sidewalk, and Wesley opens the door to a shop that reads “NY Style Pizza” on the door.
I take Delilah from him, and she rests her head on my shoulder. I find us a booth and slide in. Delilah refuses to detach from me, and I know I was right about her being cranky and worn out.
Wesley orders for all of us without asking, which I don’t find hot at all.
Ugh.
He comes to the table with three paper plates of pizza, and I set Delilah down on her side of the booth. She eats quietly while I take my piece of caprese pizza and dig in. Do I ask how he knew caprese is my favorite? No.
At this point I’ll just assume he knows all. He played my body like a damn fiddle last night. He knew just what to say, and how to touch me. I squeeze my thighs together at his words echoing in my head.
I know.
Atta fuckin’ girl.
Such a good girl for me.
“You excited to go home tomorrow?” he asks, shattering my train of thought as he rips into his pizza.
I nod. “Yeah. I miss it. I miss Sophie, and Rose, and–” I clear my throat gently. “Your house, your parents house. I just miss it.”
He stares at me thoughtfully, before dipping his chin down. “Me too.”
We make uncomfortable eye contact a couple times throughout the meal, and it genuinely makes me question myself. I didn’t imagine last night, right?
We finish up eating and leave the restaurant. We walk past the tattoo studio Wesley has been working at, and I expect him to stop, but he continues with us.
“Don’t you have to go back?” I ask, confused.
“I do, but I’m going to walk you guys back.”
The overbearing man strikes again. Though I can’t blame him this time, I do have his daughter.
He walks us all the way back to the hotel and kisses a sleepy Delilah goodbye.
“See you two later. I’ll be back around five, we can go to dinner, then pack for the airport.”
“Okay. I’m going to put Delilah down for a nap. I think she needs it.”
He agrees, gently stroking his daughter's head that’s laying on my shoulder again. I flash him a quick smile, then spin to walk through the hotel entrance.
“Ivy,” Wesley calls out, halting my steps. I give Delilah a boost in my arms to readjust her and turn back to him.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For this. For coming with me, so I didn’t have to be away from her.” he tilts his head at Delilah. “Just….” he trails off, looking off to the side.
I think he’s finally going to address what happened last night, and I hold my breath expectantly.
“Just, thank you,” he finishes, giving me a tight lipped smile.
I deflate instantaneously, and do my best to appear unbothered.
“Of course,” I respond, hoping the curve of my lips looks natural.
We both remain in our respective spots on the sidewalk for several seconds before realization dawns.
“You’re waiting for me to go inside aren’t you?” I ask.
