Not to mention that private number started messaging me again. I hadn’t received one in a couple of weeks, but one came the morning we were leaving the cabin. It just said one word.
Mine.
I wanted to tell Cull about the messages, but I didn’t want him to feel like he has to constantly protect me, and I can’t run to him every time I start to unravel. I have everything I’ve everwanted, and I don’t want to mess it up by making it all about me. If I can just hold it together, then I’ll be enough.
As if the universe could sense my internal spiral, my phone lights up with Cull’s name. The second I answer and hear his smooth voice, my body starts to settle.
“Hey, baby, are you okay?”
“Do you have ESP or something? I was just thinking about you.”
“Well, I’m always thinking about you, but I had a feeling you needed me to call. Is everything alright?”
Damn, I love this guy.
I had a dream the night I kissed him in front of everyone that he whispered those exact words in my ear. I’ve wanted to say them back ever since.
“Just feeling a little anxious. I thought about calling, but I didn’t want—”
“If you dare say you didn’t want to bother me, then the next time I see you, I’m going to edge you within an inch of your life and not let you come.” His voice is stern but playful, and my dick is suddenlyveryinterested in whatever sexy game Cull has in mind.
“I, um… forgot what I was gonna say.”
“Good boy,” he purrs.
Oh, fucking hell.I groan, and I can hear him laughing on the other end.
“Can you get away for a bit? I need to see you,” he asks hopefully.
“Yeah. My parents went to a dinner meeting for one of Dad’s clients. They left not long ago. Hadley’s around here somewhere, but I haven’t talked to her today.”
I can practically hear his smile through the phone. “Meet me at the river?”
“There in fifteen.”
My chest feels lighter than it has in days as I hang up, grab my shoes, and run out the door.
***
By the time I back my car up at the end of the dirt road to overlook the river, the bottom of the sky has fallen out. Not wanting to get soaked, I climb from the front seat into the back and pop the swing gate just enough to flip open the window. The smell of wet earth filters through the cab as I shut the door quickly, leaving the window propped up so I can watch the rain pelt into the river below.
Headlights catch on the trees, alerting me to Cullen’s arrival. My nerves settle the moment I see him get out of his truck, baseball cap pulled low, a plastic grocery bag swinging from one hand.
He comes around to the back of my Bronco, wrenches the door open, and climbs in beside me. The car rocks as he settles in, small rain droplets dripping from his tanned skin.
I’m greeted with an easy smile and bright green eyes. “Hey, baby.” He shifts into the cramped space, then takes my chin between his fingers and pulls me in, kissing the air from my lungs. When he pulls back sooner than I’d like, a small whimper escapes me. He smirks, grabs the bag next to him, and starts pulling things out. “I could tell you weren’t quite yourself on the phone, so I stole a page from your book and got you a few things.”
He lays them out like an offering before me. Gobstoppers, cherry Coke, pickle-flavored sunflower seeds… and then he produces a small plastic bottle and hands it to me.
“Bubbles.” I breathe out a laugh, smiling like a little kid on Christmas morning.
“You can never be sad when there are bubbles,” he declares, winking before tossing the bag aside. It hits the tire well with a dullthunk. “Wanna talk about what’s bothering you?” He scoots closer until we’re shoulder to shoulder, our backs resting against the seat.
“I’ve just felt kind of off since we got back. I think it mostly has to do with not sleeping next to you anymore.”
He laces our fingers together and rubs soothing circles over my thumb. “Well, if it helps, I’ve felt kind of the same way. But mine started the night of the party. I think our brains are still catching up after all the chaos that happened that night,” he voices with a shrug.
Maybe he’s right. It does sound like the most logical explanation.
