She places her phone in the center console on the charger and sticks her arm out the window, letting it get caught in the cool breeze as we drive.
“Before anything happened with my dad, I asked Quinn to let me know if someone else put in an offer. I’m not sure if that’s even something she can do, but it doesn’t matter anyway because I have an email from her saying the property is nolonger available, but she has others she can show me if I’m still interested.” Her eyes close half way through that sentence as she lets the warm sun hit her face. Bringing out the tiny freckles that she has on her nose.
“Are you still interested in finding a place now or not?”
Usually, I’d be pushing the speed limit trying to get us back quickly, but right now, all I want is to take my time and savor the alone time I’ve had with Mia.
“Yes and no. Of course I want my own place, but I’m not going to look at anything right now. Maybe after the new year.”
I nod my head at her answer.
“Hey,” I say. “Want to do a singalong?”
Mia smiles and it turns into a laugh as she grabs her phone and scrolls through to find something. A familiar tune starts to play through the speakers and at this moment, everything feels so right.
Every time I look at Nate, the memories of the two nights he made me have life-altering orgasms come rushing back to me. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve let my mild attraction and lady bits call the shots this week, finally. After years of wondering what Nate would be like, I feel like I kind of have somewhat of an answer. My mind wondered what his hands felt like, and man oh man, they did not disappoint. The power within those fingers already has me clenching and wanting more as I watch him grip the steering wheel while we drive.
His gray and white flannel is wrapping around his broad shoulders, hugging tightly. I have this lingering feeling that he could probably flex and bust out of it like the Hulk and I’d have no other choice but to just climb him like a tree.
I gave into almost every instinct with him last night. Exploring that side of Nate and I isn’t something I ever thought I’d risk, but I couldn’t resist him. The way things have feltbetween us over the last few weeks has been noticeably different. My body has been reacting to him in ways I never expected, and any restraint I thought I had is merely hanging by a thread at this point. He’s said things and done things that have made me question everything I thought I was always so sure of.
“What do you think about grabbing something to eat and stopping for the night?” Nate’s attention flashes to me. It’s just before eight, I’m surprised he wants to stop so early, considering last time it wasn’t until closer to midnight. But maybe he’s tired, after all he’s been driving all day.
“Whatever you want to do is fine with me.”
He pulls off at a populated exit somewhere in Tennessee. There’s an old run-down bar on the left, next to a hotel and I notice Nate pulling into the bar parking lot.
“A bar, Nate?” My head tilts in his direction with slightly judging eyes.
His hand runs through his hair before he starts to pull the flannel off, leaving him in an old band t-shirt and I’m instantly brought back to being in college with him. The tousled look of his hair, the old shirt, dark denim and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. “Their website said they have karaoke.”
My lips part slowly, looking at the neon sign that’s lit up with “Boots & Chaps” except one of the O’s is out so it looks more like Bots and Chaps from afar.
“You’re taking me to do karaoke?”
“Is that okay? If you don’t want to, we don't have to. I just figured since I wouldn’t do one with you last weekend… I kind of owe you.” His crystal eyes line up with mine and there’s an unsettling feeling in my stomach. But not a feeling of concern or worry, just adoration. Last night was an entirely new experience between Nate and I, and while I would love to say that can’t ever happen again, there are body parts that are already craving a repeat.
“No, I love it. I’m just surprised. You haven’t done karaoke with me in years, except in the car. You may have lost your touch,” I tease.
He shakes his head, laughing as we both hop out of the truck. Nate’s shirt brings me back to the night we first met. An old band t-shirt, except now he fills them out even more. The outlines of his muscular shoulders strain against the fabric. His jeans hug his thighs as he moves in such sure strides. His hands are big and overpowering. Nate’s never lacked confidence, that’s one thing I know for certain.
As we walk through the crowded bar, he leads us to the end where we can order a drink. Both of us chose beer before taking a seat, looking out at the crowd of people gathering in front of a small makeshift stage while a few women are up there singing Shania.
Nate’s hand reaches for the seat of my stool and in one swift movement, he pulls my chair closer to his.
“Take your pick, it’s up to you… although I’d appreciate it if you picked one I know,” Nate says, handing me a small book with songs to choose from. I sift through the sticky pages, already sure of what I want, but I need to check if they have it. Once I find the song, I turn it over on the bar top behind us.
“Are you really not going to let me see before we get up there, Smalls? Do you just want me to embarrass myself in front of these people?” His hand reaches for the book but I stop it by placing my hand on top. His hand is warm to the touch and the veins are bulging as he flexes.
“The women in this bar won’t care what you’re singing, Nate. They’ll all be too distracted by your face.” He pulls back slightly, staring at me with a blush on his cheeks. I’m not sure why I went that route for a response… but it just felt right in the moment.
“That something you know from experience?” His reddened cheeks nearly hidden behind his hand as he pulls at his jaw with a smirk.
“You two ready?” A man with a black cowboy hat interrupts, handing us microphones.
“We sure are,” Nate proclaims, rising from the chair and offering his hand to me as I hop off of the bar stool.
I’m feeling a lot of nostalgia tonight, with Nate’s outfit and the impromptu karaoke. Nate and I haven’t actually done karaoke together in years, unless you count our ridiculous car duets, but it’s just something that’s fun, something that brings me back to being a twenty-year-old.
