As the evening wore on, the laughter and music filled the air, creating an atmosphere of pure joy. Once Shiloh and his crew finished cleaning up for the day, they joined us to the side of the stage. I handed Shiloh a bottle of water as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He perched himself against my knee, not quite sitting but not standing, either.
“Long day?” I asked, placing a kiss to the back of his neck. When I looked up, Waylon and Jasper were watching us intently. I subtly flipped them off when they cocked their heads to the side in unison. Fuckers thought they were so damn smart.
“Yeah, and we have another one to get through tomorrow.” He rested his head against mine, and I knew it wouldn’t take much for him to fall asleep. “I’m not going to stick around for long. Because of that damned dog this morning, we have extra baking to do. We used the cookies we’d planned on just icing tomorrow.”
“We can head out whenever you’re ready,” I told him. Sure, I was having a good time with my friends for a change, but Shiloh was more important. I knew he wouldn’t go to my place if I stayed out, and his bed wasn’t big enough for both of us. That meant we left together.
“You can stay,” he protested. “I’m just going to pass out anyway, so maybe I’ll head to my place for the night.”
I turned him to look at me. “I don’t just want you in my bed for sex. You’re so much more than a warm body to me. I want you there because I sleep better when you’re next to me. It’s too quiet when you’re not mumbling about all the shit you have to get done.”
“I do not talk in my sleep.” Shiloh playfully swatted my chest. Both of us knew he damned well did. “And I wasn’t trying to imply you only wanted me there if we were screwing. I just… I’m not going to be great company tonight. My whole body hurts, and that means I’m going to be restless as hell.”
“Then you’ll be restless where I can help you out.” I started kneading the muscles in his shoulders. He’d never been this tense before. “While you grab a bite to eat, I’ll draw you a bath.”
“I’ll probably fall asleep in the tub.”
“Then I’ll hold you up so you don’t drown.” Shiloh nestled against my chest and I wondered if it was possible he’d crash right here. “And when you’re all clean, I’ll carry you to bed and dry you off.”
“Oh, my god. The two of you are the most adorable thing ever!” Jasper squealed. Turning to Waylon, he said, “Why don’t you ever offer to bathe me while I sleep?”
“Do you hear what you’re saying?” Waylon rolled his eyes. “When you put it that way, it sounds creepy as hell. Besides, you said you don’t like baths.”
“I don’t, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t offer.”
Leaving the two of them to bicker, I slipped a hand around Shiloh’s waist, said goodnight to the rest of our friends, and guided him through the crowd. By the time we made it to my truck, he was almost asleep.
“You really didn’t have to leave with me.” His protest was weak as I helped him into the truck.
I helped him with his seat belt then pressed my lips to his. “Yeah, I really did, baby.”
Fuck. Waylon was right. I was a total goner.
13
SHILOH
Pinks and purplespainted the morning sky as Teddy and I set out for our day trip to Birch Lake. Not having to be at the bakery on a Sunday morning was a luxury I hadn’t had in the nearly two years we’d been open. When Teddy suggested getting out of town for the day, I’d quickly agreed.
I’d been so focused on getting the bakery off the ground that I hadn’t really seen much of the area, so the prospect of exploring a nearby town together had me excited. I could feel the anticipation thrumming through my veins, eager to spend some quality time with Teddy.
As we drove through the countryside, the lush greenery of early summer surrounded us. Gentle breezes carried the fragrance of blooming flowers, filling the air with the promise of new beginnings. Teddy’s hand found mine, and we exchanged smiles, our fingers intertwining as we left our worries behind.
Birch Lake was a picturesque town nestled by a stunning lake. As we arrived, we strolled hand in hand along the charming streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling town. Teddy grabbed hold of my hand tightly and pulled me along, excited to explore every nook and cranny of this charming town. He pointed out a few spots here and there, relating stories of old that had been passed down through the generations.
“I used to come over here almost every Saturday. They have a flea market that has some of the best hidden gems around. You never know what you might find there. Stalls filled with vintage clothing, handmade crafts, antique furniture, and all kinds of knickknacks and treasures.” Teddy continued talking as we strolled, and I wondered if we might visit this flea market he seemed to love nearly as much as meat.
I didn’t realize I’d laughed out loud until Teddy stopped and turned to look at me, his brows knit with confusion. “Sorry, just a random thought.”
“Are you going to share with the class?” Teddy teased.
He slipped his hand into mine and I felt my entire body relax. This was the first time I’d been out in public with a boyfriend, and I wasn’t nearly as anxious as I’d thought I’d be. I bumped my shoulder against his. “Nope.”
“Oh, come on.” Teddy spun around and started tickling my sides. I’d never seen such a playful side of him but I hoped this would be the new norm. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll have to torture you.”
“Fine, fine.” I squirmed to get away from the fingers of doom. “I was thinking you sound almost as infatuated with this flea market as you do your meat.”
Teddy shrugged. “They’re two of the finer things in life.”
