“You need a haircut.” I smile wide.
He shakes his head teasingly before pulling my hips into him. “What I need is to be fucked. Then, probably a haircut.” He chuckles.
“I think we can make that happen,” I note. “Do you think anyone saw us?”
“I think whether they heard you is the more important question,” Stetson informs, his smirk doing nothing to ease my worry. He peeks over the rear window of the truck. “They’re playing cornhole. Jules looks a little lost. But that’s probably because she misses me.”
“Asshat,” I bite, reaching to twist his nipple. “Surprised she hasn’t come looking for you. Ohhhhh Stetson. Why have you forsaken me, thou Stetson?” I use my best English accent, channeling my inner scholar.
He shrugs like the hot bastard he is. “Good cock is hard to come by. You can’t fault her.”
“Oh. I could never. But I will fault her if she tries to jump on it again.”
His brows rise with curiosity. “Well, now you’ve got me intrigued. I might test that threat, my love. Get her close enough again just to see how you react.”
“You wouldn’t…”
“If this is any indication of how sassy you’ll be, you bet your ass I would. Don’t worry, though. It’ll end with you ass up, beautiful tits bouncing while I slam my cock inside you. She’s welcome to watch.”
“You son of a bitch,” I whisper, voice rising an octave in playful outrage. However, the only thing I want to do right now is kiss him senseless. “Would you just kiss me already? Kiss me and then go back to your family before I out myself and jump on your cock right here.”
“God, I’m crazy about you.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear before kissing me softly. “I’ll go first.” Stetson walks off, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the permanent memory of his hands on me. But the one thing I seemed to miss in his departure is the lime green sticky note plastered to the side panel of the truck, directly in line with my face. My eye catches it longingly and I grab it, desperately wanting to hear from Stetson in every way possible.
He’s communicating with me.
The same feeling I felt that day in Chicago comes rushing back like an addiction. Fast and full throttle, with purpose and intention. I tilt my head to the left, just enough to spot Stetson looking over his shoulder at me with a wink, and my heart bursts. The once broken heart I came here with has been sealed back together with the most tacky and gloriously permanent glue.
I take in the words from his heart, my thumb tracing the lettering.
I may want to strangle my best friend, but I could never wish him away. Because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have you.
Yep. It’s official. I’m smitten with a cowboy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
stetson
No matterwhich way I turn, it’s impossible to relax. To get comfortable enough to actually fall asleep. Despite my penny-pinching mentality, I invested in a decent bed. And for the price tag that came with it, I expect at least a solid six hours of shut-eye.
I’m tired. Yet, I can’t shut off my mind.
The hollow walls of my bedroom don’t talk back. They don’t comfort me or remind me of my tasks for tomorrow. They remain quiet and still. Everything is calm except for my restless thoughts.
I hate it. I hate the way our minds have the ability to deplete us of not only clarified thinking, but become our own worst enemies.
Hence, writing things down has been, in a way, therapeutic for me.
I check the alarm clock beside my bed and read the time.
1:00 a.m. Perfect. Only five more hours ofthisuntil morning.
It doesn’t help knowing Cove is only doors away, lockedin a dungeon with that rich fuck. My need to rescue her is getting out of control. Spiraling more than she and I both need in order to get through the rest of her time here.
I’m not wrestling with Nate. I know that for a fact. I’ve thought through how I’m going to approach him, and all I can say is, he better watch his back. I think for the first time in my adult life, what I’m worried about is tomorrow.
I’m worried about what happens when Cove leaves. Will she return home, help her mom, and make plans with me? Will I even see her again? Or will everything that’s happened between us be something we forget?
I don’t want to sweep us under the rug and leave the mess for another day. I want to do this right.
