CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WALKER
I knew the moment Sonya brought up peach pie, she was buying us time. Time to breathe in this space of serenity we created before we’re forced to face reality, instilling rules neither of us want while trying our best to keep the flames burning between us at bay. So, I don’t argue with her. I don’t question it, and that’s how we both ended up outside Adam’s Diner in Reid’s truck. The neon 24-hour sign blindingly bright on the building.
“Hey, you two.” Laurel, our favorite server with peppered black hair, smiles when the bell above the door rings. It wasn’t until Sonya started coming here with me that the servers started to take notice of us—or rather, her. I’m fairly certain it’s impossible not to notice Sonya. “Go grab a seat at your booth, and I’ll bring a slice of pie over.”
“Could you make it two, Laurel?” Sonya asks on her way to our booth, the freshly cleaned tile floor squeaking under her sneakers. “And a coffee.”
“Sure thing, sweets. Walker, you want one?”
I shake my head, following Sonya to our booth, nestled tightly in the corner. The piece of heaven I was seeking out all those years ago, amplified by Sonya’s presence. “I’m alright.”
“Why is it so cold in here today? I swear I’m always sweating while we’re here,” Sonya whines when she slides into her side of the booth, reaching for the salt and pepper shakers at the end of the table. She pulls them towards her to keep herself busy.
“You sure it’s not just because you’re nervous?”
“Me? Nervous? Why would I be nervous?”
“I don’t know. Why would you be nervous, Sunny?” I watch the frozen expression on her face, studying it.
She might not admit it out loud, but I can feel it. She doesn’t know what to do now that we’ve slept together. It’s as if we’ve switched roles. She’s taken on my timid approach, whereas I feel better than ever about this. About her. About us .
She swallows. “I wouldn’t be.”
I hum softly at the cop-out and slide into the same side as her. Her eyes widen slightly at my nearness. “Give me your hands,” I say and hold mine out. She stares at them as if I’ve held out a foreign object before meeting my eyes, bringing her hands up to rest in mine.
“You seem oddly at peace.”
Cupping her hands between mine, I rub them together and bring them up to my mouth. “Should I not be?” I ask before blowing warm air on her hands, trapping it between us.
She shakes her head. “No, I just…”
“You’re freaking out.”
“Not exactly,” she says, blowing out a breath. “That was good, right? Like wildly different from anyone else?”
My heart seizes at the way her face scrunches up like she’s almost afraid to hear what my answer may be. For a fraction of a second, I consider lying to her. Unsure if she needs me to say I don’t feel it to ease the panic painting across her skin. Or if she wants the truth.
There is something here between us. I knew it before going down this road, but I did it anyway, and now we’re sitting with a well of raw chemistry between us. Neither knowing what to do with it, but lying to Sonya isn’t something I’ve ever done.
And I’m not about to start now.
“Yeah, it was different.” I felt how well we fit together the moment I sank into her. I felt it in the way her nails clawed at my skin, the heavy breaths heaving from her chest, and the way looking at her in that moment of pure vulnerability felt like coming home.
Like she is everything and more.
Pressing my lips together, I find my voice again. “A good different.”
“The best kind,” she agrees, pulling her hands out from between mine. She takes me by surprise when she slides over, filling my senses with the light citrus of her perfume as her hands slide under the hem of my sweater and onto my warm skin. “You’re like a human heater. When did that happen?”
I laugh, unable to stop myself. “I’ve always run hot, Sunny.”
“It’s kind of rude you kept this all to yourself.” Her hands crawl further up my shirt, her fingertips burning a trail up my chest. It’s weird seeing how comfortable she is suddenly like she needed to sink into this feeling with confirmation she wasn’t alone in how she’s feeling. That I noticed the shift between us, too.
“Oh, yeah? You saying you wanted me out of my clothes sooner, Sunny?”
“From the moment I met you,” she says, seeming to shock not only me but herself with her answer. Her eyes widen only for a second before she pulls away from me completely.
“What was that?” Maybe I should let the comment slide, pretend like she hadn’t said it, but the idea of watching her squirm in her seat as she admits to thinking about me naked before tonight sounds way too good.
“Don’t act like you don’t know you’re hot, Cowboy.”
“I’m not acting like anything. Just making sure.”
She narrows her gaze, pulling away from me. “You know I’ve thought about having sex with you before. I told you when I asked you to do this with me. It wasn’t a secret, and don’t act like you didn’t have the same thought when you first saw me. I know I look good.”
I smile at the confidence overtaking her body. “And incredibly humble.”
“The humblest.” She grins when Laurel approaches the table, two plates of peach pie and a coffee balancing on her tray. She sets everything down before tucking her tray under her arm.
“Busy with school? I feel like I haven't seen you two in forever.”
A laugh falls from my lips. “You saw me on Wednesday, Laurel.”
She waves me off. “Exactly. Forever ago.”
“We have been busy.” Sonya catches my eye before smiling up at Laurel. “How have you been, Laurel? How are your boys doing?”
“Keeping me on my toes, but they’re good. I’ll let the two of you enjoy your pie. Just let me know when you’re ready for the bill or need anything else.”
“Thank you,” I say, watching her walk back to the counter at the center of the diner.
“Here.” A fork appears in front of me, a second in Sonya’s opposite hand for herself. I accept it from her fingertips, watching her dig the metal prongs into the crust and peach filling.
For the first time in all the time I’ve been bringing her here, she’s finally ordered her own slice. Every single time we’ve come here, I have offered to get her a piece, considering she eats half of mine anyway, but she’s always declined my offer. I’m about to ask her why the change when a moan falls from her lips and goes straight to my cock. Her eyes flicker up as she licks the fork, taking every last bite. My mind is suddenly in a deep spiral, wondering what it will feel like when it’s my cock in her mouth.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason.” I lean over, my breath a ghost over her skin. When my lips touch her ear, I feel the shivers that run along it. “You’re just making that little sound you made when I was buried inside you.”
Her lips fall apart at my words, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. The shock hasn’t faded from her features, still holding her honey gaze. “That so?”
I nod my head and dig my fork into my own piece. It’s on its way to my mouth when she leans over and wraps her lips around my fork, her eyes fluttering close as she lets out the most heavenly noise. She pulls back slowly, opening her eyes as the fork leaves her mouth, and her tongue darts out to catch the crumb at the corner of her lips. Fire dances in her eyes.
“You did that on purpose.” My whole body is wound tight. I want to lean over and capture her lips, feel that noise vibrate through my body when she moans into it.
She grins at me, digging in for another bite, and brings it to her lips. “Did what?” she asks before popping the fork in her mouth, savoring the flavor as she slowly pulls the fork out.
I narrow my eyes when her tongue pokes out between her lips, going to lick them again when I lean forward and catch her lips instead. My fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of her neck, pulling her towards me and taking my first taste of the peach filling from her tongue when it meets mine. Our strings get tangled together, and knowing I can do this now forces me to face the fact I’m not sure I ever want to free myself of this.
Of her and the way she tastes. How kissing her throws me completely off kilter in the best way possible, she brings my world into focus.
“Get a good taste, Cowboy?” she mutters when she pulls away, her gaze flickering up to mine as a bright smile takes up her lips. I could do this forever.
But I don’t have forever with her. I only have right now.
“No, I think I need another,” I say, stealing another kiss. I feel her lips curl up even more against mine, a giggle rumbling between us.
“You’re a flirt,” she says when I pull back, my thumb trailing over her jaw before I let my hand fall to my lap and reach for my abandoned fork. “How did I not know you were a flirt?”
I shrug. “I’ve been holding back with you.”
“Well, stop.” She sits up a little straighter, reaching for the hair my fingers were just tangled in. “I don’t want you to hold back with me, Walker. Not ever.”
“Is that our first rule?”
She nods her head. “Yeah, why not? No holding back,” she tells me, turning in the booth so her back is pressed into the wall, and her feet nudge my thigh. “We take all of this one day at a time. If there’s something one of us wants to try, don’t be afraid to let the other know.”
“Okay, I can handle that.”
“Okay.” She smiles and wraps her arms around her legs, pulling them closer to her chest. “Your turn, Cowboy. What’s our next rule?”
“While we’re doing this thing—you and me,” I pause, holding her gaze while waiting for her to acknowledge me. She hums softly, letting me continue. “I don’t want you with anyone else,” I tell her, a possessive need edging out over my reality that she’s not mine. Not really. This is temporary, but for now, I can pretend. “You’re mine for the time being, Sunny. Okay?”
She presses her knees together in response, fingers tensing where they hold together around her legs. A heated look fills her eyes as she nods her head.
“Words, Sunny. I need to know you understand me.”
“Yes,” she answers almost immediately, her voice hoarse. Clearing her throat, she sits a little taller. “I can manage that, but the same goes for you. We can keep things casual and still be exclusive.”
I nod my head in agreement. “Good. Your turn. Give me a rule.”
“It’s not much of a rule…but I would rather not hide this from my friends if that’s okay with you. They’d probably end up figuring it out on their own, and I don’t like the idea of hiding it from them, but if you'd rather keep it between us, then you’re going to need to teach me to lie.”
“What makes you think I know how to lie?”
“I don’t know, future lawyer,” she hums, a smile playing on her lips. “Why would I think that?”
“I’m a very honest person, Sunny. And I’d never ask you to lie to your friends.” It would be hypocritical of me to even ask that of her, considering Flynn already knows. “In fact, if it works better for you, we can get a billboard. Let the whole campus know.”
She grins at me, and it’s like a cold rush to my chest. Waking me up from a deep sleep. I could sit here and bask in that grin for the rest of my life. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
“For future reference, then.”
“Okay, it’s your turn again,” she says, poking me with her foot. “What’s another rule?”
Chewing my bottom lip, I think over everything I should be saying, but the only thing I want is for at the end of this to still have her. I don’t want to lose Sonya. I can’t. And truthfully, I think the only way this thing between us doesn’t go completely up in flames is if we keep the level of communication we’ve always had.
I’ve never been scared to tell Sonya anything, and she’s always been just as open. I can’t lose that with her if I intend for us to stay intact. The lines between our friendship and intimacy may have blurred completely, but maybe we can start painting new lines.
“I want us to keep our communication,” I tell her. “If this is going to work between us, we need to keep being honest with each other. I can’t have you holding onto things because you’re afraid of how I’ll take it. I like you best honest. If we can do that, I think we’ll be good. Can you promise you’ll talk to me if you change your mind about this?”
Her face softens at my request as she leans forward, holding her pinky finger up for me to take. “One day at a time?” she asks, repeating her earlier sentiment.
Hooking my pinky around hers, I smile. “One day at a time. I’m not losing you, Sunny. That’s non-negotiable.”
“It’s far too late for that. I’m attached.”
Warmth spreads through my chest. There’s a lightness in the air between us. A sureness and if there was any doubt in my mind that we were making a horrible decision, this , right here with her looking at me like I’m the best part of her day, settles it.
“So, we have a deal?”
I hum, pulling her towards me. “Should we seal it with a kiss?”
“I was thinking more like going back to my place and putting the rules in motion.” She grins at me, leaning forward anyway to kiss me and seal us to our fate.
There’s no going back after this. It might be a little messy, but I know it’ll be worth it if she's by my side. We are going to be okay, more than okay. We will be good, and that’s all I want. For her to be there at the end of the day.