9. Porter #2
“Whatever you say.” Daddy almost slipped out there at the end, but I swallowed it down.
It’s not my fault he’s so daddy-like. I’d bet I wouldn’t be the first person to call him that.
I start to turn but end up tripping over my own feet, and Will’s hands land on my stomach.
His fingers flex and I wonder what he’d do if I leaned into his grip, but refrain.
Even though I’m definitely drunk, I still have enough self-preservation to know lusting after someone who isn’t queer is a horrible idea.
“Okay,” he breathes, hands still touching my skin. “That’s enough for you tonight. How about we head out?”
“Are you kidnapping me?”
“Depends on how you feel about your house,” he jokes. “Because I’m taking you home.”
“Fine, let’s go.” I step toward the door.
“Should I tell your friends we’re heading out so they don’t worry about you?”
I search for them in the crowded bar. Abbey is wrapped up in Ty’s arms and Josie and Carrie are dancing. “Nah, they’re fine. I’ll text them. Now, lead the way.”
“One second, let me grab my hoodie.” He leaves me for a moment by the door, speed walking to grab his sweatshirt and say bye to his friends.
“Here, put this on,” Will instructs, holding his hoodie out for me before we walk outside.
“What about you?” I ask.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got the alcohol to keep me warm,” he teases. Instead of protesting, I take the sweatshirt and pull it over my head. It’s huge on me, but I slide my arms through the holes and let it drape down my body. “Where do you live? I can order us a ride.”
“See, you’re so nice,” I repeat. “Wasn’t expecting this. I only live two blocks away. Probably faster to walk.”
“Alright, let’s get moving. Can’t have you freezing out here on me.”
“Can we get Taco Bell? I live right by it.”
“Sure,” Will agrees, and I stumble into him.
“Stupid sidewalk,” I grumble as I balance myself against him, holding onto his arms as he wraps one around my waist.
“Definitely the sidewalk,” he teases.
I let out a big sigh. “I’m really glad you’re bringing me home. I am druuunk. No more shots for me tonight.”
“See, aren’t you glad I came to see how you were doing?”
“Mmm.” I briefly think about it. “Still think I would’ve liked birthday sex. I even wore my favorite panties tonight, but I guess I can settle for Taco Bell with you.”
Will’s steps briefly falter, and he sucks in a breath.
It’s the drunk leading the drunk apparently.
But once he steadies himself, we pick up the pace into the Taco Bell parking lot.
When we get inside, it’s nearly empty, apart from some other college students who seem to have the same idea as us.
Will rolls his shoulders and rubs his arms, trying to warm up.
Maybe I should feel bad for being underprepared and wearing his sweatshirt, but I don’t.
“Hi, what can I get for you?” the person behind the counter asks as we approach.
I rattle off my order, and Will does the same. I take my card out since I haven’t paid for a single thing tonight and don’t want to seem like I expect Will to pay for everything.
“Put it away,” he orders, and my eyes snap up to meet his. He taps his card on the payment processor, and I bat my eyelashes at him.
“You’re really spoiling me tonight.”
He shrugs. “I like taking care of my friends. It makes me happy.”
I lean back against the counter, considering his words. His slightly bloodshot blue-green eyes are watching mine, his dark hair is a wavy mess, and he has a light touch of facial hair. His one silver hoop earring always draws my attention. Fuck, he’s hot.
“Your earring,” I blurt out without any context.
He smiles, clearly amused. “What about it?”
Shit. Why did I say that? Oh well. Too late to take it back now, so I might as well ask. “Just wondering what inspired the piercing.”
He tugs at the hoop almost absent-mindedly. “Oh, my roommate Cam dared me to do it freshman year.”
“Is it that easy to get you to agree to things?” I tease. “A simple dare and you alter your body forever?”
I expected him to deny it, to double down about how he’d always wanted one or something, so I’m surprised when he shrugs. “Pretty much, yeah. It was fun, and I try not to overthink the things I want. I don’t tend to regret something that makes me happy.”
I swallow past my suddenly tight throat as I have the errant thought that I could make him happy.
What the fuck? No, I couldn’t.
“And I like the earring. That’s why I still wear it,” he adds with a shrug.
I nod, trying to act casual as I admit, “I like it too.”
I like everything about Will’s appearance, but I’m not letting his looks distract me as I focus back on what we were talking about before.
“Well, I know you feel bad about the bike, and you seem really hung up on earning my forgiveness or whatever, but you don’t need to keep paying for things,” I assure him, trying to steer us back to a safer topic.
He steps in front of me, his muscular, tall body looming over me and barricading me against the counter. It doesn’t feel threatening. It feels challenging, and I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. Especially when I’m fueled with liquid confidence.
“Is that not working? Do I need to work harder to win you over?”
I don’t answer immediately, breathing in his scent from our closeness. The tension feels so thick between us, and I don’t even know why there’s tension in the first place. Or why he’s so close. His big body is pressed against mine, and despite knowing better, I like the feeling.
“Here you guys go,” an employee says behind us, and I snap myself out of whatever trance that was. I turn to grab the food and walk over to the drink counter to grab some hot sauce.
“This was the best idea I’ve ever had,” I compliment myself with a laugh, hoping Will isn’t still looking for an answer.
“It was a good one. Let’s go to your house to eat, birthday boy,” Will suggests lightly, so maybe I was the only one imaging that tension in the first place. He picks the bag up from the counter and walks toward the door where he waits, holding it open for me.
“It’s right down the alley behind the car wash,” I tell him, excited to be in my house for the night.
It’s not even a minute before we’re inside, and I leave Will with the food momentarily while I go to the bathroom and change into sweatpants because there’s no reason to impress him. But I keep his giant hoodie on for now.
When I get back into the kitchen, Will’s opening the cabinets.
“Need something?” I ask.
“I was trying to find the cups to get us water.”
I start to move toward him to get them myself, but he stops me. “Sit down and eat, birthday boy. Just tell me which cabinet.”
“One to the right.” I point. I’m not going to argue if he wants to take care of me.
No one has ever put in this much effort to do so.
Normally, it feels like I’m the one doing everything for everyone, and it’s out of necessity, not joy, like Will claims he feels.
So I leave him to it and open the wrapper to bite into the deliciousness that is Taco Bell when drunk.
Will sets a full cup of water in front of me, then sits beside me, setting his glass in front of him. He starts eating too, and after I finish my first taco, I turn to him.
“You ever notice how Taco Bell tastes so much better when you’re a little drunk?”
“I think everything tastes better when you’re drunk.” He laughs, and I groan when I take the first bite of the next taco.
“I needed this,” I say, crumpling my wrapper. “You’re officially invited to all my future birthdays.”
“Count me in,” Will agrees easily with a smile.
Once I finish, I toss the empty bag in the trash and wash my hands, then lean back against the counter, wondering what his next move will be. He follows my lead, crumpling his trash and doing the same.
“Well, I should probably head home. But I’ll text you in the morning? Let me know how you’re surviving the hangover, and maybe I can bring you coffee.”
“Sure.” I nod, hating the sinking feeling that immediately creeps into my gut knowing that I’ll end my birthday night all alone. But it was inevitable when I left the bar with him and not the guy I was dancing with. “I’m always down for coffee.”
He smiles at me before he turns to walk to the front door. When his hand is on the knob, he turns back to me once again. “Goodnight, Porter.” Then he opens and shuts it behind him.
I press my forehead to the door he just walked out of and groan softly as I lock it.
Whenever I spend time with Will, I’m reminded that he’s not at all what I expected, and I hate that he’s made me realize I was all wrong about him.
It makes me feel like the true jerk when I was the one holding grudges.
“Ugh,” I groan into the empty house, then peel myself off the door and walk to my bedroom.
I change into my sleepwear and realize I’m still wearing his hoodie.
He didn’t even ask for it back, and it’s freezing out there.
Oh well, it’s mine now. At least until he asks for it back.
We’ll see if he actually texts.