Chapter 21 Bailey
Bailey
I’m going to regret this. I know I will.
I shouldn’t do anything.
I should just go home, but instead I parked in my driveway and stormed over to Wes’s door. His words have been playing on repeat in my mind the entire drive home. I don’t believe him, I know there’s no way he meant it.
But the way he looked at me as he said them has me questioning it.
Especially the last thing he said before leaving me cold, confused, and needier than I should be.
“If you want me to kiss you, then you’ll have to wait because the first time isn’t going to be in front of every eye in town. Especially because once I start, I know I’m not going to be able to stop.”
I bang my fist on his front door, and it doesn’t take long before he’s swinging it open, and leaning against the door frame, expectantly.
Suddenly, all my bravado has left the building with the way he’s staring at me. I shake my head, turning to leave without either of us saying a word because this was clearly a mistake.
Wes doesn’t let me leave, instead he grabs my hand and pulls me back into him. Without a single word, his hand grips my jaw, angling my head up, while his other hand tightens on my waist, and he’s descending his mouth onto mine.
The moment his lips touch mine, everything else fades. I’m frozen, caught in some alternate reality where this is actually happening and I like it.
I really like it.
When his tongue peeks out, demanding entry, I open for him and that’s when I know I’ve truly lost it.
My hands find his shoulders, digging my fingers into his strong frame.
He growls into my mouth, grabbing me even tighter while deepening the kiss.
My hands move up to the back of his head, sinking into his hair while the last shred of my resistance fades into the air around us.
I hardly realize that we’re still standing on his front porch, and that technically anyone could see us. But the only house across the street is still vacant since Sutton moved, and people don’t typically come down this residential road.
Yet, neither of us move inside, even as Wes continues to devour my mouth in a way that has stars dancing behind my closed eyelids. Nothing else exists. All I can feel are his lips on mine, his hair slipping through my fingers, and the solid weight of his body pressed against me.
I don’t know how long we stand here like this. I just know I don’t want it to end. I want it to go further. I want to feel more of him. I want to lose myself in this moment and never have to face the reality lurking around the corner.
Wes separates us, and I hold back the whimper threatening to come out at the loss. For once, I don’t even glare at him. I’m in too much shock and feel so completely overwhelmed by everything that just happened that I don’t know what to do with my face, or monitor how I’m looking at him.
He moves a piece of hair that’s fallen out of my ponytail out of my face, and I lean into his touch. His face is impossible to read, he’s not smirking, no trace of disdain. He’s just…looking.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t be able to stop,” I manage to squeak out.
This earns me a small upturn of his lips. “Remember that for next time. This was so you know I meant the other thing I said.” I furrow my brow, but he’s already walking away, backing through his door. “I have to tuck the kid into bed.”
I open my mouth because he doesn’t have a kid I know about, but he shuts the door, and I’m left once again turned on and confused. I can’t even bring myself to be annoyed because the other two feelings are so strong.
I’m on autopilot as I walk back to my house, resisting the urge to ask what the fuck he meant, and what kid he’s talking about. It’s not until I’m up in my room, and glancing over to his room through the window that I see Bruno jumping on the edge of Wes’s bed and I huff out a laugh.
That kid.
Wes comes into view, reaches behind his head and pulls off his shirt.
I suck in a soft gasp at the sight of his muscular chest, the tattoos covering one arm, up onto his shoulder.
He pushes his pants down, but leaves his boxers on, and I can see the bulge behind the fabric from the part of his body I would like to become even more acquainted with.
He knows I’m staring because he walks backwards toward his bed, and gives me a two finger salute right before he turns off the light.
Losing sight of him has me snapping back to reality. I turn around shaking my head and hoping by the time I wake up, I’ll have my head back on straight.
I feel like I’m too far gone, and the only thing that can bring me back would be to create distance again. And while I may be strong, I know I’m not strong enough to do that.
Which means that I’m well and truly fucked.
My phone dings.
Lily: Bails!
Bailey: Please don’t call me Bails.
Lily: Bailsey bug!
Bailey: That’s not better.
Lily: Whatever I’m allowed to call you then! A little birdie has told me you were spotted getting really close with a certain neighbor.
Sutton: How close?!
Lily: Close enough that if clothes were off they would be inside each other.
Sutton: Uh…what?
Lily: You know what I mean.
Sutton: I don’t know that I do actually…
Lily: Bailey, spill the tea!
Bailey: There’s no tea to spill, your sources are mistaken.
Lily: My sources are never wrong.
Bailey: This time they are.
Lily: So you weren’t dancing with Wes and practically humping him?
Bailey: Nope.
Sutton: *Side eye emoji*
Bailey: Don’t look at me like that. Nothing happened.
Technically not a lie. Nothing happened at the bar, really.
Lily: Don’t make me drive up there to get information out of you.
Bailey: We all know if you’re coming here it would be to get something from Parker, not me.
Sutton: *Double side eye emojis*
Lily: Cold, Collee. You. Are. Cold.
Bailey: My sources tell me you are still talking to him.
Sutton: *Triple side eye emojis*
Lily: Who are your sources?!
Bailey: Not telling, and you aren’t denying.
Lilly: How’d you manage to turn this around on me?
Bailey: It’s a gift.
Sutton: You make me excited to come back home.
Lily: Rub it in, why don’t you? I won’t be back until Christmas.
Sutton: And we can’t wait to see you then.
Bailey: I’m sure Parker is saying the same thing.
Lily has left the chat.
I put my phone face down on my bed with a chuckle at our group chat antics. I know I shouldn’t goad her on especially since she somehow already heard about last night even though she’s all the way in California.
It makes me wonder who the hell her sources are, and better yet, why they’re snitching on me.
They didn’t even see what happened after the bar.
I groan, trying to forget while I roll out of bed and bring myself downstairs to get some coffee. The morning sun is shining, but when I open the back door while my coffee brews, I feel how cool it is and I decide to take the hot drink out on my back patio.
I love mornings like this. Quiet, the slight chill in the coastal breeze hitting my skin while fall approaches, taking away the hot summer days. Closing my eyes I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the air that feels so clean. It’s the complete opposite of how I felt every day growing up.
There’s a sense of peace that surrounds me when I just take a moment to appreciate where I am and that I never have to go back. My mind may always be partly stuck there, forever shaped by the trauma I endured. But physically I never have to go through that again.
The sound of a door sliding open catches my attention, and I hear Bruno stepping in the dew covered grass. I freeze, as if any little movement I make Wes will hear. My moment of peace is no longer because I don’t want Wes to know I’m out here.
Last night comes back to me full force. Everything he said, the dancing, the kiss. I drop my head back against the chair and there’s a soft thud that has me gasping, throwing my hand over my mouth to cover the small sound.
I think I’m safe when nothing happens, just the sound of Bruno walking around in the grass. Maybe Wes isn’t out there with him.
I move my head forward again, about to bring my mug up to my lips for a sip when I see him standing at the fence; he’s so tall he’s able to easily rest his arms on top of it, looking at me. I jump, trying my hardest not to spill any of my coffee.
“What is wrong with you?” I snap.
“I’m just in my yard, is that a crime?”
I grind my teeth wanting to retort, but also not sure if I should goad him anymore because I know what will happen.
“I’m about to go to Jameson’s before they come home tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?” Wes offers, and I can’t hide the surprised look on my face.
“Why?” I can’t help but ask.
He shrugs. “Up to you.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
He’s already walking away, and I have to admit I’m getting pretty tired of him doing that. Maybe that’s why I storm inside, pull some clothes on, and end up agreeing to go with him.