Chapter 22
WAYLON
I don’t know that I’ve ever woken up feeling as well rested as I do this morning. Which is strange, because we fucked two more times in the middle of the night. You’d think I would be tapped. You’d think I’d need a hearty breakfast and some recovery liquids. But I don’t.
In fact, I feel as good as I did when I was twenty-two and would stay out until the bar closed and then clock into work on time three hours later. Don’t judge me. You know we’re all guilty of a night like that in our youth.
The point is, I woke up about fifteen minutes ago with my arm trapped underneath Lyric’s head.
There was no way I was going to risk moving it and waking her up, so I’ve just been lying here watching her sleep as my arm slowly loses feeling.
But that’s fine by me. I’ve never understood this whole thing about watching people while they’re unconscious, because it seemed a little creepy to me, but when in Rome, you know?
I smelled her before I saw her, though. Before my eyes ever opened, I could tell my face was buried in her hair. I would recognize that sweet floral scent through a Tennessee thunderstorm.
She rolled toward me when I tried to lean back, so now we’re face-to-face. Her eyelids keep fluttering like maybe she’s dreaming, but I can barely feel her breathing. It’s so slow and light, I actually held my breath to make sure she was.
There’s a tiny bit of last night’s makeup still smudged over her eyelids.
It’s smoky and shimmery, and even though it’s a little messed up, it’s still really pretty on her.
I’ve never really cared about makeup either way.
I know some guys have strong opinions, which I always thought was strange.
I keep it simple. If she likes it, I like it.
Because there’s nothing sexier than a woman who feels good about herself, who feels confident.
It’s one of the things I like about Lyric so much.
She’s got a strength about her, a sassiness that sets her apart.
She’s not afraid to tell anyone exactly what she’s thinking.
Except… I guess that’s not always true. Every now and again, when she’s looking at me, I get this feeling like she wants to say something.
I’ve all but chalked it up to my imagination, since she has no problem giving me the business.
I can’t believe there’s anything she wouldn’t say to me.
Lyric’s eyes flutter open as she inhales deeply. A wide, sleepy grin spreads over her lips.
“Good mornin’.” I run my fingertip featherlight across her cheek and brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Good morning,” she says, her mouth stretching into a yawn before she could finish the words.
“You sleep okay?” I turn and lie flat on my back, stretching out my legs.
“Yeah, you?”
I nod, rubbing my free hand down my face and yawning myself. I’m not lying either. The two nights we’ve fallen asleep together have been the best I’ve had in a month. Boobies make everything better. Seriously. Have you ever fallen asleep palming a tit? You should try it.
Sure, I joke, but I’m not kidding when I say it’s obvious she brings me some kind of comfort I can’t put words to.
I don’t know what’s happening. And I won’t deny that I hunger for more of her. Yes, sex, but more than that too. I just want to be around her. Make her laugh. See what happens. There’s no harm in having a good time together, in letting things unfold.
“You want to get breakfast with me?”
Lyric sits up in bed, gathering the sheet over her chest, but her back is exposed to me. The curves of her ass and the gentle slope of her spine are enough to make my dick twitch.
“Sure, I could go for a stack of pancakes,” she says excitedly. She even does a little happy wiggle as she hops off the side of the bed. Her feet pad against the wooden floor as she heads toward the door. “Just give me like twenty minutes.”
“Okay, perfect.” I stand and stretch my arms over my head as I step into the bathroom to relieve myself. The morning piss is essential.
Twelve minutes later, I’ve changed into some basketball shorts, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap and I’m on the back porch letting Tater get his morning piss, too.
I check my phone for the first time since my eyes opened and find it completely blown up with messages in the group chat that includes the girls.
I don’t remember when, but someone re-named it “The Wedding Party.”
RIDGE
Is Lyric ok this morning?
DARCY
I can assure you, she’s fine.
RIDGE
How do you know that?
BANKS
I think when two girls become best friends, not only do their periods sync up, but they also just KNOW, you know?
DARCY
Dear god, no, that’s not it. She texted me, dipshit.
BANKS
Oh.
RIDGE
When did she text you?
DARCY
When they were on their way home.
I vaguely recall Lyric being on her phone in the truck. It was a split second, so I don’t know what all she could’ve said in that time.
KILLIAN
Yes, something in my gut is telling me they’re both totally good.
DARCY
Yes, me too. Me freakin’ too.
KILLIAN
Why do you say it like that?
DARCY
Perhaps I should ask you the same thing?
BANKS
Are you implying something?
RIDGE
Fuck, I hope not.
DARCY
Baby, just let it roll.
BANKS
OMG, they’re doing it.
Great. Everyone is fucking talking about us.
Please, let’s do all the things that could make this more awkward for Lyric.
Hell, I don’t care what they say about me.
They could tease me until they’re blue in the face and it would roll off my back like a refreshing spring rain.
I’m used to it, and to be honest, I don’t tend to do things I’m going to be ashamed of.
Not that I’m saying Lyric is ashamed of me. She’s not. Probably. But if I know her like I think I do, she’s not going to love this. She doesn’t strike me as wanting to be the center of this kind of attention.
A new text bubble pops up as I’m still scrolling.
LYRIC
You guys are a bunch of assholes.
Ah, so she has seen it. As if on cue, Lyric steps into the kitchen and shrugs at me.
“I mean, they are a bunch of assholes,” I confirm.
Tater comes running back inside and plops himself down at Lyric’s feet.
He really has been infatuated with her since she moved in.
Half the time, he chooses to sleep with her.
Not that I mind. Okay, I mind a little, just not enough to do anything about it.
“Whatever,” she says, leaning down to scratch Tater’s ears. “I will not be confirming or denying their allegations, and it would be great if we were a united front on that.”
“Uh, sure thing. Except Killian already knows.” I chuckle the way you do when it’s not actually funny but there’s nothing else you can do.
“You told him?”
“No, no. He just guessed. And he was very adamant. Denying it felt pointless.” I shrug and pick my keys up from the table. “So, ready for breakfast?” I open the front door, gesturing for her to go first.
“Fine, but you should know Darcy knows, too,” she says, as she steps past me.
“What?”
“She’s my best friend. It’s hard for me to keep stuff from her,” she says, waving her hand in the air dismissively.
“What happened to not telling anyone?” I start the engine and buckle my seat belt.
“What happened to us not falling asleep together?” she asks, countering my question.
“Fair point. Let’s just go fucking eat.” I pull out of my driveway and head down the street toward my favorite little breakfast spot. It has that old-school diner feel, perfect for a no-pressure meal together.
We score a booth in the back corner next to the window when we arrive. It’s arguably the best table in the place, and I only know that because I’ve sat in probably all of them over the years. This place has been here a while, and before Lyric came along, I ate here a lot.
“Good morning, Waylon,” the waitress calls from behind the counter.
I wave at her and pull a menu from the holder. I slide it in front of Lyric and don’t bother getting one for myself.
“You know her?” Lyric asks, tilting her head.
“I’ve been here a lot,” I say, shrugging. “The pancakes are delicious.”
“When do you come here?”
“Well, to be honest, I haven’t been here very recently. Not since you moved in.” I scratch my beard and peer out the window at the people walking by.
“How come? It seems like a nice little place. Did you not want to share this hidden gem with me?” she asks, a teasing quality to her tone.
“Lyric, you’ve been cooking every meal. And it’s been fucking delicious.” I lean in, whispering the rest. “And this place is great but I’m not about to choose it over your cooking.”
Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise as she presses her lips together into a tight line, trying to bury the smile she so desperately wants to plaster on her face.
“Perhaps I should cook less? You know, so we can support our local economy,” she says.
It’s hard to argue against it when she phrases it like that, because of course I want to support small business. It’s really important.
“What do you propose?”
“Well, you work late at least one day a week and so do I,” she says, tapping her fingers against the table. “How about we try to get those to line up and agree to breakfast here instead?”
“You want… a standing weekly breakfast date?” I lift an eyebrow, intrigued by her idea.
“No one said the word date, cowboy,” she says, shaking her head.
“Still, I’ll take it.”
Lyric extends her hand across the table and we shake, agreeing on next Tuesday to start the official schedule.
We give the waitress our orders and talk about how work is going for both of us.
I mention that I’ve been thinking about getting Tater a little brother or sister for when no one is home, which she thinks is a great idea.
She tells me her and Darcy are going dress shopping soon and how she can’t believe they’re getting married in such a short period of time.
We pretty much cover every topic except what’s going on between us.
I’m not going to risk asking. She already sort of called this off once, and I’d rather not risk that happening again. Who knows how much begging it would take to change her mind again. Best to leave well enough alone until it’s absolutely necessary.
And the last thing I want to do is say something I can’t take back. I still don’t even know what this is, so asking her about it when I don’t have the answers myself is dumb. Practically self-sabotage. Yeah, I’d rather not.
For now, we’re just… enjoying each other. Two people should be able to do that without a plan, without labels, and without a goal in mind. Maybe we call it off at some point and maybe we just keep going.
Only time will tell.