Chapter 21
Indie
A fter a quick shower and a bowl of fruit that Wild got for me from the hotel breakfast area, I’m feeling much better today. I don’t remember much from last night—just memories here and there of Wild giving me medicine and the tickle of his mustache when he’d kiss my head.
I woke up wrapped in his arms—which was weird but oddly comforting. When I realized what I was doing and who it was with, I quickly moved away and planned to make my exit for the bathroom.
However, when he brought up being sick this past winter and the fact that he was alone and suffering through it, it stopped me in my tracks. Not only could I relate to the struggle of caring for yourself when you’re sick, but oddly, a protective part of me kicked in, and I needed him to know that he could count on me if he needed someone to help him out the next time he wasn’t feeling well.
After I left the room to shower, Wild informed me that we’d have to wait until this evening to go back home. I’m watching the news now while he’s in the shower, and I see that he wasn’t lying.
A part of me wanted to get back on the road and get back home to some normalcy, but a bigger part was glad for the extra day here, away from the reality that waits for us in Twin Pines.
My phone lights up beside me with a text.
Auntie
Haven’t heard from you. How’s the trip?
Hey, Auntie. It’s good. Sorry, I’ve been busy.
Auntie
Alright, I just wanted to check on you. Saw that weather y’all had last night was pretty bad.
It’s getting better now. Power was out all night so it got pretty chilly in our room. Thankfully, it’s back on now and it’s starting to warm up in here again.
Auntie
You didn’t let that Wild fella keep you warm last night?
I’m gonna pretend you didn’t just say that… Besides, I was sick last night. Feeling much better now, though.
Auntie
What? He’s a good-lookin’ guy. I’m just sayin’
There are definitely worse things than being stranded in a hotel room with a sexy firefighter, Indie. Have I taught you nothin’, girl? Maybe some vitamin D will help you feel better?
A laugh escapes me, and I cup my hand over my mouth as I shake my head, staring at the screen.
The things that come out of this woman will never cease to surprise me.
Auntie
Jokes aside, I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better today. Let that man nurse you back to full health.
Do you not remember the horror stories I’ve told you about him? He drives me INSANE!!
Auntie
Yeah, I heard you.
That’s it?
Auntie
You clearly don’t want to hear what I have to say about it.
What is there to say? He annoys me, drives me to the edge of sanity, and makes me want to pull my hair out.
Auntie
Bug, I say this with all the love in my heart for you… All men do. Especially the ones we care about and who care about us.
I do not care about him… Not like that.
Auntie
Right… Well, I’ve only met him once, and I saw the way that boy watched you. He definitely cares about you.
Right.
Auntie
Get some rest, you stubborn ass. I know I can’t do much from all the way over here, but if there’s anything you need, let me know.
I will. Love you, Auntie
Auntie
Love you, Bug. Don’t forget to take your vitamins while you’re on this trip and see if you feel any better.
Between the two of y’all I don’t know who makes me roll my eyes harder.
Auntie
Details I don’t need
Besides, I’m just being a good aunt and reminding you to take care of yourself. If you think anything else, that’s on you, sweetie
Tossing my phone down onto the pillow beside me, I turn my attention back to the TV in front of me.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten the feeling Wild cares about me, but I’ve never let myself linger on that fact for longer than a fleeting moment.
I’m afraid last night proves that he really does care. Not many people, let alone a man, would step in the way he did. Or the way he has over the last few months.
The bathroom door opens, and Wild steps out, his white t-shirt fitting snugly against his chest. His dark blonde hair is wet and wild, and I can’t stop myself from imagining running my fingers through it and giving it a little tug.
“You feel like runnin’ across the street for some real breakfast?” he asks, pulling my mind from the depraved places it was going.
“Sure.” I hop off the bed and begin pulling my shoes on.
“If you’re still not feelin’ a hundred percent, I can bring somethin’ over here for us?”
“No, I’m fine. I need some fresh air anyway.”
Yeah, you need to cool off and air out these thoughts and feelings for your arch-nemesis.
But is he, though?
Maybe my aunt is right, and the only reason he gets to me is because perhaps I do care—and that scares me.
He drives me crazy, but most of the time, I kinda like our back-and-forth. And maybe sometimes I make it worse in my head just to make it easier to push him away.
“Ready to go?” Wild asks as he pulls a dark green hoodie on over his head, the color making the green in his hazel eyes pop.
He then grabs his baseball cap and puts it on next, covering the mop of messy blonde locks.
“Yup.”
I don’t make any eye contact as I walk past him and exit the hotel door into the carpeted hallway.
When I get into the hall, my eye catches on a mirror over a little table with a vase of pink and white flowers. My ego takes a dive when I see my reflection—I look like hell.
Before Wild comes out the door, I quickly tuck at my flyaway hairs, hoping to look a fraction better so Wild doesn’t have to look like a ten stuck with a three. Not that we’re really together, but other people don’t know that.
Since when do I give a shit what other people think?
The walk across the street from the hotel is freezing cold. The wind literally hurts my face as I keep my gaze down and use Wild’s arm to block as much of the wind as possible.
We finally make it inside the diner, and the delicious smell of coffee and bacon fills every speck of the air around us. I’m surprised to see that the place is not very busy. I assumed with this being the only place to eat near the hotel, it would be packed this morning.
The waitress seats us at the same old, red leather booth from yesterday, placing both menus on one side of the table. Wild starts to slide in beside me but stops when I look up at him. The little caterpillar across his lip lifts when he smirks. Grabbing the menu, he slides to the seat across from me instead.
“I’ll be right back to get your order,” the little waitress who reminds me of the one in Grease says.
I don’t know how I’m going to survive the rest of this trip. Being close to him like this is causing me to get confused. I want to sit close to him—I enjoy his company—but I can’t like or enjoy those things.
“Why are you so quiet today? You sure you’re feelin’ alright?” Wild reaches over and feels my head with the back of his hand.
“I’m fine.” I bat the hand away and continue to browse the menu.
“Alright,” he holds his hands up and slowly lowers them back down to his folded menu on the table in front of him. “Just checkin’.”
Once our food arrives, we quickly eat. I mainly focus on my coffee—the nectar of the Gods that I desperately needed this morning.
“Guess we were both hungrier than we thought,” Wild laughs, tossing his napkin onto the empty plate in front of him.
“I guess so,” I mutter, glancing out the window beside me.
“Okay… What the hell is goin’ on? Why are you so quiet and givin’ all these short responses today? Did I do somethin’?” His brows draw together.
I shake my head. “No, I’m just tired. Didn’t sleep well.”
What I really mean is, no, you didn’t do anything. My stupid heart is doing something, and I’m trying to punish it by not giving it what it wants for not listening to me.
“Well then, let’s get back over to the hotel. I’ll get you all bundled back up in bed, and you can nap for a while.”
Here he goes again, being sweet and fucking perfect.
“Yeah, okay.” I don’t argue, hoping sleep will help me get my wits back.
Truth is, I am tired—both from being sick and from being stuck in an internal battle in my head. Battling yourself is damn exhausting. It’s like a constant tug-of-war in my brain. Neither side can win because they are evenly matched. All that happens is me getting worn out from the fight. It’s really a lose-lose. People will say, “ Just stop, ” but that’s like not thinking about zebras when someone says not to. Impossible and totally out of my control.
“I’ll be right back. You relax right here.” Wild stands and walks over to the counter with the check in his hand.
A few seconds pass before I hear an obnoxious laugh. When I turn, I see the blonde woman from the karaoke bar standing next to Wild. Her long, pink-polished nails reach out and trail down his forearm.
I see fucking red.
Like a match was just lit under my ass, I quickly stand from the booth and walk toward them.
“Hey, babe.” I slide my arm around Wild’s waist and plant a kiss on his cheek, causing him to tense up beside me.
Trust me, I just shocked the shit outta both of us.
“Who’s your friend?” I plaster a big, fake-ass smile on my face and beam it in her direction.
Like hell am I letting this bitch think she’s important enough to remember.
“Not my friend,” he shakes his head. “Don’t know her and don’t care to.”
My arm falls from his side when he turns to the cashier at the counter and grabs his card back from her, placing it in his wallet.
Blondie gives me a fake smile in return when I put my attention back on her.
“So you don’t have a girlfriend, huh?” Her eyes stay on me as she talks, directing her words at Wild, who is busy finishing up at the register. “Maybe we can grab drinks down the street tonight?” she says a little louder, dragging her gaze back to Wild with a flirty smile.
He lets out a laugh and shakes his head as he throws his arm around my shoulder. “Hard pass.”
Her eyes go big beneath the glued-on lashes, and her face reddens with embarrassment. “You said you don’t have a girlfriend. What’s the harm in gettin’ a drink together? Your friend will be fine without you for a night. Won’t you, sugar?” She forces another fake smile and playfully tilts her head.
“Look,” Wild huffs. “I’m tryin’ to be nice, but the desperate look isn’t good, and you’re the farthest thing from my type. Move on. I have a woman.” His grip tightens around my shoulder, and I’m certain it’s the only reason these damn butterflies that have migrated to my chest haven’t caused me to take flight.
“What a dick,” she scoffs, spinning on her heel.
Once she’s out of view, I pull back from Wild’s grip and meet his playful hazel eyes.
“I know we ain’t a couple,” I cut in before he can say anything cocky about what I just did. “But I told you I don’t share, and we still have the rest of this trip together. If you wanna go play with Malibu Barbie, by all means, go. But you need to tell me right now.”
A warm smile lights up his hazel-green eyes; the gold specks hard not to notice when he looks at me like this.
“I only want you, Wildflower.”
He plants a kiss on the top of my head and leads us towards the door without another word. I follow without question, mulling over his words.
“For the trip,” I confirm, needing to hear that he understands everything stops once our trip is over and we are back home.
“Right,” he smiles over his shoulder at me, “for the trip.”
Him confirming that this all ends soon allows me to breathe a little easier as we make our way back to the hotel.
After getting back into our room and back into my PJs, I jump into bed and under the cozy blankets.
Wild comes over and lays beside me in my bed. I don’t want him this close if we aren’t having sex, but right now, I’m not going to push him away—justifying it with the fact that this can all happen only while we are on the trip.
“You’re lucky it’s freezin’ in here,” I say as an excuse, watching him get situated.
When we got back in the room, he offered to turn the heat up for me, but I know he gets hot easily, so I told him it was fine since I’d be bundled under the covers.
“Yeah, yeah. Get over here.” He pulls me to his warm chest, and I reluctantly nuzzle in.
“You were pretty rude to that girl… Not like you,” I say after a few seconds of silence as Wild flips through the channels.
When he remains silent, I peek up and see him biting at the corner of his lip. He takes a deep breath and releases a sigh.
“I don’t mind hurtin’ anyone’s feelin’s for you.”
The serious look in his eyes tells me he means every word. The confession confuses and shocks me. Wild and I have never had this kind of relationship, one where you stand up for the other or show any type of feeling other than annoyance—though I’ll admit, that’s usually a one-way street.
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?” His brows knit together.
“Tryin’ to make me like you.”
A soft chuckle escapes him as his eyes peer down at me. “I ain’t gotta try, Ind. You’ve always seemed to do that pretty good all on your own.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “You must be confusin’ like with another emotion.”
He laughs again, shaking his head. “Whatever you gotta tell yourself, babe.”
He must feel me slightly pulling away and decides to sit up, quickly moving the conversation along before I can pull away more.
“You wanna play a game or somethin’ instead of TV? I have some dice in my bag. Or would you rather nap?”
“Whatever you want,” I yawn, scooting in closer again, ready to fall asleep next to his warmth.
“Don’t even give me that power right now,” he shakes his head. “If we do whatever I want , my head will be between your legs, givin’ you that mustache ride in about two seconds flat.”
“Jesus, Wild.” I do my best to control my breathing, but his words cause my heart to beat faster and my core to clench.
“ Fuck , don’t say my name like that.”
He shifts on the bed, adjusting his shorts and slowly tossing his head back and muttering under his breath. “ Grandmas. Old, moldy pizza. Math tests… ” He keeps his eyes shut.
“You’re impossible,” I laugh, glad that he can always make me smile.
“And you’re lucky that you’re recoverin’ still.”
He’s right. I need to get some sleep. I’m thankful he doesn’t only think with his dick like most men I’ve known do.
“Let’s watch a movie.” I decide. “Pick whatever you want. I’ll probably fall asleep pretty fast.”
He flips through the channels some more until he finds something and then shimmies down into the blankets further.
“I didn’t take you for a chick flick kinda guy,” I tease, looking up at him from where I lay on his warm chest.
“McConaughey is my guy. I love this damn movie.”
Ten minutes later, I hear a soft snore and peek up to see Wild passed out. I didn’t even think about the long night he had taking care of me and how tired he must be. He’s been completely selfless all morning while I moseyed around.
Once again, he’s done something sweet for me, and now I feel like an ass.
Before I can tear myself apart too much over it, I lay my head back down on him, the steady rise and fall of his chest quickly lulling me into a deep sleep.