Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Sally
Oliver got a lot of attention while working tonight.
Mostly women, but even a few men. Oliver is the surfing handyman who helps people in need, and the town loves him, but I’m not blind to the attention he attracts.
I’ve seen a few of them even write their numbers down and pass them along with his tips. I’m not even sure if Oliver noticed them as he took the money.
Oliver said he needed to pull a double today, meaning we wouldn’t be able to see each other tonight, but when I offered to come by and see him, he lit up like a Christmas tree. I’m really tired right now, but seeing that smile makes it all worth it.
Now, Oliver is finishing up his closing tasks. It’s just us in the restaurant, though. Karena left us all alone with a wink.
Oliver walks over to me after throwing some napkins into the trash. He changed into a black button-down shirt that fits him perfectly, pulling tightly against his chest. “Ready to go?”
I give a slow nod as we walk out to his Jeep. Oliver opens the door for me as I hop in.
It’s well past two in the morning as we drive through the city.
“Do you want to go back to your place?” His hand finds its way onto my thigh. “Or mine again?”
My stomach flutters at the contact and his words. I can’t believe we’ve spent each night in each other’s arms.
But the idea of ending the night isn’t appealing. There is also an annoying uneasiness that causes bees to swarm around the same butterflies Oliver creates.
“Could we just drive?” I ask softly.
Oliver’s brow furrows as he turns slightly. My eyes meet his, and I try to give him my most reassuring smile.
That might be more for me, though. I need to convince myself that I’m worthy of his attention.
“Oliver, please look at the road before we crash.” I force a laugh out.
He doesn’t look convinced, but he turns to look at the road. His hold on my thigh pulses like he wants to let me know he’s still aware of my presence, even with his focus ahead. I’m still on his mind.
Though, that might just be wishful thinking.
I look over at him as we drive through the city. His hair shines with the lights and some sort of product, or maybe it’s sweat.
Oliver should always have wet hair. Nothing is sexier than him coming out of the lake or fresh from a shower, water clinging to each one of his abs.
I feel my chest contract from the image. Thoughts of the shower floods my mind. The way his head rolled back with each flick of my tongue sends a thrill up my spine.
I did that to him. Blow jobs have always been something I enjoyed giving to men, especially when they thread their rough fingers through my hair and tighten, digging into my scalp.
I love it because, even in that position, with him thrusting inside my mouth, there is still an equal amount of pleasure for me.
Oliver might not see it as such, but I almost came, hands-free, that night. That’s just a testament to how much Oliver turns me on because, most times I just fake it.
It’s me, probably, or because of my testosterone blockers—I’m not entirely sure.
Maybe I’m the only person dealing with this issue.
I know none of my family has issues. My body cringes at the thought.
It’s hard not to know the gross details of your family’s lives when you grow up in a super sex-positive household and, at some points, have ten people in one place.
Why am I so scared of being naked in front of him?
It’s obvious the guy is attracted to me, if the morning wood he apologizes for every morning is any indication.
It’s also the fact that I wake up every morning with him touching me in some way like he’s constantly reaching out for me.
Even right now, his finger trails my thigh as we drive.
I’m afraid of how he’ll react when I reveal everything. I’m still a coward that doesn’t want this dream to end.
“What are you thinking about?”
My eyes shoot up to meet his sea-green ones. Oliver stares at me with an unreadable expression before looking back at the road. His black button-down shirt pulls tight on his chest, fitting him perfectly.
“I never asked, but what are you going to college for?” The tension in the air softens.
“I’m going for film production.”
“Would it kill your soul to hear my favorite movie is American Pie?”
“Which one? There are, like, ten of them and then a girls’ version.” I laugh when he looks at me, a little surprised I know what he’s talking about. “Film snobs have guilty-pleasure films too.”
A grin plays on his lips.
That’s what we do for the next two hours. I talk about the classes I’m taking and how I’ll be living with Ella on the athletic dorm floor. It will be my first time living with girls that aren’t family so that part is nerve-wracking.
Oliver talks about some of the places he wants to visit. Then we talk about his surf lessons and how all the kids are getting so much better. Lana had started getting some of the smaller waves, even with her mom freaking out over every little thing.
Hearing him talk about all his students warms my heart. Hearing about all the families he helps around the town reaffirms that Oliver is a good person.
I already knew that from when he had saved me, but I guess part of me was scared he’d change when he grew up. That he wasn’t the same boy who was more concerned about helping a crying kid than his own pain.
A part of me fell for him then. That same part never left Alliance. It’s always been with him. He might just take the rest of me this time, and I don’t know how I’ll handle leaving in a few weeks.
Even if I can’t find the rest of the letters, this town will be a distant memory, and my heart will always be in his hands.
The dark sky starts to turn blue again as the sun rises. I’ll have to give Oliver money to fill his gas tank because my request to just drive was unreasonable, but he fulfilled it, nevertheless.
“Sally?” My head turns to Oliver as he gives me another confused look and the same frown from the start of our drive. “Where did that pretty little head of yours go?”
“I was just thinking about when I leave.”
His grip tightens. “Don’t think about that, princess. Think about now.”
I don’t answer him because thinking about now would feel like a dream.
“Can I ask you something?” Oliver works his throat. “You won’t like it, but I need to get it off my chest.”
I swallow, trying to hide my unease that matches his expression, but there's a slight shake in my voice. “Ask away.”
“Why are you so eager to…to put your life at risk? Every time I look away, you are suddenly on a cliff or a rooftop, like you don’t care what happens to you.
” His thumb brushes against my thigh in a calm rhythm, like he is trying to reassure me it’s okay, but the deep scowl on his face and the white knuckles around the steering wheel tell a different tale.
“Then there’s the fact that you always went to those sketchy motels.
I just don’t get why you don’t care about yourself. ”
My lips purse because I don’t have an answer. Ella asks me about it every weekend, and I usually brush it off, but that doesn’t seem possible right now—not with the way he’s touching me.
“Please, just give me something, anything.” Oliver pulls over onto the side of the road.
“It’s hard to explain,” I start and then stop, looking out onto the meadow outside.
“I haven’t really felt alive since everything happened.
I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the next shoe to drop.
The thrill pushes away all those thoughts, and all I can think about at that moment is what’s in front of me rather than behind.
” I can’t help the soft chuckle that comes out next.
“It doesn’t help that I’ve never thought of myself as someone worth saving. ”
In a swift movement, Oliver’s hand leaves my thigh and grabs hold of my chin. He makes my head face him as our eyes meet. His sea-green eyes fill with emotion that sparks mine to life.
“Princess, you don’t need to be saved because you aren’t broken.” If only that were true. “Please don’t do that anymore. I can’t bear the idea of you getting hurt. When you jumped off that cliff, I felt my heart rip out of my chest. I thought I was about to go hysterical.”
“Okay, I won’t.” I absently nod. The sun shines over the road, and my eyes fill with an array of wildflowers glistening with dew from the cool night.
The meadow looks like the kind you’d find in a fairy tale. I pull away and get out of the Jeep.
“Princess, what are you doing?” Oliver calls from inside as I walk through the tall grass and wildflowers.
A foreign, euphoric feeling comes over me as I start to frolic around the meadow. I don’t know if I look like a crazy lady, but the place looks so pretty, with the sunrise giving life to the sleeping flowers.
A pair of arms wrap around me as they hoist me up, and I squeal with laughter.
With a few more spins, we fall into the wet grass. I should be cold right now, but with Oliver here, I feel nothing but his warmth.
I reach out, taking one of the white dandelions to our side. With a little huff, I blow away the flower’s seeds as they dance in the air in front of us.
“What did you wish for?”
For this to never end.
For you to forgive me.
For me to still be Sally in your eyes and not him.
“You had a good night tonight,” I say before thinking. “You got a lot of tips…and other things.”
Oliver narrows his eyes. “Yeah, tonight was pretty great.”
My head snaps to look at him, a little bit of unreasonable hurt clawing at my chest.
“It was great because I got to look at the sexy-as-hell girl sipping on sweet tea. With her pink hair and lace choker. I constantly wanted to touch her.”
The hurt fades instantly as a warmth floods my every pore.
Oliver leans in closer, whispering in my ear, “She’s also constantly teasing me with her skirts. I have to resist the urge to take my hand and reach under there.”
I shiver at his hot breath hitting my skin. The hair on my neck stands up. “You won’t like what you find.”
Oliver’s hand reaches around to take hold of my chin. He forces me to face him. My whole body shudders under the intensity of his sea-green eyes glistening with the surrounding dew.
“I want all of you.”
“Oliver—”
“Sally, I want all of you. I know you are still working through things in that pretty little head of yours, and I’m fine with that. Just let me know when you’re ready.”