CHAPTER TWELVE
S ummer couldn’t sleep . It must have been at least an hour since Teddy’s breath had evened out and he’d fallen asleep on his back. Her eyes hadn’t left him the whole time. She was laying on her side, staring at him. Like a weirdo.
Hearing about his time as a POW had almost broken her. Just the thought of him being physically hurt made her want to hurl, but the mental torture he endured, that was like a dagger to her heart.
“You gonna stare at me all night, doll, or you gonna tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” Teddy’s voice was low and sleep-roughened. Yet still so very sexy.
Summer narrowed her eyes. Surely he hadn’t been faking being asleep. “You were sleeping,” she lamely stated.
“What’s going on, dollface?”
“What makes you think something is going on?”
Teddy rolled onto his side until they were face to face. “Summer. Baby. I know you, remember? You’ve not been yourself since I took you to bed. A week ago. Now, either you’re severely disappointed by my equipment and how I use it ... or something else is going on with you. Which is it?”
She shot up off her pillow. “What? No! I’m not disappointed! It’s not that!” How could he even think that?
The smug smirk he flung her way as he tugged her back down said it all. He didn’t think that. He’d played her. Damn him.
“Bastard,” she mumbled, ignoring Teddy’s throaty chuckle.
As soon as his laugh subsided, she instantly felt the air thicken. His hand was on her face a second later, tilting it up to meet his gaze. “Talk to me, doll. Please.”
Her heart rate picked up, and she could no longer look him in the eye. Instead, she dropped her gaze to his chest and began to play with his dark hair. Neither of them spoke for several minutes. It was like he knew she was trying to get her thoughts in order, and he was giving her time.
Eventually she blurted out the truth. Not so eloquently. “I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of this. Of us.” She let out a slow breath, realizing how shaky her voice was. “I don’t know how to do this. How to be in a healthy relationship. How to just be ... happy.”
Teddy had moved closer. His hand was resting on her hip one minute and pulling her into him the next. Accepting his comfort, she let her head rest in the crook of his neck as he stroked her side. “It’s okay; it’s okay. Explain it to me, doll. Talk me through it.”
She swallowed down the lump in her throat. Thank God her face was hidden, and Teddy couldn’t see her now-burning cheeks. “It’s embarrassing ...” She paused and let the soothing motion of his fingers give her strength. “I haven’t ... I don’t have much experience when it comes to guys.”
She felt Teddy’s body tense. She was once again glad that he couldn’t see her face. If she wanted to get through this, she needed to keep her attention as far from those green flames as possible.
“We never really talked about what happened when we ... when we were younger. But, um, you, uh ... you weren’t the only one who was a virgin when you left for the Navy.” She could feel his heart thumping against her bare chest. She could swear that it had grown faster. “I guess I ... I, uh, I always thought you’d be my first.”
A tortured groan echoed around the quiet room, followed by a string of expletives. She waited for him to stop, burying her head farther into his neck.
When he’d finally finished cursing a blue streak, she steeled herself. She’d come this far. No point turning back now.
“Before you, I’d only ever been in two relationships. Colt ... and Ben.”
“Jesus Christ, Summer. I-I ... that’s ...”
“Pathetic,” she finished his sentence for him. “I know. I’m a thirty-four-year-old woman for God’s sake, trust me I know that I’m—”
Before she could finish, she was flipped onto her back. Her hands pinned on either side of her head as Teddy loomed over her. Even in the darkness she could see that his eyes were blazing.
“Call yourself pathetic one more time, Summer, and I’ll spank that pretty little butt of yours until you’re walking around with my handprints on it.”
“Uh ...” She stopped. She had no idea what to say. Yes, please?
“Let me get this straight, doll. You’ve only ever been with two men?”
“Um ... and you ... so, uh, three, technically.”
More curses trickled out. Each one more creative than the last. “If I didn’t already hate that motherfucker Colt, I sure as shit do now. And that asshole Ben. Fuck. It’s my fault. All of it.”
“What?”
“It’s my fault, baby. If I’d have just manned up all those years ago and told you how I felt ...”
She jiggled her hands until they were free from his grasp and cradled his face. She could clearly see the regret swimming in the creases around his temple. She wanted to kiss it away.
“Don’t. Don’t do that. We’re here now, aren’t we? We found each other again. That’s all that matters.” She lifted until her lips brushed his forehead and continued her assault until his whole face had been covered in kisses. “I just needed you to know. I needed you to understand why I might be bad at this. Why I’m probably gonna fuck up.” This time she pressed a kiss to his lips and inhaled his musky scent.
He lowered his forehead to hers. The move pushed her back onto the pillow. “I want to give you everything, doll. You know that, right?” He didn’t wait for her to reply. “I wanna show you what a relationship is supposed to be like. How you’re meant to be treated. How you’re supposed to be loved. Everything you’ve never had. And I swear to God, that’s what I’m gonna strive to do. Every. Single. Day.”
Holy shit. Did he just say loved? No. He can’t have meant it like that. Not yet. It’s too soon. See? This just proves how much I suck at this!
She was still trying to think of a reply that wasn’t “okay” when he continued to blow her mind. “But, baby, there’s something you should know too. Your two relationships ... well, that’s two more than me. I’m flying fucking blind here. Literally. You’re scared you’re gonna fuck this up? Well, I’m fucking terrified.”
Oh my God. Seriously?
How was it possible that this beautiful man had never been in a relationship before? As if reading her mind, she didn’t need to wait too long for an answer.
“Don’t get me wrong, doll, I’ve had my fair share of encounters. Casual ones. But relationships? I’ve got zero experience. Seeing as we’re laying all our cards on the table tonight ...” He drew up slightly so he could capture her eyes, her pulse immediately quickened when she got a glimpse of the intensity in his expression. “No one was you, Summer. Not one single person came close.”
Her chest tightened. It was suddenly hard to breathe. Hard to think. And evidently too hard to speak as well because all she managed to say in reply was, “Teddy”.
“What was the point in dating when I knew I wouldn’t ... couldn’t ever feel for anyone what I felt for you?”
She hadn’t even noticed she’d sprung a leak until tears spilled over her cheeks, dampening her ears. Overwhelmed didn’t even begin to cover how she was feeling. The last thing she wanted was to dwell on the past, but now all she could think about was what if. They’d wasted so much time.
“Kiss me,” she whispered, “make me yours.”
A growl erupted before his mouth claimed hers. If she thought his kisses had felt possessive before, she’d had no damn clue. As he devoured and tasted every inch of her, contentment settled over her. She felt owned. Worshipped. Loved. She was his and he was hers. Fucking finally.
***
S ummer had spent the past few days practically glued to Teddy’s hip. She never really considered herself clingy in a relationship. Or in need of any sort of validation. If anything, past boyfriends—well, Colt and Ben—had accused her of being distant. Too independent. They’d even gone as far as to say she was cold. So, the revelation that she wanted to spend every free minute she had wrapped up in Teddy had surprised even her.
She certainly wasn’t cold with him either. If anything, it was the opposite. They couldn’t stop touching each other. Much to the dismay of everyone around them. Kelly had spent most of last night’s shift making vomiting sounds every time she caught them making out.
This was what happiness felt like. This was what being in love felt like.
Yes. Love. Sickeningly happy, cringe-inducing, epic love. In all its glory. The realization might have only come after they’d shared, but that wasn’t when she’d fallen in love with him. Their love had spanned decades. He had always been the one who got away. An unrequited love that wasn’t so unrequited anymore.
When did I get so sappy?
Tonight, she’d dragged her sappy ass to the next town over for Ivy’s bachelorette party. As Mickey’s was the only bar in Bluestone, they’d had to venture out to Splitrock, the next town over, so the husbands of the women didn’t crash the party. It would appear that they were all just as possessive as Teddy and didn’t like the idea of their women getting tipsy when there were other men nearby.
The whole possessive thing was new to Summer. At first she thought Teddy was being controlling, which pissed her right off. And she had no problem telling him so. She’d had enough of controlling assholes. But as soon as they’d talked about it and he’d explained the last thing he wanted to do was control her, she got it. It stemmed from concern. Her safety. Nothing else. Well, possibly a little caveman jealousy too, going by his reaction to her dress tonight.
“Make room for the shots, ladies!” Alice piped as a tray full of dark liquid came into view.
“Please tell me those aren’t whiskey shots, Ali.” Her sister, Lily, grimaced.
“As if there’s any other kind of shot, Lilypad.” Mirth danced in Alice’s pretty blue eyes.
Summer had to admit, she loved these women. They’d welcomed her and Laney into their fold with open arms. And they were funny as hell.
Ivy, Lily, Sam, and Laney all stared at the shot glasses Alice placed in front of each of them. Summer was the first to throw it back and wince at the burn it left in its wake. She might as well start as she meant to go on.
“Well damn,” Alice yelled over the country music blasting in the background, “my kinda woman!” She brought her own shot glass to her lips and knocked it back.
“I can’t drink that, Ali.” Lily pushed her shot toward her sister.
“And why is that, Lilypad?” She had a feeling that Alice already knew the answer. Even Summer was pretty sure she could guess.
Lily shook her head in exasperation. “Okay, okay. I was planning on saving this until after the wedding, but since my little sister is being her usual annoying self, I guess that’s not gonna happen. I can’t drink these nasty-looking shots because ... I’m pregnant. Again.”
Instead of the usual congratulations, the women around the table all burst into a fit of laughter. Sam even began to double over. Laney and Summer were the only ones not privy to the joke and exchanged a baffled look.
“Is someone going to tell me what you’re all laughing about?” Lily demanded.
Ivy was the first woman to compose herself, but her playful smile remained in place. “I’m sorry, Lily. It’s just we already knew. We had a bet going on to see how long it took you to tell us ... and Ali here had her money on tonight. We really shoulda known she was gonna trick you into telling us!”
“You knew? You all knew?!” Lily screeched. “And, Ali, what the hell are you doing making bets when I told you a month ago that I was pregnant?”
Alice managed to compose herself long enough to reply, “Well, technically, the bet was about when you were going to announce it to everyone, not just to me.”
“Is someone gonna tell me how you all knew?”
Sam, Jake’s sister, was the only one brave enough to break the news. “I’m sorry, Lily, but you know my brother is really bad at keeping secrets. Like, really bad. He let it slip to Brady and Duke a couple of months ago. And, well, the rest is history.”
Attempting to ease the scowl forming across Lily’s delicate, porcelain features, Summer raised her hand. “Uh, I didn’t know. Nor did Laney.” She flashed the woman her warmest smile. “Congratulations, you and Jake must be really excited.”
Laney was quick to add her own well-wishes too. Effectively deflating any tension.
Lily revealing pregnancy number two was as dramatic as it got. The rest of the night was spent drinking way too many shots and lots of line dancing.
Taking a break from the action on the dance floor, Summer returned to the table, which Lily was currently guarding. Poor woman had been fending off suitors all night. Not that she could blame the male population of Splitrock for giving it their best shot. Lily was stunning. Her long hair was golden with a natural wave. And her eyes were even greener than Teddy’s. Add in a slamming body and a friendly smile, she was basically whatever catnip was to cats but for men.
“How you holding up?” Summer jumped onto the blue cushioned booth seat next to Lily.
“Well, I have video evidence of a very drunk Ali trying to line dance to “Cotton Eye Joe” ... so all in all, it’s a good night.” She ended with a wink.
Summer let out a chuckle. “You two are just as bad as each other.”
“You got any siblings?”
“Nah. I was enough of a handful for my parents, at least that’s what they told me.” Many, many times. Summer was used to being the ultimate disappointment. She honestly assumed that her parents stopped with her because they were mortified by the idea of having another child turn out the same way.
When it came to Mr. and Mrs. Willis, nothing Summer did was ever good enough. Her grades, her hobbies, her friends. The most important thing to her parents was what other people thought. So when Summer refused to go to college, that was the final straw. Heaven forbid she forgo a college education and travel around the world instead. Apparently only stoner hippies wanting to bring shame on the family did something so shocking.
“Are your parents still in Bluestone?”
“Nope. Florida. They moved over there a while ago.” To get away from all that shame Summer assumed.
“I’m guessing you guys aren’t close?”
“That obvious?” Summer’s attempt at breezy fell short. Really short. She didn’t like to think about her parents, let alone talk about them. Throw alcohol into the mix and let’s just say she was pretty fricking close to losing her buzz.
“Kinda, honey, but we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I know how it is. I’m kinda an expert when it comes to shitshow families.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh yeah. So, if you ever wanna compare notes ... you have my number.”
“I just might take you up on that,” before Summer could say anything more, their attention shot to the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the night! Kicking off this evening’s karaoke is the lovely Alice Mitchell from Bluestone County.”
Cheers and whoops filled the bar, the loudest being from Laney, Sam, and Ivy, who were hollering from the dance floor as Alice jumped on stage.
Looks like Summer had been wrong. The party was only just beginning.