Chapter 47
LIAM
The sun hadn’t even thought of waking up yet when I rolled out of bed the next morning, super excited to get home.
Despite all our travels, I was a Texas boy at heart and I’d really missed the place.
I’d also missed my friends, my sister, the rodeo, the ranch, and just about everything else there was to it.
Moving through my bedroom in the dark, I hit the light for the bathroom and climbed into the shower without letting the water heat up first, whistling under my breath all the way. The icy spray tore a low grunt out of me when it hit my skin, but it also felt good.
Invigorating.
Today is going to be a dang good day.
I grinned my way through the shower, washing up as fast as I could so we could get on the road to the airport sooner rather than later. When I was done, I put on my favorite Levi’s, a plain white tee, and finally, after too many weeks, I pulled my worn leather boots onto my feet.
A really dang good day.
After grabbing my toiletries and dumping them into my bag, I zipped it up and dropped it at my door. Time to let the games begin.
Striding back to my nightstand, I picked up my phone and cued up Texas by Blake Shelton, then connected it to my Bluetooth speaker and headed out into the dark, quiet hallway. Jerry and Lorelei might hate me a little after this, but it wouldn’t last long.
Besides, London was going to hate me so much more and I was here for it. I put the speaker down just outside her door, the volume turned all the way up. Hitting play on my phone, I chuckled as the familiar intro blasted through the halls.
Blake had barely gotten the words “she’s probably in Texas” out before London’s door swung open. Half awake, she scowled at me and held one hand up to shield her eyes against the light pouring in.
“I will skin you like a deer if you don’t shut that off!” she yelled over the music, her voice breathy and raspy with sleep. “What in the absolute Texas hell is wrong with you?”
I grinned and smacked her ass as I turned to head back to my room. “Good morning, sunshine. Go get ready and grab your crap. It’s time to hit the old dusty trail.”
She didn’t move, just standing there in her messy bun, pajama shorts, only one slipper on, and a perfect I-hate-you look on her beautiful face. “If I had a shovel, I’d bury that speaker and you right along with it.”
“Well, whatever you decide to do, you have to wake up anyway.”
She squinted at me through those sleepy eyes and shook her head. “You are completely insane.”
“Insanely excited about going home.” I grinned at her. “Let’s go, cowgirl. We’ve got a plane to catch and I need you halfway decent in public within the next fifteen minutes or I’m leaving without you.”
“Wow. That’s so romantic.” She yawned and leaned a shoulder against the door frame, smirking as she finally started waking up. “When do I get to meet your parents to thank them for raising such a polite child?”
I laughed. “My parents ain’t got nothing to do with this, baby. Fourteen minutes left. You’d best get going if you want to brush your fangs before we leave.”
She stuck her tongue out at me. “The bad breath won’t bother me. You’re the one who’s going to be sitting in a truck and on a plane next to me for the next few hours. Maybe I’ll use garlic for toothpaste.”
With a saucy wink, she turned and disappeared back into her bedroom, but at least I knew she was well and truly awake now. When I turned down the volume of the music to a level that wouldn’t keep Jerry and Lorelei awake until we left, I heard the shower start in her bathroom.
I double-timed it back to my own before I could really think too much about the fact that she was getting naked right now. Today is not a day for lusting after my best friend. It’s home time, baby.
While she was doing whatever it was she did for so long every morning, I grabbed my stuff and loaded it in the truck, heading back inside to make us each some coffee in a thermos.
I made myself a cup to have while I waited, drinking it on the patio outside and watching one of those spectacular Miami sunrises over the ocean.
As beautiful as it was though, I was still glad we were on our way back to Texas. Even if it was just for a few days. I needed this. A reset. A few days of getting back to normal with Zach and Bryce.
Finally, London descended the stairs with all the grace of an elephant with a bum knee. Her sneakers smacked against the tile, hair already escaping from a lazy braid, and only the bare minimum of makeup on her face. Well, the bare minimum for London, anyhow. She’s still fucking glowing.
Her scowl eased when I offered her the travel mug. She took it and brought it to her lips. “Thanks.”
“I’m not a total monster,” I joked. “Obviously, I was going to have your caffeine waiting after a wake-up call like that. Although, full disclosure, I do not have any snacks to soothe the savage beast.”
She sighed loudly, spinning around and marching to the front door without another word.
Her suitcase stood at the top of the stairs, a tiny white backpack slung over her shoulder.
I had half a mind to leave her stuff right where it was, but the gentleman that vacationed somewhere inside me on occasion wouldn’t let me do it.
After insisting on going up to get it for her, he made me carry it all the way to the truck and then wheel it into the airport for her when we got there.
Her light eyebrows rose when she realized I wasn’t angling to give it back to her. “Wow. Southern hospitality is alive and well after all,” she said dramatically. “Tell me, is it because you’re trying to earn a Lone Star of your very own, or—”
I laughed. “Only you could complain when I do something nice for you, Walker. But you’re not going to get to me today. Might as well save your energy for when we get there.”
“Why? It’s not like they’re going to be throwing us a parade we have to be ready for,” she said. “You could’ve just let me sleep another thirty minutes.”
“And deny Texas the opportunity to witness your morning glory?” I joked. “Never. I’m really not sorry either.”
She groaned, peeling away from me to hit up a coffee shop. She had already drained her travel mug. I went ahead to get in line to check our luggage, pleasantly surprised when she returned carrying a coffee for me too. When I shot her a questioning look, she gave me a little shrug.
“What?” she asked. “I learned a little thing or two about southern hospitality while I lived there. We’re going back, right? I should probably at least try to be nice for the next few days.”
“Are you sure?” I squinted at her. “That doesn’t seem like you at all. You might hurt yourself.”
She scoffed down laughter and bumped her shoulder into mine.
“Watch it, buddy. You’re already on thin ice with me after that rude awakening.
If you push your luck, you might just find yourself locked in a bathroom or having a not-so-pleasant chat with airport security about what you might have in your luggage. ”
I felt my face drop. “Hey, I don’t want to end up on the no-fly list.”
She pumped her eyebrows once and shot me a sweet smile. “I thought I wasn’t going to get to you today.”
“Well, I didn’t expect to be framed for domestic terrorism.” I drew in a breath and grinned at her again. “If you try anything crazy, I’ll swap out your coffee for decaf for the rest of the year.”
Her eyes widened. “Ouch. Low blow, Mr. Jones.”
“Just rolling with the punches, Ms. Walker.” We reached the front of the line and checked our bags. Then we headed to the nearest cafe after we’d cleared security. “Thank God. Food is near. I’ll be able to keep the creature happy now.”
“Seriously?” She huffed out a breath, those blue eyes flickering with irritation as they latched on mine. “You need to quit with that.”
“Oh, are you not hungry?”
“Starving, but I’m not mean about it.”
“Says the girl who just threatened me with bathroom locks and body searches,” I muttered, leading the way to a small, round table inside the cafe.
London and I each chose a few pastries, then pooled them on a paper napkin in the center of the table and ate together, pulling pieces off the pastries instead of eating any entirely by ourselves.
It was a little tradition that’d started organically years ago, but to this day, it was what we did if we had an early morning flight.
Every dang time.
As was her making me give her the aisle seat, which happened as soon as we boarded the plane. I sighed but waved her into it. “Woe be me, being stuck at the window with the best views of home as we’re descending later.”
“You poor thing.” Another tradition was her stealing half my hoodie as soon as we sat down, and a shiver ran through her before she reached for it. “Thanks.”
“Yep.” I watched as she curled up in her seat, her lithe, small body fitting comfortably into the recliner in first class.
Despite the size of the chairs, I could never get anywhere near as comfortable as she seemed to. Then again, she also had my shoulder to lie on, so that helped.
As we took off, she burrowed into me as much as she could and I let my head rest on top of hers. On every inhale, I breathed in the scent of her mixed with that iconic, faintly coffee, faintly musty, artificially clean smell of the airplane.
Something stirred deep inside me again. That same something I’d refused to put a name to the other day. I still wasn’t willing to go there, but it was fast becoming undeniable. For me, at least. London? Heaven only knew what she was feeling.
All I knew was that I sure didn’t, but today, not even that mattered. I’d never get tired of spending time with her—not even when she chose the most ridiculously slapstick comedy from the in-flight entertainment and made me watch it with her.
That was how I knew that undeniable thing was as alive and well as southern hospitality. I hated slapstick comedy, but I sat through it with a big, fat smile on my face—and it wasn’t only there because we were finally heading home.