Chapter 8
Lynn’s eyes peeled open slowly. It was still dark out, the moon high in the sky. She couldn’t remember falling asleep, but her sticky eyes told her it was hours ago. It had to be early morning, and when she rolled over to check her phone, she saw that it was nearly seven o’clock. A slow turn told her Aiden was still asleep, facing the opposite direction. He still had one arm around her, and even though she hated herself for it, she contemplated leaving for a solid minute.
She knew she was close to her parent’s house, there was no reason she couldn’t walk home. It was still warm enough that she could make it home without worrying she would freeze, or she could call and ask for a ride…
But, when she shifted to do exactly that, he tightened his grip and rolled towards her.
Fuck.
She couldn’t just leave him like that, not after everything they’d admitted in the dark last night. She couldn’t remember falling asleep because they’d stayed up and talked for hours, sharing things neither one probably meant to.
It made her feel a little more human and a little less vulnerable about sleeping with him so soon, but she still had no idea what the hell to say now. Did she have to do a walk of shame? Was that a real thing?
Did it only count if it was a one night stand, and they were still strangers? He’d spoken like he had every intention of seeing her again, and they didn’t feel like strangers, so…?
Closing her eyes, Lynn settled back against his side. She didn’t exactly want to leave, and she figured if he had to work, he probably had his alarm clock set. No need to wake him up before his shift at the garage started. She’d feel like a real ass if she did that.
He sighed in his sleep and nuzzled his nose against the top of her head.
Inside, she was screaming, because she wasn’t used to allowing people into her space like that. But, she had to admit that it wasn’t so bad. He didn’t feel like he wanted to hurt her, his hold on her was gentle, and if he didn’t care in some respect, he would have been up and ready for her to leave already.
Her mind settled slowly as she drifted back to sleep, her palms pressed to Aiden’s bare chest.
∞∞∞
The sun was up by the time both of them woke up, Lynn on her side and Aiden spooning her from behind. She’d put her clothes back on at some point during the night, and he was still in his boxers, so Lynn felt more comfortable than she would have if they were still naked. She wasn’t really ready for anyone to see her naked in the daylight, that was for sure.
“Good morning,” He said softly.
“Good morning,” She whispered.
“You sleep okay?”
She nodded.
“Yeah. You’re a cuddler and you talk in your sleep though, didn’t expect that,” She said with a small laugh.
“Well, that’s embarrassing,” He chuckled.
She patted his hand affectionately.
“It was cute, didn’t bother me.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve slept next to anyone, so I apologize in advance for anything I say or do when I’m asleep.”
She didn’t think that was necessary, but she didn’t say that.
He rolled over and stretched, reached for his phone.
“Shit, it’s getting late. I have to get to work soon, I said I’d be in at nine. If I had more time I’d made us breakfast, but…,” He trailed off as he looked over at her.
“It’s fine, I should get back to my car and head home. Check on Jessica, make sure she survived the night.”
He nodded as he laughed and stood, pulling on his uniform for work. She watched out of the corner of her eye, unsure of how to proceed.
Do I kiss him?
Do I shake his damn hand?
Fuck, but she felt awkward.
She began to pull her belongings together; earrings, panties, her purse. She stuffed everything inside her bag and moved towards the front door so she could put her shoes on…which were still in the car.
Knowing she’d have to get her feet wet, she pulled the door open and headed for his truck anyways, wincing at the wetness between her toes. She hated that feeling, but it was better than loitering inside and letting the awkwardness rise between the both of them.
So, you did it.
You promised yourself you would wait for something truly special, and then you slept with him the first night you two hung out.
“Fuck, I’m an idiot,” She spoke softly to herself.
When she stepped back inside, he glanced at her questioningly. She held up her shoes and bent forward to put them on. Her line of vision met his discarded hat from the night before, and she couldn’t help but blush.
It didn’t matter how fucking magical the night before felt to her if it was the only night they ever shared, because she gave it up like a hussy.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
“You okay?”
She looked up, unaware of the fact that he’d obviously been studying her.
“Yeah, I’m just tired. A little hungry too, but I’ll grab something on the way back to my apartment.”
He just nodded and wrangled up his own belongings. Wallet, keys, she watched as he stepped into his trusty work boots.
“Okay, you ready to go?”
She nodded silently.
He motioned for her to step outside first, and she did, walking directly to his truck without hesitation. As she slid inside, he looked around.
“You hid that money, didn’t you?”
She nodded slowly.
He just laughed and shook his head.
Lynn settled in for their ride, unsure of what she was supposed to do now. Make small talk? Bring up their awesome sex from the night before?
“Ya know, when my sister mentioned you to me a couple of months back, I kind of blew her off. I was sure I’d fuck up your guys’ friendship if I dated any of her friends. I was also a little hesitant, because I didn’t know if you’d be as amazing as she made you out to be.”
She looked up at him, surprised.
“I had a good time last night.”
She smiled.
“Better than all those one night stands you apparently have?”
He rolled his eyes and looked at her seriously.
“Don’t believe everything you hear. Last night was the first time I’ve been with anyone in a year and a half, and I have a good reason for it.”
“I don’t believe everything I hear.”
“Must not, because here you are, with me anyways. I’m not that kind of guy and I don’t want you to think I am.”
She didn’t know what to say other than, “ I don’t think you’re like that. I didn’t know, obviously, because all I’ve had is word of mouth to go off of. But, I had a good time last night, too.” He laughed.
“You were hammered.”
“Not too drunk to know what I was doing, I assure you.”
He looked over at her again, and she was awestruck for a second.
“Yeah?”
She nodded, smiled.
“Yeah.”
Aiden didn’t say anything for a while as they drove, Jessica’s house getting closer and closer.
“I’m not the kind of guy that’s gonna blow up your phone. I don’t want you to think that because I didn’t message you, that I wasn’t interested. I was. I just didn’t know if you were, too.”
Music to my ears.
Lynn smiled at that.
“I’m the same way. I figured if you wanted to talk to me, you’d let me know, and then Jessica took matters into her own hands.”
He laughed, nodding.
“Yeah, she’s a great wing-woman. She just left you with me!”
Lynn couldn’t deny that because that’s definitely what happened, but could she really be mad about it? She’d gotten the best end result she could have gotten, no matter how anxious the impulsive decision made her.
“I’ll have to thank her when I see her today,” She joked.
“Same,” He said as they pulled into Jessica’s driveway.
Lynn eyed her car across the street and glanced at him.
“Thanks for the ride.”
“No problem.”
They gazes met over the center console, the same one she’d used to hoist herself into his lap only hours before, and she blushed. Feeling nervous as hell, she opened the truck door and hopped out, unsure of how to react- and then swiftly climbed back inside to kiss him.
She could clearly see the surprise on his face, and the pleasure, as he kissed her back.
When she pulled away, he smiled.
“Thanks for the dick!”
Mortification flooded her system as he responded with a laugh and a, “Thanks for the pussy.”
Oh fucking Christ, I said that out loud-
She slammed his door closed and waited until he pulled away to head to her own car, where she promptly pulled the rearview mirror in her own direction so she could see her reflection.
“We talked about this! We promised ourselves we would save ourselves for Jesus before we gave it up so early!”
She felt so stupid now that she was alone with herself. Yes, she was a grown ass woman, and could do whatever she wanted to. Yes, Aiden was a grown ass man and there was nothing wrong with that they did.
Still, Lynn never went home with a man she wasn’t even dating! Looking over, she saw that Jessica’s car was still in the driveway, and it was more than likely way too early for her to be awake.
So, she texted her instead.
Lynn: I did a thing last night, and it’s all your fault!
She didn’t get a response, and she knew that she wouldn't, because it was obvious that Jessica wasn’t awake yet, and she probably wouldn't be for hours. It was still early as far as hangover time went, so she more than likely had at least a few hours before she heard back from her.
Still, it felt like an eternity as Lynn drove back to her empty apartment, only stopped for breakfast along the way.
How can I possibly be this hungry after all the tequila I drank last night?
Her phone dinged as she was walking through her front door, and she hurried to set her food down before swiping her fingers across the large screen.
Aiden: Looks like I'll have to use that twenty dollars for a turtleneck since you decided to mark me!
Lynn choked on her morning coffee when a picture came through next, one of a large black hickey on the side of his neck.
Drunk Lynn was apparently a bad, bad girl...
Still, she couldn’t help but laugh at the photo, wondering how in the hell she was able to mark him with a hickey that large in the short time they were rolling around the bed together. She almost felt a sense of pride as she eyed the photo before she texted him back.
Lynn: I won't lie and say I'm sorry.
There, that was to the point, right? Nothing says 'I hope we get to fuck some more,' like taking the credit for a hickey the size of Texas on the side of his neck. She thought about that all the way back to her bedroom, where she sprawled out across her bed, food in hand.
Yeah, she'd had a long night. She'd gone all in with a complete stranger that didn’t feel like a stranger and still she was confused about it.
She was still confused fifteen minutes later, when she drifted off to sleep, phone in hand.