I force myself to keep walking and not look over my shoulder. Last night was… I don’t seem to have the words to describe it. I’ve never been that close to a man in an intimate setting where he didn’t try to have sex with me. I’d feel rejected if it weren’t for the fact that I knew he wanted me. I could feel him.
“Look what the cat dragged in.” Whit smirks from the recliner.
“Good morning to you too,” I say, flopping down on the couch.
“Rough night?”
“Didn’t get much sleep.” I hold my hand up to cover my yawn.
“I bet you didn’t,” she laughs.
“We didn’t sleep together. I mean, we did, but we didn’t,” I say, too tired to explain it correctly.
“Jamie, babe, do I need to remind you of the birds and the bees?”
“Har har,” I deadpan. “I mean it. We slept in the same bed, but we didn’t have sex. There was lots of kissing, but that’s where it ended.”
“Huh” is all she says as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Nothing?” she finally asks.
“Touching, but nothing really sexual. It was more… intimate, I guess you could say. Kissing was it.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“Not really. I mean, I would have. That makes me sound like a hussy, but I’m owning that. He’s a great guy who’s hot as sin. I would’ve been a fool to pass up any time with him, sex or not.”
“Did he even try?” She sounds like she’s surprised.
“Nope. Lots of kissing and talking, laughing. It’s like we’ve known each other for years.”
She nods like she understands. “That’s exactly how it was with Aaron and me. We had this immediate connection.”
“Yeah, but I live in Chicago, Whit. In a way, even though I can’t believe I’m going to say this, I almost wish he treated me like a one and done, you know? It would make it easier to walk away. Now all I want to do is spend more time with him, see where this could possibly go.”
“Then move here.” She grins. “We have the space and would love to have you.”
“Like the newlyweds want the best friend tagging along. Besides, I’m a city girl, you know that. I don’t know that I would adapt to country living as well as you have. Plus, my parents are in Chicago.”
“All true, but you never know what you’re capable of unless you take the chance. Life is boring without chances.”
“Listen to you being all philosophical again. This place has changed you.” I stick my tongue out at her.
“I’m serious. When I decided to move here, sure I was in a bad place, missing Mom, but Chicago was my life. I’d spent summers here, of course, but life as I knew it was the city. Look at me now. I wouldn’t trade this, any of it, for the world. Even if I didn’t have Aaron, I would still be here. There’s just something about living the country life. It’s slower-paced, and you don’t feel like life is racing past you. Here I have the time to smell the roses, so to speak.”
“I get it, I just don’t know if it’s me. Not that it matters. I go home today, back to everyday life. Away from this fairytale weekend.”
“I’m going to miss you like crazy.” She stands, placing her coffee on the table, and takes the seat next to me on the couch. “Promise me you’ll think about it, Jamie. I know the change sounds scary, and change isn’t something that most people deal well with, but I know you better than anyone and I really think you would be happy here.”
“Gah! This is crazy talk. I’m sure if Mike could hear us now, he’d be flipping out. I’m not some crazy stalker girl,” I laugh.
“I think you’d be surprised. I’ve been around him a lot, and he’s different with you.”
I place my hands over my ears. “La, la, la, la, I can’t hear you.” It’s childish, but my head is jumbled enough right now without hearing that.
“Fine,” she laughs. “Why don’t you lie down for a while. What time are you leaving?”
“I’d like to head out around noon. That way I’m back home on familiar roads right around dark.”
“Okay. It’s almost seven, so sleep for a few hours, and then we can eat before you go.”
“I’ve missed you, Whit,” I say, leaning over and giving her a hug.
“Missed you too, J.”
I head upstairs to my room and climb into bed. It’s then that I realize I’m still wearing Mike’s shirt. I’d grabbed mine and just shoved it in my purse; it was my intention to change, but he woke up and distracted me. I lift the neck to my nose and inhale. Damn, he smells good.
I settle, in trying to get my mind to stop racing, when my phone alerts me to a text. Jumping out of bed, I dig it out of my purse.
Mike.
I climb back into bed and snuggle under the covers before opening it.
Mike: My bed smells like you.
I smile.
Me: Your shirt smells like you.
Mike: I can’t sleep.
Me: I just laid down to try and take a quick nap myself.
Mike: Want me to come over?
I actually think about it. I’m losing my damn mind.
Me: You think that would help?
Mike: Nope. No way would I sleep my last few hours with you.
Wow.
Me: Are you flirting with me, Michael?
Mike: Call it what you want. I call it the truth.
Me: You’re one of a kind.
Mike: Does that mean you want to keep me?
If he only knew.
Me: It means you are unlike any man I’ve ever met.
Mike: Is that a good thing?
Me: Very good.
Mike: Drive safe, James.
Me: Will do.
I wait for a few minutes for his reply. When it doesn’t come, I hold my phone to my chest and slowly drift off to sleep thinking about crystal-blue eyes, dark hair and soft lips.
When I wake a couple of hours later, I’m still clutching my phone to my chest. Checking the screen, I see another message from Mike.
Mike: Maybe text me when you leave too?
His concern warms something inside of me. I’ve never had a guy worry about me—sad but true. My mind drifts to a conversation Whit and I had after she first moved here and spent some time with Aaron. “Guys are just different here, respectful. It’s like a whole new world.” At the time, I didn’t put much thought into it; I chalked it up to her being interested in Aaron and all the attention he had been giving her. I was wrong. If this is what she was talking about, no wonder she fell under his spell. Then again, I’ve seen the way he looks at her. He’s just as smitten.
Climbing out of bed, I grab some clothes and head to the shower. I have just a little over two hours before I have to be on the road, so I rush through a shower, toss my hair into a messy bun and throw on some travel clothes that consist of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. I quickly pack my things, taking extra care to place Mike’s T-shirt in the outside compartment of my bag. I should leave it here for him, but he didn’t seem upset that I had it. Once I do a final check that I have everything, I gather it all and head downstairs. I leave my bag and purse by the front door and follow the voices into the kitchen.
“Hey, Jamie,” Whit says from her perch on Aaron’s lap. They’re eating.
“Morning,” I say with a smile.
“We didn’t wake you, did we?”
“No, it was time to get up and get moving.”
“Long night?” Aaron gives me a sly smile.
“Aaron.” Whit smacks his chest. He laughs, grabs her hand and pulls it to his lips for a kiss.
“Cinnamon rolls.” Whit motions toward the stove. “I know they’re your favorite.”
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“They’re not homemade or anything, just straight out of the can. I slaved over them, I tell you,” she laughs.
I grab a plate and add a warm, gooey cinnamon roll. “Milk?” I ask Whit.
“In the fridge. Glasses are left of the sink. Help yourself.”
I pour a large glass of milk, grab my cinnamon gooey goodness and take a seat at the table opposite of them. “This is so good,” I mumble after my first bite.
“So do I not get to see you again until the wedding?” Whit asks.
“I’m not sure, really. Work’s been slow, so I might be able to get away for the weekend again before then.”
“I hate you driving that way all by yourself.”
“Why don’t you let us get you a plane ticket? The flight’s a quick one,” Aaron suggests. A smile lights Whit’s face and his eyes soften when he sees it.
“I can’t let you do that. The drive isn’t that bad, just under six hours.”
“How about we see what your work schedule is like and we can figure it out then. Maybe we can even drive up and visit,” Aaron suggests.
Whit leans in and kisses him. I focus on eating my breakfast, letting them have their moment.
After I eat and help Whit clean up, she and I head back to the basement to discuss wedding plans. Time flies and all too soon it’s time to go.
Aaron loads my bags, gives me a quick hug and went to the porch to give us some “girl time,” as he calls it.
“I’m going to miss you,” Whit says, hugging me tight.
“You too. Keep me in the loop with the wedding planning.”
“You know I will. Drive safe, and text me when you make it home.”
“Love you, Whit.” I hug her tight one more time, then climb into the car. Pulling the GPS up on my phone, I hit the home icon, then send a quick text to Mike.
Me: Headed home. Thanks for a great weekend.
My finger hovers over the Send button for a second, but I quickly hit it before I can second-guess myself. Immediately I get a reply.
Mike: Please be careful. Text me as you go and when you get home. I should be the one thanking you.
Me: You’re welcome, LOL. I’ll check in when I can.
Mike: Don’t text and drive.
Me: Stop texting so I can drive.
Mike: Be safe, James.
Me: Will do, Michael.
I set my phone in the holder on the dash so I have a clear view of my GPS and put my car in Drive.