Ew.
There are NO cowboys on the menu. I already told you the rule. Absolutely NO fraternizing with the guys who work here.
Tori
You’re no fun.
I didn’t make the rules, Tor.
She replies to my text with a thumbs-down emoji, and Mia sends a gif of a cringe face. I’m turning the doorknob when Wesley’s voice breaks through my texting bubble.
“Do you smile like that when you text me, too?”
I roll my eyes, pushing open my bedroom door. “You wish.”
He’s leaning against the frame of his open door, arms crossed over his broad chest, hair still wet from his shower.
“I wish for a lot of things,” he murmurs, voice low, before pushing off his doorframe and closing the short distance between us. Something dark and hungry flickers in his eyes as he guides me back into my room.
“What are you doing?” I whisper-shout, gaping at him.
“Relax,”he drawls, making himself comfortable on my bed. “My dad is in the kitchen and everyone else is gone.”
“I don’t want you to get in trouble,” I say softly.
“I think we’re well past that point.”
I shift on my feet uncomfortably, pressing my lips between my teeth, not sure what to say. I know if anyone found out about our pact, he would be the one to get in trouble.
In a few weeks, I leave, and he’ll still be here facing the consequences. It wouldn’t be fair. I’m starting to think he might actually be insane to have agreed to my asinine plan in the first place.
Realizing several minutes have passed with us just staring at each other, I hike my thumb over my shoulder, gesturing to the bathroom behind me.
“Well, I’m going to shower now. I feel like I’m caked in layers of sweat and horse shit.”
Wesley laughs, but his eyes stay locked on me as I slowly back into the bathroom.
Finally having the barrier of the door, I exhale a shaky breath before turning on the water to warm up. I spin to face the mirror and my eyes widen in horror as I take in my appearance for the first time since this morning.
My bun is now a rat’s nest, and my skin is streaked with dirt, sweat, maybe even actual shit. Earlier it was a joke—now it’s a horrifying reality. My cheeks and nose are tinted pink from the sun and roughly thirteen new freckles dot my face. But somehow, I feel more like me than I think I ever have.
I feel like the person I want to be.
Stripping out of my dirty clothes, I take the fastest shower I’ve had since I’ve been here.
Once I’ve been thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed, I turn off the water and wrap myself in a plush, oversized bath towel. I’mabout to open the door when I freeze, remembering that Wesley is currently spread across my bed.
He’s seen me in a towel before. Hell, he’s seen almost all of me. But my pulse still stumbles at the thought of walking out there like it’s nothing. I wish I could pretend this isn’t a big deal—but it is.
Before coming here, I’d only ever kissed Kolson, and kissing himneverfelt like how it feels when I’m kissing Wesley. Not even close. I’m one hundred percent out of my comfort zone, but when I’m with him, I don’tfeeluncomfortable. It’s indescribable.
I feel alive.
Taking a deep breath, I count three full Mississippis before I exhale and finally open the door.
Wesley’s still lying on my bed, one arm tucked under his head, the other holding his phone and resting it on his chest as he scrolls.
His eyes flick up to me standing awkwardly in the threshold of the bathroom. I straighten my spine and hold my head up as I pull clothes from the dresser.
