And maybe I could have him in return.
Later that night, my phone pinged as I stepped out of the shower, steam following me as I clutched the towel at my hips and hurried toward the sound. I knew it wouldn’t be Danny—he was still mid-flight—but some irrational part of me hoped anyway.
It wasn’t him.
Sadie: I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but this one’s mine
There was a photo attached. I tapped it, setting my phone on the bed as I pulled on my shorts, waiting for it to load.
When it finally appeared, my grin broke free before I could stop it.
There we were—Danny and me—walking hand in hand into the ocean. I was laughing, eyes on the water curling around our feet. Danny’s light green gaze fixed on me with unmistakable, full-on heart eyes.
It hadn’t been in my head.
He’d felt it too.
And just like that, all the insecurities I’d built over the years—the walls I’d learned to raise with every almost and every failed relationship—started to crumble.
With one look.
With one picture.
Seems like it doesn’t take much for life to do a one-eighty on you.
CHAPTER 01: MARLO
“C’monnnn, darlin’, you know you wanna.”
“I can’t take you serious with the cowboy hat,” I mutter as I pull down my lower lid and apply black to my lash line.
“But it’s a fan fave. I’m not losing it now.”
With the accent to match, it’s not hard to figure out why Trev is a hit. He’s ripped, wearing nothing but chaps—and I meannothing—and leaning into my space so heavily, I see more of his face in the lighted mirror than mine.
Snorting, I reach into my bag one handed and fish out the tub of lip gloss I know he’s after. I hate sharing the stuff, but I have five minutes to finish this look and take a piss before I’m up.
He whoops when I hand him the tube and smears it on like a hooligan before disappearing out of my reflection.
I can still feel the heat through the oil coating his skin from his proximity but at least I can swipe my mascara on in peace.
It’s purple—my favorite—and matches the lace covering my cock.
Knowing it won’t stay that way, I still stand and give it a little fluff once I’m done painting my face.
I like this version.
Handsome eyes stare back. High cheek bones. Glitter-coated skin sparkles in the low lighting. A bulging package and toned muscles.
It’s exactly who I always dreamed of being when I was younger.
“You still going to that thing later?” Trev asks me, cowboy hat pulled low over his brow. The thing looks ridiculous. And hot. But I’ll never admit that last bit to him.
“Tomorrow,” I answer with a scoff. “Just because our shifts don’t end until two in the morning doesn’t mean—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters, cutting me off with a wave of his hand and roll to his eyes. “It’s not tomorrow until you wake up. Which is a dumb rule considering the rest of the world starts their day at midnight.”
He flashes me his phone with the time and I sigh.
