Page 96 of Sparks Fly

“Are we scheduling sex now?”

“We’re scheduling time,” I corrected, nudging her lightly.

“Good, because I plan on seeing you a lot.”

That settled something in me.

Getting out of bed took effort. Kisses slowed us down. Hands lingered like neither of us wanted to be the first to let go. Every time I thought we were done, she pulled me back in for one more, softer this time, slower.

Eventually, I forced myself up.

I pulled on one of her worn black T-shirts and my shorts, smiling faintly when I caught the scent of her still clinging to the fabric.

The ride into town felt like a reset.

The wind tugged at my hair while my arms wrapped tight around her waist. The sun was bright, the air salty, and I could breathe all the way down into my lungs.

The café we found was perfect. Small and local, with the smell of butter and cinnamon drifting through the air the second we stepped inside.

We shared pancakes and stole bites from each other’s food, stretching the morning as long as we could.

Eventually I pulled out my phone and unlocked it, glancing down at the screen.

“Okay,” I said as I tapped into my calendar app, tilting the phone slightly toward her. “Let’s plan.”

Sawyer leaned back in her chair with her coffee in hand and watched me with an amused look.

“I don’t really keep a calendar,” she admitted, lifting the mug to her mouth.

I blinked at her over the edge of my phone. “You don’t?”

Sawyer gave an easy shrug as she set her mug back on the table. “I work. I see friends. That’s about it.”

I laughed under my breath and shook my head, setting my phone down beside my plate. “God,” I said, dragging my hand through my hair, “that must be nice.”

Sawyer reached across the table and brushed her knuckle lightly along the back of my hand, her voice gentle when she answered. “You’ve got the packed schedule,” she said. “I’ll work around you.”

Something about the way she said it landed deeper than I expected. I glanced back down at my phone and scrolled through the week.

“Wednesday night,” I said as I tapped the screen. “My place?”

Sawyer’s mouth curved into a small smile as she leaned forward on her elbows. “Only if I can cook,” she replied.

“Deal,” I said quickly, nodding once as I added it to the calendar.

“I’ll stay over,” Sawyer added, lifting one shoulder casually.

“Perfect,” I said, locking my phone and setting it beside my plate.

Sunlight filtered through the window, dappling the table and catching on Sawyer’s hands where they rested near mine. For a moment neither of us moved.

I cleared my throat slightly and traced the rim of my coffee cup with my finger.

“Next weekend…” I began, glancing up at her again. “Bridal stuff. A lot of it.”

Sawyer nodded easily and took another sip of coffee before answering. “Play it by ear?”

“I might come over late Saturday,” I told her, lifting one shoulder.