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“Ronnie,” he murmurs softly and brings his large hand up to cover my breast. My nipple hardens as he caresses it through my sweater and I moan loudly.
My stomach chooses that moment to growl again. Ugh.
We pull away from each other breathing hard, and both start laughing.
“Sorry, guess my stomach has other ideas.”
He gives me a quick kiss before we get out of the truck. “I got you sweet girl. Let’s go get us some real food.”
Chapter Forty-Five
You can’t escape people you know in a small town. Inevitably, if I put on my rattiest sweatshirt and my pajama pants to go to the grocery store, I’m bound to run into my latest crush and the whole damn football team. -Sam
Sawyer
I adjust myself before we walk into the diner. Damn, if I want a milkshake right now. I want Ronnie with every bit of my heart and soul. Images of her underneath me flash in my head as I hold out my hand for hers. How is it this girl turns me on more than anyone I’ve ever met before? All the girls before her seem blurry now. I watch the swing of her hips as she walks in front of me to our booth. Fuck me, I’m so hard right now. Take deep breaths, buddy. Calm down.
I wasn’t lying when I said Ronnie was different from any girl I’ve ever dated before. My high school years had been a haze of girls just like Jess. Vipers who wanted to say they slept with the quarterback of the team or bagged the richest guy in school. That used to be me. I had the cocky attitude to go right along with it. Fortunately, I had pulled my head out of my ass after my dad left, and finally figured out those weren’t the kind of people I wanted to be around anymore.
I look around the diner. The same kids come here as before. Marge and Ben, who run the diner scurry around trying to wait on everyone. The place has been called Harry’s Diner for as long as I’ve been alive but no one knows who Harry is. The retro 50s diner décor is soothing in an odd way. Marge once tried to make the waitresses wear skates to take orders. That was a massive fail. After too many broken dishes, Marge had declared that it seemed like a good idea in theory, but didn’t work so well in real life. My mouth quirked up on the side. Marge and Ben were staples of the place and had tolerated me even when I was a punk kid.
I hear Ronnie sigh on the other side of the booth. “What is it, babe?” I try out the endearment, liking the way it rolls off my tongue.
“I just love this place. The burgers, the milkshakes, the owners…it feels so comforting.”
I take in the faded décor of the restaurant again. “I know what you mean.” I pick up the menu on the table even though I don’t need to look at it. “I know you want a cheeseburger, and I’m assuming chocolate milkshake, right?”
Her eyes light up. “I know it’s not unusual or anything and they have like 20 different flavors, but it’s my favorite. I’m sure you can find your butterscotch on the menu if you want it.” She winks at me and I can’t help but smile.
Marge walks up to the table and smacks her gum. “What’s up you two? How ya doin’ Sawyer? Haven’t seen you around here in awhile.” Marge is smacking so loudly it’s hard to catch all the words that come staccato out of her mouth. Her shockingly bright blonde hair is up in a loose bun and a pencil sticks out of the bun. She’s sixty or older, but her hair has always been bleach blonde. Even the pictures of her on the wall show her fake color and the same bright red lipstick. She’s gained a little weight over the years and has a few more wrinkles, but besides that she wears the same uniform and probably smacks the same kind of gum.
“Yeah, I know it’s been awhile. Been busy down at Frank’s shop. You know Ronnie, right?” I gesture across the booth and Marge pops a small bubble.
“Ha, I know Ronnie alright. The principal’s daughter, and a town hero right now in my opinion.” She puts her hand on her bulky hip and pops her gum again. “This girl is a good egg, for sure.”
“Wh..what do you mean, Marge?” Ronnie’s green eyes are wide, and her voice is tentative as she looks up at her.
“I mean, finally, someone had the good sense to turn that Bradley kid in. He’s always walkin’ around like he owns the town, but you finally got him put where he belongs. He treats everyone like shit and expects to get away with it, but you baby doll, took him down quite a few pegs.” Marge looks over at me and I smile with pride.
“Kinda proud of you too, Sawyer, even though I never would’ve figured you would end up with a good girl like this one here. Glad to see you finally broke out of the family mold.” She winks. “If it makes any difference, I approve.”
I wink right back at her. “Thanks Marge. Ronnie is a great girl. Can we get a couple of cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes, please?”
“Sure, doll. Got it coming up.” She leans over and whispers where only Ronnie and I can hear her. “Just so you know, some of these jocks that come in here aren’t happy about y’all getting their team captain arrested. Be careful, chickadees, please.”
I nod. “Thanks Marge. We’ll watch our backs.”
When she walks away, I glance around. In the back corner, there’s a group of muscled guys with letterman jackets watching us intently. They’re eerily quiet.
I grab Ronnie’s hand that’s laying on the table. “Sweetheart, I promise I won’t let them bother us.”
She lets out a long sigh. “I saw them when we first walked in. I was hoping to avoid them. I guess there’s going to be a lot of people in this town who aren’t happy with me for turning Brad in.”
Her voice is so sad that I stroke her hand lightly. “There’s just as many people that will be happy to see him get what’s coming to him. You did the right thing.”
She gives me a slight smile. “We both did the right thing.”
Surprisingly, the guys don’t approach us until after we finish our meals and are getting up to leave. They walk over and surround us. I recognize them as some of Brad’s friends that are always around his parent’s house. I tense up and clench my fists, ready for whatever they try to dish out.
