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“Parking lot. Two minutes. I forgot something.” I turn on my heel and weave through the crowd. Like the day at her parents’ house, when she didn’t look back to see if I was coming, I know she’ll follow.
The second she joins me, my hands are on her face, and I’m kissing her like I’ve been dying inside without her. And it feels like I have been.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Harbor
The car next to me swerves toward mine as the driver talks into her phone. Her head is tipped sideways with one hand holding the device to her ear, and the other hand that should be holding the steering wheel is flip-flopping around as if she’s conducting an orchestra.
Seriously? I check the rearview mirror and pump the brakes, easing to the right to give her more space. As if she realizes what she’s doing, she grabs the steering wheel, jerking back to the left, weaving back and forth until she regains control over her vehicle.
Thankfully, I’m safely behind her and watching like a hawk to ensure I don’t need more evasive maneuvers.
After the passing car pulls away, I drop my shoulders from my ears and exhale. Most of the drive to and from San Francisco is spaced out and free from traffic incidents. But when nearing the turn toward home or going into San Francisco, everything picks up, and the drivers who’re trying to do two things at once need to be avoided like the plague.
I settle back into my seat and turn up the volume. Listening to audiobooks has been a lifesaver. And Cole appreciates the research.
A quick smile creeps up my cheeks, and it’s not only from the hero telling his good girl to spread her legs and let him see how wet she is. It’s also because, in 10 minutes, I’ll see Cole.
The last few weeks have been amazing. We’ve gone back and forth seeing each other on our days off and have grown closer. I can’t imagine not being with him, but our living arrangements still pose an issue. It’s fine for now that we live in two different places, but what does that mean for our future? Do we keep going like this? Do I move home? The sky darkens as a flash of lightning causes me to jolt in my seat, signaling an approaching storm.
I can’t imagine going back to full-time at the café. What else could I do? The only problem with a small town is that there are limited employment opportunities. I didn’t go to school for education, to become an attorney, or for the medical field. There are not a lot of transferrable skills for a degree in public relations. A receptionist? That’s the closest thing to what I went to school for. I tap my fingertips on the steering wheel. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.
While Cole doesn’t mind his visits to San Francisco, I know he isn’t comfortable living there. We could move halfway between, then we’d each have a little over an hour to drive to work. The town at that juncture isn’t bad. It’s similar to Meadow Bay. But what happens if an emergency happens at the station? Cole can’t live that far away.
I flip on the blinker and the windshield wipers to remove the light coating of sprinkles that have built up to block my view. So that leaves what we’re currently doing, or I find a job back home. I gnaw on my bottom lip. The tabloid debacle didn’t exactly get better as Mr. Burke predicted. My boss and his wife came forward as a couple, but then the rumors swirled that he was a cheater and only bringing his wife out of the woodwork as a last-ditch effort to save his marriage. Those assholes are fucking vultures.
Once I’m outside of Whiskey Moon Bar, I maneuver into an open space, hop out, and lock my vehicle. Now that it’s grown colder and the rain was coming in, the birthday celebration was moved inside. And Ledger’s birthday bash is at Connor’s place of work.
After getting out, I flip the hood of my windbreaker up to avoid the light pelting of rain and swipe my phone screen open while walking along the sidewalk.
Two missed messages from Cole.
Cole: Hey, babe, can’t wait to see you.
Fifteen minutes later, he sent another message.
Cole: Let me know when you get here.
Me: Made it. I’m outside.
Before I make it to the door, it swings open, and he smiles. “Hey, beautiful.”
Once I’m under the awning, I flip the hood back down and can’t keep from returning his greeting with my own smile. “Hey, yourself.” My heart skips a beat as my eyes travel over him, taking everything in, from his freshly cut hair to the boots on his feet. How did I get so lucky to have this amazing guy in my life? He’s the perfect mix of sexy and sweet. Just everything I ever dreamed of.
He glances at the sky and frowns. “Were the roads okay? I didn’t realize it started to rain.”
“Yes, the roads were fine. There was only one close call.”
His eyes narrow into slits. “Are you okay?” He grabs my upper arm as his eyes rake over me again. “What happened?”
“Nothing happened. I’m fine. A driver was passing me while talking on her phone and wasn’t paying attention.” My stomach tightens as apprehension builds. What if he decides to stop seeing me so I don’t drive back and forth. Or he only wants to drive himself to me and cut our time together.
I straighten my shoulders. What in the hell? You aren’t in the 19th century. You’re a big girl who can drive wherever she wants. “It wasn’t that close of a call.”
“Okay.” He swallows hard and sighs, “I don’t like it. The whole time you’re driving, I worry about you.” He chuckles as he rolls his eyes. “That’s not true. The whole time I’m not with you, I worry about you.”
“I’m not fragile.”
