by Adele Niles
“I’m thinking I need to stop caring what my ex thinks. To an extent.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “Okay, uh… yeah. Yeah, that’s… I mean…”
I chuckled. “Take a deep breath, Garrett.”
He groaned, but took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“It’s okay.” I put my hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “It’s okay.”
He looked at me, still nervous. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure it’s okay, Garrett. I know what I want to talk to you about, and I know it’s okay.”
He swallowed, nodding. As he did, the bartender brought our beers. I took mine and took a long sip, drinking deep. Garrett did the same.
“Okay, so what’s going on?” he asked.
“I spent a lot of time outside today. Just thinking.”
“That sounds nice.”
“It was pretty good. My roommate makes great sweet tea, and I drank almost the whole pitcher.”
He chuckled.
It was nice to hear him laugh.
He turned on his stool so he could look me directly in the eyes. “So what did all that sugar help you figure out?”
“That I want to be with you.”
His eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really.”
I smiled, shifting on my bar stool to get a little closer to him.
He wrapped an arm around me.
“I just think we need to keep it quiet for a bit,” I said. “Let things settle. And then we’ll go for it.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “Yeah. That sounds good.”
Garrett leaned toward me.
I smiled, tilting my head.
Our lips met, and it was just as good as the first time he’d kissed me.
But he pulled back suddenly.
No.
Someone had pulled him back from me.
And I looked up into Ryker’s furious face.
Chapter Seventeen
Garrett
I spun around on my stool, yelping as a strong hand gripped my shoulder.
Ryker.
And I had been kissing Bailey.
I glanced down.
His other hand was balled into a fist at his side. Ready to strike.
I was screwed.
He wasn’t going to let me off with a warning again; he’d done that already today, screaming the threat as I ran from the shop.
This was going to hurt.
Hopefully he’d just take it out on me. Not Bailey.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growled, lifting his fist. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“Ryker!”
It was a woman’s voice, but not Bailey’s.
I looked over Ryker’s shoulder.
Sydney stood behind him, her mouth half-open in horror.
“Jesus, Ryker, let him go.” She stepped forward, grabbing his hand.
His grip relaxed and he stepped back, but his other hand remained curled into a fist.
Sydney sighed heavily, shaking her head. She gave me an apologetic look. “Shit. Garrett, hi. Are you okay?” She glanced to Bailey and smiled. “Sorry, I hope this won’t ruin your date. Garrett’s a cool guy.”
“No, it’s cool.” But Bailey didn’t sound like it was cool.
Sydney looked at the three of us in turn, ending on Ryker. She put her hands on her ample hips, looking up at him. It was almost comical.
“Ryker Hart. What the hell were you thinking, attacking Garrett like that?”
Ryker shrugged, looking anywhere but at Sydney. “I told him to stay away.”
“From what?”
He nodded his head toward Bailey.
Sydney raised her eyebrows. She turned to Bailey and sighed. “I’m sorry my boyfriend is being an idiot.” She held her hand out. “I’m Sydney.”
Bailey hesitated, then took her hand and shook. “Hi. I’m Bailey.”
“Bailey… Oh. Oh, shit, are you Bay?”
Bailey’s face went red and she nodded.
Sydney sighed. “Well. Again, I’m sorry that Ryker’s acting like an idiot.” She turned her head back to Ryker. “Apologize to them. For ruining their date.”
Despite how scared shit I was a minute ago, this was actually pretty amusing. I would’ve paid money to watch Sydney put Ryker in his place under any other circumstance.
“Syd…”
“Ryker. Now.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry.”
Sydney wasn’t impressed. She raised an eyebrow. “Sorry for what?”
“For ruining your…thing.”
“It’s a date, Ryker.” Sydney raised her eyebrows.
“She’s my ex,” Ryker said.
“Why are you so concerned with who your ex is going on dates with?” She folded her arms over her chest, tossing her head so her black hair fell over her shoulders. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
“What? No! I just…” He sighed and shook his head.
I glanced at Bailey. She was staring at the floor.
Sydney was only looking at Ryker. “What?”
“I want the best for her.”
So that’s what it was.
He didn’t think I was good enough.
I lowered my head.
Ryker kept talking. “I just…Bailey’s a great girl, Syd. And I want her to have all the happiness in the world. Because I couldn’t give it to her.”
Sydney sighed. She reached out, taking his hand.
I saw him squeeze it. Then, he tugged her closer and looked at Bailey.
“Look,” he said, addressing her. “I found the one for me. And I want you to find the right one for you. Not get caught up in a fling that’s never gonna turn into anything real. You deserve someone who loves you.”
“I do,” I blurted.
I bit my lip to keep my mouth shut, but the words were already out.
All three of them looked at me, wide-eyed.
Bailey looked the most surprised of all of them. Her mouth was open in shock.
I looked down at the floor, face hot.
I’d just blurted that out to a full bar, and to the girl I’d been sort-of dating for three days, and her very angry ex.
And now I wanted the floor to swallow me.
Maybe I’d just proved Ryker correct, that I didn’t deserve Bailey.
But thankfully, Sydney had some tact and understanding of how to diffuse a situation. She took Ryker’s hand. “Come on. Let them enjoy their night.”
She pulled him from the bar, back to some table away from Bailey and me.
I turned back to the bar, slumping forward on the surface. The bartender approached, and I flagged him down. “Shot of whiskey? Please? Actually, a double?”
When he brought the whiskey, I knocked the whole thing back.
Bailey wasn’t talking.
So I didn’t, either.
But then she put her hand on my shoulder and gave me another little squeeze. “Hey. Don’t get too wasted, okay?”
Chapter Eighteen
Bailey
He said he loved me.
After that, I didn’t hear another word that anyone said.
I sat at the bar in shock, clutching my beer in both hands. I watched Garrett go through the motions of ordering a shot and knocking it back, but I couldn’t pick out any words.
My heart was pounding that hard in my ears.
I picked up my beer and drank until the glass was empty.
For a moment, Garrett and I both sat in silence.
From the tension rolling off of him in waves, I knew I’d have to be the one to start the conversation.
And we definitely needed one.
I reached out and clasped his shoulder. “Hey. Don’t get too wasted, okay?”
He looked up at me, blinking. “Why?”
“Because we gotta talk.”
“I didn’t—We don’t have to talk, really. We can keep it casual.”
“Garrett.”
He w
ent quiet.
I sighed. “Stop worrying and listen. Okay?”
“Okay.” He wouldn’t meet my gaze.
My heart hurt for him, he seemed to feel so terrible. I had to set things straight as soon as possible. In a soft voice, I said, “You don’t have to back off.”
He grimaced. “Are you sure? ’Cause I…”
“You’re good.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay. Okay. That’s, uh…good.”
I chuckled. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“What? How?”
“You just are.” I shook my head. “You and Ryker really aren’t that different, you know.”
He scowled.
“Relax,” I said. “You have all the good qualities in common, don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t sound like he believed me at all.
But I kept going, wanting Garrett to calm down and understand what I was getting at. “But there’s one thing I can tell you do much better than him.”
“What?”
“Devotion.”
Garrett scowled harder, his eyebrows getting even closer together. The poor guy was obviously confused.
“You don’t give up,” I explained. “And you convinced me to fight for what I wanted instead of running. And that’s a lesson I needed to learn. Ryker tried, but it was too late. And really, that’s for the best. Because he found Sydney, and I found you.”
I reached out and took his hand.
“Everything I feel for you is real, Garrett. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
I leaned close and kissed him.
He kissed me back.
This time, nobody pulled us apart.
* * * * *
We went back to Garrett’s place when we left the bar. We could’ve gone to Jackie’s place, but I knew Jackie was home, and the last thing I wanted to worry about tonight was disturbing someone else.
I wanted us to be able to do exactly what we wanted, as loudly as we wanted, without worrying about anyone else hearing.
And what I wanted most was him.
I let Garrett pull me into his small, clean duplex. He kept it neat, which was a bonus for sure—I liked a clean place. Guys could be so messy, and I didn’t want to have to come in and be a caretaker for the guy I was dating.
But Garrett clearly didn’t need a caretaker.
As soon as the door was shut, he tugged me close and kissed me. It was slow and gentle, his lips brushing against mine before he really leaned into it.
I slid my arms around his neck to pull him closer.
I never wanted him to be far from me again.
He slid both arms around my waist, holding me tight. We stood in the living room like that for a long time, holding and kissing each other.
We had all the time in the world. No need to rush now.
Garrett broke the kiss and pulled away, giving me a lopsided grin. “Bedroom?”
“Yeah. That sounds good.” My voice sounded sultry.
“Cool.” He took my hand and turned, leading me to the back of the duplex. His room was just as tidy as the front of the house.
I smiled, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. “I like your place.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s quiet. And clean.”
He chuckled. “I do my best.”
I gave him a squeeze. “You’re doing great.”
He laughed, turning in my arms, and kissed me again.
We made it to his bed, climbing in and settling against the pillows. Garrett kept kissing me, his hands roaming over my body.
I needed to get my clothes off so I could feel his hands on my skin. I could feel that I was already wet, already desperate for him.
I hoped he wanted me just as bad.
Slowly, I sat up. I shrugged off my flannel, then pulled off the t-shirt I wore under it, tossing it to the end of the bed.
Garret sat up, kissing my neck.
I moaned out loud.
“Love when you make that sound,” Garrett mumbled, his lips moving against my skin.
I smiled and moaned again, just for him.
He unhooked my bra and pulled it off.
As soon as it was gone, he put his hands on my breasts, squeezing gently.
He knew everything I liked, and it was going to drive me crazy.
Honestly, if he and Ryker weren’t in such a bad place right now, I would have assumed Ryker had given him some pointers by telling him what I liked. But nope, Garrett must have a good instinct for my body and its responses.
I slid my hands under his t-shirt and pushed it up, then off. I ran my hands down his back, feeling his muscles move under my fingers.
His hands slid between us, undoing my jeans. I shimmied my hips, wiggling them down.
Garrett pulled my panties down, too, and in just a few seconds I was naked in his bed.
Immediately, his fingers moved between my legs.
He spread me open, bumping his fingertips against my clit.
I gasped.
“You like that?” His voice was a low rumble, something I felt as much as heard.
I could only nod, my hips grinding down on his hand.
He chuckled, shifting his position and pushing two fingers into me.
I tilted my head back, moaning toward the ceiling.
I was his, as long as he wanted me.
He held me close, one arm around my waist, the other working his fingers inside of me. I rocked my hips into his touch, desperate for more.
One of my hands dropped between us, tugging at the zipper of his jeans. I wanted him. I needed him.
His cock sprang out, already rock-hard. I curled my fingers around it and started to stroke, drawing a moan out of him.
“Fuck, Bailey,” he mumbled, kissing my neck again.
I smiled to myself. “Tell me you have a condom.”
“Of course.” He removed his arm from around my waist, reaching into the nightstand and pulling one out.
I tore it open and rolled it on, then stroked him again.
He shivered, his fingers stilling inside me.
I had a chance here, and I wasn’t going to let it pass me by.
I rose up on my knees, shuddering as his fingers slid out of me. When I sank back down, I guided his cock inside, groaning as he filled me.
He wrapped both arms around me, holding my body against his. “Bailey…”
“Garrett.” His name was a whisper on my lips that escalated into a moan.
He felt so big inside me. I rocked my hips, letting myself get used to the feeling of being filled.
When I was ready, I moved, lifting myself up and sinking down slowly.
Garrett held me tighter, flexing his hips as I dropped down again.
I turned my head and kissed him, even as I continued to move.
His fingertips dug into my back.
I hoped they left bruises—I wanted a reminder of tonight.
I kept moving, picking up my pace. Garrett kept me close, moaning against my neck or shoulder, pressing kisses or nipping at whatever spot he could reach.
I was going to fall in love with him.
Fast.
And this lovemaking wasn’t going to last long. I could feel the heat building inside of me, growing hotter and hotter. I tilted my head back, letting out a sharp, desperate moan.
It came out as his name—Garrett.
His hands dropped to my hips, pulling me back down against him. He thrust up once, twice, then groaned. “Bailey. Bailey.”
The heat within me broke. My legs trembled and I tightened my hold on him, wanting him as close as possible.
And then it was over. We sat in his bed, panting, clinging to each other.
I lifted my hands to his cheeks, tilting his head up to look at me.
He gave me a warm, hazy smile, then leaned close to kiss me, just as gently as the first time.
“Love you, Bailey.”
I took a breath
and said the truth that had been knocking around in my mind all evening. “I…I love you, too.”
Chapter Nineteen
Garrett
I didn’t want to go to work the next morning.
But I got up. I showered and dressed, and kissed Bailey goodbye. She was planning to stick around the house a little longer, and I didn’t mind. She could lock up when she left.
She’d probably have her own key soon, anyway.
We were going fast. I knew we were, but it felt right. Every instinct I had, every gut intuition, told me this was the way to go. We were both happy, both enjoying this.
But there was still one thing in between us and real joy.
Ryker.
Sydney had talked him down last night, but here at the shop, there was no Sydney. It was just me and him, and a couple guys who had known him way longer than they’d known me.
And the whole crew would be at the home shop today, so if there was going to be a fight, there’d be a crowd for it.
I parked outside, taking a look around. The lot was full already. On the one hand, I wouldn’t have to deal with Ryker one-on-one.
But would the other guys stop him again if he came at me?
Only one way to find out.
But not yet.
I sat in my car, scrolling through music on my phone. I needed something angry, something intense to get me pumped up for the day.
I picked the right song and leaned back, closing my eyes.
I turned the volume up and tried not to think.
But it was impossible. I didn’t know what the day would be like. I didn’t know what Ryker would be like.
Maybe he’d pretend nothing happened. But that wasn’t like him. He usually confronted his problems head-on.
Which meant he’d probably try to start a fight.
But maybe I could beat him to the confrontation.
That had to be the plan. I had to be the one to start whatever happened between us.
I nodded to myself.
The song ended, and it was time.
I grabbed my stuff and walked in, keeping my head down.
Zoe said good morning, like always. I heard the guys greet me, too—Bradley, Logan, Benny.
Ryker’s voice was not among the chorus of greetings.
I glanced up. He was watching me from his station, mouth set in a tight line.
I tossed my bag into my station, but stood at his, fixing him with the most neutral expression I could manage.