“You want me to be in a parade? Am I just supposed to wave to everyone?” She did an exaggerated beauty queen wave.
“You get to be the candy-thrower,” I told her, amused. “That’s a very important job. Kids are going to love you. And it would be a big help to Hank,” I added, knowing it was going to persuade her. “Even though the shop is closed for business, the garage doors will be open. Hank and Colton usually give out discount coupons and free keychains. It’s really good for promoting the business.”
Truth was, although we did need a candy-thrower, I really just wanted people to see Angel riding with me. I wanted everyone to know she was mine, even if she didn’t know it yet.
“And I’ll even let you honk my horn.” I smirked and waggled my eyebrows.
“Oh, I’ll honk your horn so hard,” she said, her tone completely serious.
I grunted, trying not to laugh. “Baby, I love it when you talk trucker to me.”
Over the next few days, Angel and I developed a comfortable routine. I would leave for the shop in the morning, and she made daily visits to Beverly’s. Sometimes she would come back with a new balloon animal, so I knew she saw Ernie, too.
In the evening, she would cook dinner for Colt and me—it was either that, or frozen pizzas—and at night we would lie down in bed together with zero space between us as we talked.
She told me about how Ernie and Beverly were high school sweethearts and how she thought they should get married.
Angel was really cute when she gossiped. Her eyes got really big and her voice would get hushed as though she was in danger of being overheard.
Besides some hot make-out sessions and a little over-the-clothes touching, nothing more physical happened.
I was both relieved and frustrated by that.
Relieved because I didn’t want to jump into anything we might not be ready for.
And frustrated because I was sporting the worst case of blue balls ever.
Thursday afternoon, I got done at the garage early and came home to an empty apartment. Angel had been losing track of time while she was at Beverly’s lately and it was only two o’clock, so I figured I’d find her there.
As I walked toward the little white house, I smiled because I could hear their laughter from a block away.
I found Angel and Beverly sitting on the porch, drinking lemonade from oversized mason jars. The rusty metal overhang kept them shaded from the sun, but it was still hot as hell outside.
Whether it was from the heat or laughing so hard, Angel’s cheeks were flushed. The sight of her took my breath away. She looked so happy. She’d made quite the transformation from the lost girl I’d picked up off the side of the road just seven days ago. I liked to think I had something to do with that.
“Did you spike the lemonade again, Beverly?” I teased.
“Well, it is thirsty Thursday,” she deadpanned.
Angel smirked. “Don’t go giving her ideas, Travis.”
I stepped up onto the porch and plucked a Swiss Roll off the plate between them.
“I came to get you because my mom wants to take you shopping for a new dress for Saturday,” I told Angel around a big bite.
“She wants to take me shopping?” she asked, taken aback.
“Her idea, not mine. I think you always look great.” I flashed her the dimples and she blushed. “You’ll be in the parade this weekend,” I reminded her. “It’s kind of a big deal around here.”
She turned to Beverly. “Are you coming to the summer festival?”
“I suppose I have to. They block off all of Main Street. People come from all over, and for some reason, you can get into town but it’s almost impossible to get out,” she chuckled.
Angel stood and thanked Beverly for hanging out before turning to me. Her hair was in that sexy side-braid again and I tucked some loose strands behind her ear.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi,” she said back as a small smile played on her lips.
I brought my thumb up to the corner of her mouth. “You have a little chocolate right here.”
“Oh.” She blushed and tried to rub the spot, but I’d already wiped it off.
The air crackled with sexual tension, like it always seemed to when we were around each other.
Beverly made her way back into the house, muttering something about young love and what sounded like ‘a fine piece of ass’.
I had no idea what that was about but Angel snickered, so it must’ve been some kind of inside joke.
As we walked down the sidewalk, I grabbed her hand and laced our fingers.
“I’d love to go with your mom, but I don’t have a lot of money for new clothes,” she said, our hands swinging between us.
“Don’t be surprised if my mom insists on buying. But don’t worry. Mom never pays full price for anything. I think she plans to go to the thrift store over in Daywood. They’re having an eighty-eight cent sale.”
“Eighty-eight cents?! Like, for a dress?” She stopped on the sidewalk, gaping.
Had she never been to a thrift store before?
“For anything. Everything in the whole store,” I informed her.
Angel squealed, then started doing that hopping thing she did whenever she got really excited, which made her tits bounce up and down.
I felt my cock start to thicken and I groaned under my breath.
Fuck.
I was wound up so tight from holding myself back with her all week. Sleeping next to her. Kissing her. Touching her. But never going any further. It was the best kind of agony I’d ever experienced.
However, rocking a boner while walking down Main Street wasn’t on my to-do list today.
“Here.” I turned and offered her my back. “Hop on.”
Maybe if I couldn’t see her, my suffering would be over. A piggy-back ride was the only thing I could think of at the time, and I quickly realized my mistake when her legs wrapped around me and I could feel her breasts pressed against my back.
Motherfuckingshit.
I looked to the sky in frustration, then tried to make it back to my apartment before anyone saw the bulge straining in my pants.
I slipped on the black bomber jacket I’d found, and I was thrilled when it fit me perfectly. As I ran my hands over the smooth exterior, I realized it was real leather. I almost didn’t want to take it off, scared that someone else would try to snatch it from me.
Seriously, who would give this away?
“It’s crazy what people throw away, isn’t it? One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Karen said, reading my thoughts as we shopped.
I nodded enthusiastically. “This would cost hundreds of dollars new,” I whispered at her as I kept a tight grip on the jacket.
As I continued my search for the perfect dress, I sorted through the endless racks of clothes. Racks and racks of clothes everywhere. The small thrift store was bustling with activity—probably because of the sale—and everyone seemed to be talking about the upcoming festival.
Beverly wasn’t exaggerating when she said it was a big deal. We were in a town ten miles away and people were still talking about the tiny town of Tolson as though it was hosting the event of the year.
A woman close to Karen’s age approached us. “Karen, it’s so good to see you,” she said. The woman attempted to give Karen a hug but it didn’t work very well because her arms were so full of clothes.
“You, too, Rita.” Karen smiled and motioned towards me. “This is Angel, Travis’s girlfriend.”
My eyes went wide at the title she gave me, and the woman gasped. “I didn’t realize he was dating anyone.”
Karen nodded and put her arm around me. “He brought her over for lasagna night.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said weakly.
“I think I just heard hearts breaking all over town.” The woman giggled, Karen laughed, and I stood there mutely, like a deer in the headlights.
A few more people came up to us to chat and exchange p
leasantries. And every single time, Karen introduced me as Travis’s girlfriend.
And she sounded so proud.
I didn’t correct her, and I had to admit it made a warm feeling spread through my chest every time she said it. But after the third time, I started to feel a little awkward about it because I wasn’t sure how Travis would feel about our new assumed relationship status.
Karen found a coral short sleeve, knee-length wrap dress, and went to the changing room to try it on along with a pair of wedge sandals.
Much like her son, she was able to pull off the simple look so well. Today she was wearing a plain gray T-shirt and jeans. Her hair was down and she didn’t have much makeup on. Everything about her was understated, yet beautiful at the same time.
When she stepped out of the dressing room to show me her new outfit, my jaw fell open.
“That looks great. You have to get that dress,” I gushed.
“You think?” she asked, twirling in front of the mirror.
“Definitely.” I nodded.
Honestly, she was a knock-out. It was baffling that she hadn’t dated in so long, and I wondered how many hearts she’d unintentionally broken over the years. It’s not like it was too late for her. People dated in their forties all the time.
I ended up finding the perfect off-the-shoulder sundress. It was white with a cinched waist, flowy skirt ending at mid-thigh, and it had lace detail around the shoulders and bottom hemline.
“Oh, you definitely have to get that,” Karen said when she saw me holding the dress up to my body. “And the jacket, too. Do you want to go check out the shoes?”
I shook my head. “These are good enough.”
“I’m buying,” she insisted as we walked over to the counter to pay. “And don’t even think about feeling bad. Travis said you might give me a hard time about it but, I’ll tell you right now, I’m just as stubborn as my son.” She grinned.
“Okay, okay,” I surrendered with a laugh.
Actually, I didn’t feel that bad about the clothes because the cost was less than two dollars and it seemed to make Karen really happy.
“Do you know how long it’s been since I had a girls’ shopping day?” she asked as we walked back out to her car.
“It’s been forever for me, too. This was really fun,” I said sincerely.
On the short ride back to Tolson, she told me some fun stories from Travis’s childhood.
“He had so much energy. Some days I swore he was trying to drive me crazy,” she said fondly. “Oh, guess what he wanted to be when he grew up!” She reached over and tapped my knee excitedly.
“Um, something to do with trucks?” I guessed, amused.
“Close! Real close. He wanted to be a garbage truck. Not a person who drove it, but the actual truck.” Her laughter was contagious. It was like she’d been dying to tell this story, and I felt special because she wanted to share it with me.
“And have you heard him singing in the shower yet?” she asked.
“Oh, it’s the worst! The first time I heard it, I actually thought someone was being attacked,” I admitted, laughing so hard my stomach muscles ached. “It happens all the time, so I’m pretty much used to it now.”
“He’s done that since he was a little thing. I always knew when it was shower time.”
The horrendous shower singing had continued to happen every day. And every time, he came out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. He didn’t even bother to dry himself off all the way, and seeing his toned upper body slick and wet left me tongue-tied.
When Travis sang, it sounded like a pack of dying coyotes, but I couldn’t make fun of him. Not when he looked like that.
I suspected he was doing it on purpose. It’s not like he couldn’t bring clothes into the bathroom with him. If he was trying to distract me, it was a very effective tactic.
All too quickly, the ride ended and we were pulling up in front of Travis’s apartment. I was a little sad our time to hang out was over.
“Thank you for the clothes. And I had a really good time,” I said, not making a move to get out of the car yet. I wanted her to know how much I appreciated spending time with her. “Travis is so lucky to have you as a mom.”
The look she gave me was sympathetic, and I wondered if she could tell how much I missed having my own mother in my life.
“I’d love to get together any time.” She reached over the middle console to give me a hug and I returned it.
Tolson was doing funny things to me. It seemed I was getting used to this hugging thing.
“So…” Angel began, sounding hesitant as we lay facing each other in my bed. The pause was so long, I wondered if she was actually going to continue talking. “Your mom kept telling everyone I was your girlfriend today.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, keeping my face impassive. “And what did you tell her when she said that?”
She looked at me for a beat, trying to gauge my reaction, and brief frustration flitted over her face when she couldn’t get a good read on me.
“Nothing.” She shrugged and looked down at her hands as she picked at imaginary lint on the blanket. “I didn’t want to contradict her in front of her friends. And she sounded so happy about it, I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wasn’t true.”
“Good,” I grunted, and her eyes flew up to mine. “Because it is true.”
I’d been wanting to broach the subject all week, so it was kind of perfect that she was bringing it up. I’d have to thank my mom later.
“It is?” Her eyebrows went up.
I nodded as I moved my body over hers, and her knees automatically fell open to make room for me.
“Do you want that?” I asked, and I could hear a hint of vulnerability in my voice.
“Yes.” She started to smile, but in the next second her face fell. “But is that what you want? Because I’m still leaving in a couple weeks…”
“There’s nothing I want more,” I stated. “Even if you’re far away, at least I’ll still know you’re mine.”
Yeah, I knew she was leaving. But wherever she was, I wanted her to belong to me.
Her face softened, the worry disappearing. And the way she looked at me… No one had ever looked at me like that.
Innocence. Desire. Trust.
I framed her face with my hands then I kissed her. I loved the way her mouth welcomed me. My tongue ran along the seam of her lips and delved inside where her soft tongue tangled with mine. I sucked on her plump bottom lip—one of my favorite things to do—and her hands slid under my shirt. Her nails dragged down the skin of my lower back, and goosebumps spread over my entire body.
I moaned as I slanted my mouth over hers again and again and again.
Breaking the connection, Angel trailed soft kisses along my jaw. Her teeth scraped over the skin on my neck, causing a shudder to ripple through my body. At the same time, she wrapped her legs around my waist, linking her ankles behind my back.
“Baby…” I rasped, reluctantly moving back a little. It was too easy to lose control with her.
“I know, I know. Too soon and all that jazz.” She sighed. I recognized her frustration because it mirrored my own. “Who would have thought you would be the one putting on the brakes when it comes to this stuff? I thought that was my job,” she teased as she poked me in the ribs.
“And it’s my job to protect you,” I said, my tone serious.
“What are you protecting me from? Is it because I’m younger than you?” she asked, her insecurity bleeding through. “Because it’s not my fault I was born three years after you. And my birthday is literally in, like, six days.”
“No,” I told her honestly. “It’s because I want to do this right. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“Neither have I,” she whispered, and I moved to lie down beside her, placing one more kiss at her temple.
What I didn’t tell her is that I was trying to protect myself, too. It was weird to refer to myself as innocent�
��because I was a twenty-one-year-old dude—but that’s what I was.
Maybe not completely innocent, but definitely inexperienced.
Not just my body, but my heart, too.
I’d never been in love before. My heart was in one piece because it’d never been broken. I had a feeling Angel had the power to wreck me, which was kind of terrifying considering the short time we’d known each other.
From the beginning, all I’d wanted to do was help her. Keep her safe.
But now I felt like I was the one in danger.
“Is it always like this?” I wondered out loud as I stood in front of Hank’s shop, looking up and down Main Street. I couldn’t believe the crowds that gathered in the front yards and along the sidewalks of this tiny town.
Tolson only had a few hundred residents, but the summer festival drew thousands.
“Yep. Every year,” Colton replied behind me. “Just wait ‘til the parade starts.”
“It’s crazy,” I said, amazed.
An ice cream truck was parked in front of the empty building next door, and the mass of people waiting in line went halfway down the block.
Orange construction cones lined the sides of the entire length of Main Street, blocking it off for the parade.
“Angel, I better show you this map. I already told Travis but he’s liable to get lost.” Hank winked at me.
I knew he wasn’t serious, but it felt nice to be included.
Hank held out a piece of paper that had the parade route outlined. “Now, this is us—right behind the Herman’s tractor and in front of the Wilson’s golf cart.” He moved his finger to the starting point. “You’ll get in line here on Oak Street and take a left onto Main. Just follow the line until you get to Elm, then you’ll loop around to the back of the shop.”
“I think we can handle that. What’s up with all the golf carts?” I pointed to all the small yellow icons on the map.
Hank chuckled. “Don’t let anyone catch you questioning their cart. It’s serious business around here.”
The Good Guys Box Set: TRUCKER, DANCER, DROPOUT, and A Trucker Wedding Page 12