And as he carries me up the stairs for the second time today, I let all my worry and fears drift away.
Right now I'm happy, and that's all that matters.
Despite the heartbreak I might feel in the end, it will all be worth it to have him for a little while.
9
Branson
I feel her in my arms before I even open my eyes. It's a feeling I really enjoy. She's been here almost every night since our first date.
Our first date. . . It's a strange thought.
We haven't really had an official date. Just little ones at my house or hiking in the woods. I'm afraid of the people in town seeing us together. The rumors about me are enough to drive any sane person away. I want to bring it up, but there's a fear that she won't believe me.
I don't want to lose her.
Not yet.
This feels too good to let it get tainted by the voices I can't control. Maybe I'm reaching for something that's intangible, but all I want is for this to be real. Melody is so full of life and sass and excitement that the thought of losing her hurts.
I'm hooked. She's my drug. All I want is more and more of her. One more laugh, one more smile, one more touch, one more incredible night of mind blowing sex.
I tried to force myself to forget her and our night on the mountain, but she came to me, she sought me out, knocking on my cabin door. And she just keeps coming.
“Good morning,” she says.
“You're awake,” I say, slightly startled by her voice.
“I am.” Stretching her entire body from fingers to toes, she curls her body around me. “So, what's the plan for today?”
“I was actually thinking we should take a hike to Gloster Falls. What do you think?”
“I think that sounds great. I have my boots in my truck ready to go.”
Pushing up, I rub her back a little as she rolls onto her belly. “Coffee?”
“Please,” she says, snuggling deeper into the blanket. Her phone pings on the nightstand. Picking it up, she groans. “It's my brother. He's so nosy.”
“He's your brother, he's supposed to be nosy.” Chuckling, I smile at her. “Be nice to your brother.”
“Yeah, easy for you to say. He's not your brother, he's mine.”
“I know a thing or two about older brothers, I have two of my own. The only difference is they used to beat the shit out me, at least yours is just overprotective.”
Melody laughs. “True.” Tapping her keypad, she sets the phone back down. “I told him I was working. Hopefully, he'll leave me alone for a bit now.”
Plucking at my lip, I ask, “Does he know about me?”
It's a loaded question. I'm not sure what he's heard about me. I'm not sure what she's been told about me. A rumor can live in so many ways, it all depends on who's listening.
“Yes and no. I told him about how you helped me, but that's it. I haven't told him anything else. He's in my shit enough. Trust me, the last thing you want is him sitting you down and asking you what your intentions are with me.”
She smiles, but my heart sinks. It's like a double edge sword. I'd love for us to be able to be open with our relationship, but I don't want to reopen the wounds of my past.
“Well, you ready?” Quickly changing the subject, I hop out of bed and grab some clothes. “I'd like to get to the falls before noon.”
Her voice changes, and I know she can sense the shift. “Uh, yeah, sure.” Her tone is off, layered with questions she isn't asking, or just doesn't know how to.
But I don't offer a chance for her to even try. Getting dressed, I stuff my feet into my boots and head downstairs. Putting on a pot of coffee, I pour us each a cup and wait for her at the table.
She's pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she comes down the stairs. “Smells good.” Taking her cup, she sits in silence and drinks her coffee.
Her eyes fix out the window, steady and still. Leaning back in the chair, she crosses her arm over her chest almost protectively. The cup is against her lips as she sits in silence.
“It's going to be gorgeous out today,” I finally say, ending this awkward quiet. “You have a suit to swim?”
“Suit,” she says with a grin, finally glancing at me from the corner of her eyes. “Who needs a suit?”
Whatever she's thinking about, whatever was on her mind, seems to disappear.
Smirking, I lift my coffee cup and cheers the air. “I can't argue with that.” Grabbing an apple from the bowl in the center of the table, I roll one her way, and take one for myself.