Page 38 of One Day

She swallows. “I wouldn’t be.”

I hum softly at the cop-out and slide into the same side as her. Her eyes widen slightly at my nearness. “Give me your hands,” I say and hold mine out. She stares at them as if I’ve held out a foreign object before meeting my eyes, bringing her hands up to rest in mine.

“You seem oddly at peace.”

Cupping her hands between mine, I rub them together and bring them up to my mouth. “Should I not be?” I ask before blowing warm air on her hands, trapping it between us.

She shakes her head. “No, I just…”

“You’re freaking out.”

“Not exactly,” she says, blowing out a breath. “That was good, right? Like wildly different from anyone else?”

My heart seizes at the way her face scrunches up like she’s almost afraid to hear what my answer may be. For a fraction of a second, I consider lying to her. Unsure if she needs me to say I don’t feel it to ease the panic painting across her skin. Or if she wants the truth.

There is something here between us. I knew it before going down this road, but I did it anyway, and now we’re sitting with a well of raw chemistry between us. Neither knowing what to do with it, but lying to Sonya isn’t something I’ve ever done.

And I’m not about to start now.

“Yeah, it was different.” I felt how well we fit together the moment I sank into her. I felt it in the way her nails clawed at my skin, the heavy breaths heaving from her chest, and the way looking at her in that moment of pure vulnerability felt like coming home.

Like she is everything and more.

Pressing my lips together, I find my voice again. “A good different.”

“The best kind,” she agrees, pulling her hands out from between mine. She takes me by surprise when she slides over, filling my senses with the light citrus of her perfume as her hands slide under the hem of my sweater and onto my warm skin. “You’re like a human heater. When did that happen?”

I laugh, unable to stop myself. “I’ve always run hot, Sunny.”

“It’s kind of rude you kept this all to yourself.” Her hands crawl further up my shirt, her fingertips burning a trail up my chest. It’s weird seeing how comfortable she is suddenly like she needed to sink into this feeling with confirmation she wasn’t alone in how she’s feeling. That I noticed the shift between us, too.

“Oh, yeah? You saying you wanted me out of my clothes sooner, Sunny?”

“From the moment I met you,” she says, seeming to shock not only me but herself with her answer. Her eyes widen only for a second before she pulls away from me completely.

“What was that?” Maybe I should let the comment slide, pretend like she hadn’t said it, but the idea of watching her squirm in her seat as she admits to thinking about me naked before tonight sounds way too good.

“Don’t act like you don’t know you’re hot, Cowboy.”

“I’m not acting like anything. Just making sure.”

She narrows her gaze, pulling away from me. “You know I’ve thought about having sex with you before. I told you when I asked you to do this with me. It wasn’t a secret, and don’t act like you didn’t have the same thought when you first saw me. I know I look good.”

I smile at the confidence overtaking her body. “And incredibly humble.”

“The humblest.” She grins when Laurel approaches the table, two plates of peach pie and a coffee balancing on her tray. She sets everything down before tucking her tray under her arm.

“Busy with school? I feel like I haven't seen you two in forever.”

A laugh falls from my lips. “You saw me on Wednesday, Laurel.”

She waves me off. “Exactly. Forever ago.”

“We have been busy.” Sonya catches my eye before smiling up at Laurel. “How have you been, Laurel? How are your boys doing?”

“Keeping me on my toes, but they’re good. I’ll let the two of you enjoy your pie. Just let me know when you’re ready for the bill or need anything else.”

“Thank you,” I say, watching her walk back to the counter at the center of the diner.

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