Page 10 of Vaughn

"Hey yourself. Sorry Nolan was such a dick. Does he do that to you every single morning?"

"Yeah, but it's all in good-natured fun. We don't really take it seriously. It's just a little sparring." I shrug, leaning forward so that we don't have to talk loudly.

"As long as he isn't bothering you. We give Nolan a bunch of shit. He's not always been a member of our crew, and we like to remind him of that whenever possible."

His facial hair is growing in, and I can't help but wonder what it would feel like if we were really together, sleeping in the same bed? What would it be like to stand at the same sink while we're brushing our teeth together? What would it be like to live your life with another person who truly cares about you? Who doesn't see you as property, they see you as a partner. That's what I've never had before, and that's what I desperately want.

"What's going on in that mind of yours, Val?" His deep voice interrupts my thoughts. "You look like you're getting further and further away from me. Talk to me."

There's one thing I can count on with Vaughn, I can talk to him. He makes me nervous, but he also makes me want to be honest with everything I'm feeling. "What do you think about couples? Is she your property, or is she your partner?"

He seems to think about it for a few minutes, almost too long, but I'm willing to give him the time he needs. He's done that with me so often. "Complete honesty? I've never really thought about it, because I haven't had a serious relationship - ever. I've gone back and forth between a few girls I've dated in town, to the women I have flings with while I'm on job sites. I'm not ashamed to say that to you, because that's who I've been. But if you want to know how I'd handle it with you? You're not my property, Val." He stops for a second, rubbing at his forehead. "I think you've been someone's property longer than you should've been. I want us to build a life together if that's what we so choose. You tell me what you want to be, and I'll never make you feel like you aren't your own person, deal?"

Those words give me hope that there is a man who is willing to let me be who I am, who isn't threatened by someone being themselves. The family I grew up with, they wanted zero individuality. That's what I've fought against my entire life. I'm getting everything I've wanted, and that itself is scary, but I want to give myself over to him, and let him show me whatI've been missing. "Can I think about it? I'm very much a pro vs. con person." I clear my throat. "Everything within me wants to go headfirst into this, but I just got out of a situation where my voice wasn't heard. I don't want to trade one prison for another..." I say the words as carefully as possible.

"I get it, and I will give you the time you need." He reaches forward, cupping my chin in the palm of his hand. "When you're ready, all you have to do is tell me. I'll be here."

"You really will be, won't you, Vaughn?"

"Yeah." I nod. "Whenever you're ready..."

He gets up and gives me a smile before leaving. I can't help but wonder just how long I'll be able to hold onto this shield I've effectively held in front of my heart. The Val that came to Get Baked a few months ago is a completely different Val that watches Vaughn walk out. This one desperately wants to know everything she's been missing.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Vaughn

I'm standing on Boone's back porch, seasoning his new Blackstone. I got mine almost a year ago and it's basically the only thing I cook on. "Once you get this done, you can go right into cooking on it. It's a lot like cast iron, in my opinion. You just wanna take good care of it."

Abel comes out, along with Barrett and Jasper. I'm pretty sure Nolan will be arriving shortly. One of them hands me a beer, and they all have a seat, while I go have a seat with them.

"Thanks man, y'all ready for some dinner? Can't wait to break this thing in."

There are numerous answers of everyone starving. I sit against the outdoor couch with my arm slung around the back. "I'm starving, and since I got it ready for you, I can definitely say I want some dinner. Whatcha makin' babe?"

Boone rolls his eyes. "Sometimes I fucking hate you." He flips my hat off my head. "But to answer your question, I'm making smash burgers, and fried potatoes. If that doesn't sound good then y'all can go get something else."

My stomach growls. "Sounds good to me."

"I'm glad I have your seal of approval."

He turns and heads back in the house through the sliding door, and that's when the guys all start asking questions.

"What in the hell happened to you and Val the other night?"

"Nolan said you took it as a major fuck you when he said something to Val. What in the hell is happening?"

I hold my hands up. "One at a time, but I'm going to tell you right now, I don't know if I feel as if I have to explain to you the situation that Val and I have found ourselves in. We're exploring things."

"Looked like you were exploring her mouth out there on the back of your truck." Abel wrinkles his nose up and dips his chin down to deepen his voice in a teasing manner.

"Fuck you, like you haven't been known to do that with Kara back there. We just didn't want an audience. I didn't want one." I didn't want anyone to see what was going on with the two of us. Her first kiss was mine, and that will constantly be a point of pride for me. The fact that I was able to give her that? It'll always be one of the best things I've done in my life, and I don't feel as if most of what I've done has been anything to write home about.

"What are you planning with her?" Barrett asks. "You know Gabby is super protective and I'm just trying to figure out if I'm going to have to kick your ass or not."

"First of all, you aren't kicking my ass." I take a drink of my beer to settle my nerves. "Second of all, Val's an adult. She can handle her own battles. She doesn't need Gabby or you to be doing it for her. It's important that she be able to do that." Val might not have told me much about what happened to her, but I definitely get the feeling people infantilized her.

"You are so fuckin' touchy about all of this. You have a thing for her, don't you?"

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