Page 26 of Made for You

“This is the best night ever.” I bury myself next to him, wrapping up in his blanket and sinking into the soft mattress.

He kisses me once more before my heavy eyelids take over, and I don’t even get to enjoy a fire in the bedroom with my new book.

I can’t sleep. I’m torn between having the best night of my life and being afraid I ruined my friendship with the one woman who truly understands me, and still seems to.

When I was in high school, girls only used me to get to my brothers. The football stars, sports gods of Balsam Ciffs High. I was just the nerd who liked to carve wood, and take care of my parents inn. Living in the Keaton Boys’ shadow when you’re nothing like them doesn’t leave many girls wanting you.

When Violet’s breathing evens out again, and she softly snores next to me, I gently roll her off my arm. I want to have the fire going for her when she wakes up shortly for her day. It’s so refreshing to have someone on the sameschedule as me. Someone to enjoy the early morning sunrises with. I can’t wait to have coffee with her on my deck as we watch the sun break over the horizon.

I stack a few logs in the fireplace. Having fireplaces in each room was my favorite thing about the cabins. My grand-dad built gorgeous hearths made of the rocks that would smash around in the ocean before eventually ending up in the cove. The bedrooms have smaller versions, but in the living room, it’s a two-story hearth and chimney that spreads from the floor to the ceiling, visible from the lofts.

I have been working on painstakingly restoring each one of them. When Pops was in charge, he didn’t really focus too much on upkeep. Growing up he had all the boys to help, but as we got older and stopped helping he started letting things go. The fireplaces were the last thing on his list, but the first on mine.

I toss a firestarter under the logs and light it. The fire roars to life. I head out to the kitchen to start some coffee. I get a tray out and put on it two mugs, creamer, sugar, and the coffee pot.

I place the tray on the nightstand next to Violet and sit next to her on the bed. She stirs a little as my weight dips the side. I lean down to kiss her temple.

“Good morning beautiful, time to get up,” I whisper into the shell of her ear.

“Mmm, so comfy. Don’t make me.” She curls into me, tucking her arms and pulling the blanket tighter around her.

“I brought coffee.”

One eye pops open, “Okay, keep talking.”

“And a fire.” I point to the fireplace at the end of the bed.

She sits up in bed, and props against the headboard. A slow smile starts and she sticks her hands out for the coffee mug.

I move the tray to sit on the bed next to her so she can make it how she wants it, and I make sure I pay attention to how she takes it for next time.

If there is a next time.

“If you feel up to it in a few, the sunrise from my deck is amazing. I have an extra Carhartt.”

“Well now you’re talking my language, big bad wolf.”

She leans over and places a kiss on my cheek. She hops out of bed, and grabs her leggings from last night in a hurry.

“You coming?” She looks back at me before she saunters out of the bedroom.

Grabbing my own coffee I follow behind her like a lovesick puppy.

“Wow, this view is… I don’t even have words for it.” She snuggles into the jacket with the fleece lining and wraps her hands around the warm mug.

The orange glow is just starting to halo along where the ocean meets the sky. The clouds look like cotton candy floating above with speckles of stars further up.

But what really makes this the perfect scene, is Violet leaning on the railing, wearing my jacket, and a smile on her face because I get to share with her my favorite part of the day.

“So, tell me. Are you a closet smut reader?” she asks.

I stare at her, confused. I have no idea what the hell she is talking about.

“The books,” she laughs, “they’re smut.”

I continue to stare at her.

“Romance books with…spicy scenes. You know, kind of like what you did to me last night?”

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