Page 47 of Stick Work

“Why do you find that odd?”

God, I love this lazy, meandering talk, and easy comaraderie between us. It’s like slipping into something warm and comfortable, like his clothes. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but your family and your friends, I think they’d want something other than a Vegas wedding.”

He laughs and the sound goes through me, warming my darkest corners. “His grandfather owns one of the big casinos. It’s not an Elvis impersonator wedding,” he explains, flashing a grin so irresistible I can’t help but smile back. “Is that what you thought?”

I crinkle my nose. “Guilty as charged.”

“It won’t be like that at all. It’s very classy and elegant.”

“Damn.” I shake my head dramatically. “I picked out a rockabilly dress with rhinestones,” I joke. “I guess that won’t cut it now.”

“You did not.”

“No, I did not,” I admit with a chuckle. “I picked out a lovely, elegant dress. Even if it was a crazy Elvis impersonator wedding, I wanted to look nice for you.”

“Aww, you like me,” he teases smirking.

I laugh. “Just playing my part, Anchor.”

His brow quirks. “I don’t think you’ve ever called me that before.”

“Oh, I’ve called you a lot of things you’ve never heard. Especially when it’s your night to cook.”

My teasing is rewarded with a big belly laugh. “I’m not going to hold that against you.”

“What are you going to hold against me?” Sinking into his pillow and breathing in his scent as it wraps around me like a warm hug.

His grin turns wicked, his eyes glistening with playful mischief. “How about my body, the second I get home.”

“I can get behind that,” I murmur. “Or in front of it. Even on top of it,” I tease.

“God, I can’t wait.” He exhales, his eyes fluttering shut again. The poor guy is exhausted and in need of sleep, but neither of us seem in a hurry to end this chat. “I’m serious about the shopping, though. I’d like to go with you.”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” I reply, grinning. “You’re pushing for it because you really are worried I’ll dress in that rockabilly rhinestone dress and embarrass you.”

“Babe,” he responds, his voice full of affection. “You can go in that dress, or in a brown paper bag and it would never embarrass me. My parents, maybe, but not me.”

I laugh at that. “Maybe Grandma has something I can borrow.”

“You’d rock it.”

I laugh at the foolishness of it all, but something in that compliment makes me feel like I really could rock it.

“I think exhaustion is making you say crazy things. You should get to sleep.” I glance at the clock. “Me too. I have an early class.”

“Okay, babe. Sweet dreams.”

“You too.”

“They will be, if I dream of you.”

“Okay, now I really know you’re delirious,” I tease, even though my heart is all mushy. “Night.”

“Night.”

With that, I slide my finger across the screen, drop the phone and the next thing I know, it’s morning. I wake up with a grin, and glance at my phone, still on the bed beside me. Last night’s call lingers in my mind, that feeling of almost falling asleep with him still fresh, warm and comforting.

Reaching for my phone, I tap into my favorite social media app, scrolling lazily, despite the fact that I should be up, showering and hauling my ass to class. A photo of Elias pops up, nothing unusual, except…my chest tightens. He’s standing with a woman. Not just any woman. This one doesn’t look like one of the team’s usual ‘bunny’ types.

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