Page 50 of Run to Me
They look better on him now than they did when he used to sneak into my bed during the first weeks of summer. Something I didn’t think was possible. He fills them out well with his thick hips, round ass, and slender waist. His bare back is on full display, an array of freckles scattered along his fair skin.
What a damn sight he is, and it’s all for me today. Dread quickly fills me when I remember Glen gets to have this whenever he wants, because Nate is his now and will never be mine again. I can look but I should never touch, though I doubt I’ll be able to stop if I ever get that close to him again. Actually, I know I won’t.
Him getting out of bed this morning before me was a blessing. I was too much in a daze, drunk on sleep, to wrap my arms back around him. To memorize myself with his body again and ask him to help me make the world spin for old times’ sake.
His sweet voice lulled me back to sleep and the nightmares faded away, and all I felt was him. I forgot how wonderful it was to feel his warm body pressed to mine. To feel his face nudge against my neck like no one else was meant to fit with him this way but me.
It isn’t until I get closer that I notice the earbuds in his ears as he plates the pancakes, singing “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls at the top of his lungs. He turns his head enough to spot me behind him and his body stiffens, a beautiful blush creeping over his cheeks.
“Morning,” he says, yanking the earbuds from his ears.
“Don’t stop the dance and singing party on my account.”
Lowering his head, the pink on his cheeks spreads to his chest. “I’ll be happy to continue it if you join me.”
“I don’t know, watching was much more fun.” I flit my gaze up and down the front of his body, unable to help myself. I can look but I can’t touch. If I repeat those words to myself enough, maybe I’ll keep listening. He’s so damn tempting, though. And judging by the smirk playing on his lips, he’s well aware.
“Well, as much as I love putting on shows for all my beloved fans, we have a showing to get to at one o’clock, and you sleeping in so late is kind of putting us behind.”
I search the time on the stove, eyes bulging. “It’s already past ten? How?”
“I’m guessing you’re not getting enough sleep at the farm. Sit, so we can devour these pancakes and get ready.”
I pull out and then stop dead in my tracks. “Wait . . . What showing? What are you getting me into today? Do you not have to work?”
“Nope,” he says, excitement raising his voice as he sets our breakfast on the table. Our plates sit mere inches from each other and he walks around the corner to sit next to me. “I took the day off and rescheduled my two appointments for Monday. Oh, and I bought us tickets for the dollar theater. It’s not the drive-in but they are playingTexas Chainsaw Massacre. They play a lot of older movies every Friday.”
“Which one?” I take my seat next to him and he shuffles closer to me, scooting himself over further when I try to add more distance between us.
“Um . . . the latest one I think.” He stabs his fork into his food, pressing his thigh to mine. I give up trying to move away, and settle against him, feeling as satisfied from the closeness as he looks when he wiggles beside me. “I think it’s calledLeatherface.”
“Oh. Like when he’s younger, or whatever.”
“Yeah. I haven’t seen it yet.”
“I figured as much.” I scoot my plate closer to me as I drown my pancakes in syrup. “You did say you hadn’t seen any horror films since college, and there’s actually a movie after it that came out in 2022.”
“Of course you would know. I’m guessing you’ve seen it then?”
“Nah. I don’t watch a lot of movies these days.” It’s not the same without you, I almost say, stopping myself before the words can fly out of my mouth.
“Then, what do you do? Go for joy rides on the tractor? Play corn hole?”
I laugh, licking sticky sweetness from my lips. “No. I mean, sometimes,” I joke, shooting him a wink. “I read. Go for a swim in the pond. Take the horses for a ride. Visit the local book store and fish.”
His eyes light up in wonder. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
“And you’re definitely missing out. They really are great animals.” I shove a fork full of food into my mouth and he sets his fork down, leaning on his open palm and gazing at me dreamily.
“You should invite me out to your house sometimes so you can take me. Then I wouldn’t have to miss out.”
“Yeah.” My fork scrapes against the plate as I miss my food. “Maybe after the wedding you can come down with Glen.”
He leans back, eyes pointing down. “Yeah. Me and Glen.”
Eating takes longer than planned with all the talking we do, but once I say the wrong thing, we’re back to devouring our food in silence. Only the clinking sounds of dishes and our soft breathing fills the kitchen as we clean up our mess.
“You want to take a shower first?” I ask, stopping in front of the steps.
