Page 42 of Butter My Biscuit

“What I’d do to go back in time,” she says with a sigh.

I smile, replaying old memories like a movie in my head. Stephanie and I were adventurous and insatiable for each other. My mama was convinced I’d knock her up before we graduated high school, but I was responsible. That’s one thing I am. No accidental pregnancies for me, regardless of how many people are convinced I’ll be the one.

My alarm goes off, the first reminder that I need to get going, and I reach over and silence my phone. “Shit. I gotta go. I wish we had more time.”

“Me too.”

I slide out from between the sheets and place my feet on the floor. She clicks on the side lamp, and I see several silver condom wrappers on the bedside table.

“Can we see each other again?” She sits up and presses her hand against my back, lifting the comforter with her to cover her perfect breasts.

“I’ve got rules, babe.” I look over my shoulder and meet her gaze.

“Yeah, I heard about them online. You know there are fan pages.”

“Are you runnin’ one of them?” I shoot her a wink.

She shrugs. “I just know your rules aren’t valid because you just broke them with me.” She taps her finger over her plump lips. “Last night.”

“Guilty as charged.” I slide on my clothes, and she lies in bed and watches me.

“You know I’m right though.” She’s grinning. She’sflirting.

“No denying it.” My socks and shoes are on the other side of the room, and I stand, plucking them from the floor. I wanted to make it back to the house before Grace woke up. Not that I care if she knows, but because she’s going to encourage me to go for it. “Let’s play it by ear.”

She gives me a nod and smiles, almost as if she knows something I don’t. “As long as it’s a maybe … I’ll accept it.” Then, she smirks. “Mmm, Mr. Valentine, you’ve gotten so much better with age.”

I chuckle, leaning across the mattress to kiss her. “I hope to see you again.”

“You will,” she promises.

As I walk across her large bedroom and reach for the door, I look over my shoulder at her sparkling blue eyes. She’s a beautiful woman. Gorgeous. Smart. Intelligent.

“See ya.”

“Still not a goodbye.” She blows me a kiss, and I smirk before leaving.

We always did have a good time, rolling in the sheets together. The attraction between us is still very much alive. But we’re not dumb teenagers anymore.

Revisiting that relationship is tempting because she’s one of the women in my two-woman category that I think I could spend the rest of my life with. Grace being the other one.

As I crank my truck, I think about this weekend. Half of the shit that happened, I could’ve never predicted. Maybe this weekend will change the entire trajectory of my life.

How fucking cliché would that be?

The sun is rising, but there is a lot of fog on the road from the steadily changing temperatures. I’m almost surprised there is so much traffic this early in the morning, but then I remember that Houston is big as hell. When I make it back to the house, I walk in and grab my bag. I hear the shower running.

I move through the living room and down the hallway, noticing the door is slightly cracked. While I should keep my gaze forward, I turn and see Grace standing under the stream, rinsing her hair. I swallow hard and force myself to keep walking. I wish she realized just how gorgeous she is and that she literally holds all the cards; she just can’t see them.

Pushing the intrusive thoughts away, I toss my duffel onto the bed and open it wide. When I glance over at the time, I calculate the drive. I don’t think we’ll make it to Valentine before dark, which is a bummer, considering I have to be at work around five tomorrow to catch up from this little vacation.

The water shuts off. As I bend over to pick up my clothes, Grace enters.

When I look over my shoulder at her, she screams, and her towel falls to the floor. I turn my back as she hurries to pick it up.

“Shit. Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I didn’t hear you come back! You should’ve warned me!”

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