Page 60 of An Unfinished Memory

I flipped onthe water for the bath.

Wilder: Hey, guess who I busted with a meth lab in their barn?

Sutton: Hmm…I’ll take Hansen Was Making Meth for two hundred.

Wilder: Ding-ding.

I sank into the water. My fingers twitched to send another message, but at some point, I had to leave my ex-husband alone. I had to learn to live life without him but also with him in my life as the brother of my friends.

Wilder: I miss your game show references.

Instead of shutting our conversation down, his openness made me want to do the same.I had a lot of research hours put in while Melon was at practice.

Wilder: Honeydew gets what she wants, Mutton.

Sutton: I will drive there and puncture your tires if you call me that again.

Wilder: Sutton-mutton.

Sutton: Cowboy, you’re on thin ice.

A few minutes went by. I waited for his witty reply,enjoying the humor he brought to my night. Emptiness yawned in my chest. He probably got a call he had to go on.

My phone buzzed again.

A selfie of Wilder with a foot kicked out behind him like he was going to do a flip jump. He was in the middle of a road outside of town, dressed in his uniform, round hat and all.

I laughed.

Sutton: Smart-ass.

Mischievousness welled inside me. I held my phone in front of me and took a selfie, making sure no boob shots made it into the frame. The ends of my hair were obviously wet and the tile of the tub surround was behind my head. There was no mistaking where I was.

I sent it without a word.

Several minutes ticked by.

My phone rang. A grin spread across my face.

I answered with “Isn’t it late, Deputy Knight?”

“I can’t have an erection and pull people over, Doc.”

His nickname always got to me. Was it simple and predictable? Maybe, but it was mine, and he gave it to me. And it wasn’t Mutton.

“Why, cowboy, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Listen—I know this is wrong; we both can admit it. But I want you to slide a finger into that pretty little pussy of yours and let me hear you come.”

I sucked in a breath. My hand was on my belly before I knew it. Water sloshed up my chest. My legs were bent,my knees above the water. I wouldn’t need much to get me off.

“It is wrong,” I said, stroking my fingers lower. “So why do I want to do it so badly?”

“I’m having a hard time caring right now. Can we question this later? I need to hear you, baby. It’s been too long.”

“Are you parked?”

“In the trees by our place.”

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