Elouise
“Night, Mom.”
I let her give me one last hug before I shut and lock the front door. Dad’s already waiting for her in the RV, having gotten it hooked up to water and electricity earlier in the day.
It was a little weird the first time they stayed in my driveway, but they insist they’re fine out there and I’ve given up caring what the neighbors think.
Flicking off lights as I go, I snag my half-finished glass of wine and head upstairs.
Mom and I polished off most of a bottle of wine while watching Second Bite, our favorite baking competition, but I’m not about to let the last sips go to waste.
Beckett left shortly after breakfast, and I was able to slip away long enough to take a shower and compose myself. Then the day was spent catching up with my parents and avoiding questions about my relationship status.
Alone in my bedroom, I make sure the curtains are fully closed before stripping down and pulling on the same pajamas I frantically changed out of this morning. Since I only wore these pajamas for a few hours last night, I’m not gonna feel bad about putting them back on. Plus, the knowledge that I was wearing them when I woke up with Beckett wrapped around me, makes me feel close to him.
Wow, Lou, you sound like a lovesick tween again.
Draining the last of my wine, I drop onto the bed facedown. I need to slow my emotions down before my heart falls completely in love with Beckett all over again.
My parents camping out in my driveway should do a good job of that for the next week at least.
A soft buzzing sound emanates from my nightstand, and I lift my head enough to reach for my phone.
I’m expecting it to be Maddie, since I texted with her about the RV debacle earlier today, but my heartrate ticks up a notch when I see the caller is someone else.
Rolling onto my back, I hit accept, “Hello.”
My voice comes out a little breathy and I wonder if maybe the wine has affected me more than I realized.
“Hey, Babe,” Beckett’s tone is just as husky. “How was the rest of your day?”
I smile at the ceiling, “Uneventful. Thankfully.”
He chuckles, “Glad to hear that.”
My breath heaves out, “I’m so sorry about this morning. That was…” I drop a hand against my forehead, “I don’t even know how to finish that sentence!”
“Don’t apologize, it wasn’t all that bad.”
I snort because it was. It was that bad. We’ve barely had one date and my mom already told him to call her Mom.
“Smoky,” his voice trails through the phone and wraps around my body, “don’t dwell on it another moment.”
“Okay,” I agree, knowing I’d say yes to just about anything when he sounds like that.
“You alone?”
It’s an innocent question, but it sends a flush up my neck, “Yes.”
He lets out a hum of approval, “Good.”
I feel myself squirm against the bedspread, “Why is that good?”
“Because I can’t stop thinking about what was about to happen before we got interrupted this morning. And if I’m stuck thinking about it, you should be too.” As if I could forget. “And I can’t wait until next weekend to hear those sweet sounds you make.”
Heat. Blazing heat fills my body.
“I can sneak you in some night after my parents go to sleep.”
“If I could, I would, but I gotta leave for a few days.”
My eyes, which had slipped close at the sound of his voice, snap open. “Leave? Where are you going?”