Page 24 of Back to Me
“I’m not mad, okay, I get it. We both agreed to take this slow.” I let out a small sigh and ran my free hand through my hair. “I dunno, part of me is being a little selfish because I don’t want to wake up alone anymore and I want it to be you next to me.” Stepping closer to him, I wrapped my arms around him.
“Duchess, you know I want that too, don’t you?” I nodded and looked up at him.
“I do. I can be patient though.” He lowered his head, his lips finding mine once again.
“Let me take you on a date.”
“When?”
“Saturday. I will pick you up.”
“That sounds good.” He kissed me again quickly before he straightened and started walking me toward my door. Taking my keys out of my bag, I unlocked the door and turned off my alarm system.
“Are you still taking tomorrow off?”
“I am, I’m gonna go see my mom and dad. Haven’t seen them much lately.”
“Well, after you are done, if you want to swing past, I will show you the shop.”
“I’d like that.”
“Okay, go get some sleep, Duchess, and I will talk to you tomorrow.”
“You sure you don’t want to come in?”
“Tempting but no, thank you. You need sleep and I have my client in the morning so need to be functional for that.” He pressed his lips to my temple. “Night, Ally.”
“Sweet dreams, Austin.” He winked before pulling away and walking back to his truck. Something told me that I would be dreaming about him tonight. With a sigh, I closed the door after he pulled out of my driveway, and I locked it behind me. I didn’t bother turning on any of the lights as I went upstairs until I got to my bedroom. Dropping my bag in the chair by the door, I walked over to my closet and took off my shoes. Stripping out of my clothes, I threw them into the basket in the corner of my room and took my pajamas off my bed. Slipping into them, I went into my en suite bathroom. Turning on the light, I opened the drawer and took out my face wipes. I was too tired for a shower tonight so this would have to do until I had one in the morning. After my face was clean, I threw the wipe in the trash and picked up my toothbrush. Putting some toothpaste on it, I brushed my teeth before turning the light off and going back into my room.
I walked to where I dropped my bag and took my phone out before turning my overhead light off. Crossing to the bed, I put my phone on silent, turned off my alarm, and put it on charge. Pulling back the covers, I climbed under, wiggling around until I got comfortable, then closed my eyes as I waited for sleep to take over.
The next morning, after a long hot shower, I got dressed and headed downstairs. I needed coffee. It was a restless night’s sleep, but it was more than I’d gotten the night before. At first, I had dreamt of Austin. Then Cash and Austin, then it was a whole bunch of weird shit that I don’t remember. I just felt very strange when I woke up. When it hit a decent hour, I sent my mom a message asking if she was going to be home today. When she told me to come by anytime, I filled my travel mug and headed my parents’ way. They were on the outskirts of town. My dad didn’t like people and drama, so he and mom moved out here after I left town. He had always wanted property, but they didn’t think it was practical when I came along, what with school and everything else. Mom didn’t put up much of a fight, especially when she got her horse.
Slowing down when I reached the turn for their driveway, I drove down the long dirt road. On one hand I was kind of glad that I had chosen to rent a house in town because I would have to be up at some stupid hour to get to the shop but watching the sunrise and sunset from their front deck would have been amazing. I stopped the car when I reached the house, then I hopped out. The front door opened, and before I could say hello to either of my parents, I was being barreled over by a thirty-pound golden retriever.
“Ooof, hello to you too!” After showing Reggie some affection, I got him down and walked over to the steps leading to the front door. I hugged my mom before kissing her cheek, then turned to my dad, who gave me one of his big bear hugs that, no matter what growing up, always made me feel better.
“Morning, angel. Are you not working today?”
“No, I decided to close the shop for a day off and to relax. I haven’t really had a day to myself since I opened.”
“Ah, smart move. We don’t want you to burn out on us.” He finally let me go and we walked into the house. “Have you eaten yet?” I shook my head.
“No, just had coffee.” Before Dad could say anything more, Mom interjected.
“Now, Alyson, you know coffee is not a good enough breakfast. I was about to make something for your father so take a seat and I will do you a plate as well.”
“Yes, Mom.” Dad just chuckled as I moved to sit down. He, bless him, made me another coffee. He sat it in front of me and took a seat beside me. One thing about my dad was that he didn’t make small talk. He was more than happy to sit in silence until he had something he wanted to say. My mom on the other hand, not so much. I watched her as she pulled out the bacon and eggs from the fridge.
“So, what is this I hear about you and Austin being back together? I thought we talked about this.”
“Who did you hear that from?”
“Christina told us everything that is going on.”
“I don’t know what she told you, but I think she has the wrong idea.”
“So, you didn’t go around there with Austin for dinner?”
