“Oops,” she shrugs.
“Y’all have fun,” Sutton winks, much more natural than Poppy.
“Thanks, guys,” I say awkwardly and wave at them, walking toward the gym exit with Easton.
“Just me, or did you also feel like you were being studied?” he asks.
I throw my head back and laugh. I pat his arm. “It’s like you forgot what Everton is like. Yes, we were definitely being studied; that wasn’t just a feeling.” I shake my head and step outside, tightening my coat around my body.
“Instead of waiting an hour, how about we start our date now?” Easton asks.
“Um… I was going to go home, change, add some makeup.” I scrunch up my nose.
“Faith, I already saw you, and you look beautiful. You don’t need to try to impress me. I’ve been impressed for a long time. So impressed, I couldn’t forget about you.” His hands fall to my waist and pull me closer.
“We’ll drop off your car at your place, and you can ride with me,” he whispers into my ear, causing me to shiver.
“Okay…” I nod. One of his hands moves to cradle my jaw, and his fingers tangle in my hair. I close my eyes and lean into his touch, memorizing the way he makes me feel in this moment. Easton’s thumb brushes across my cheek, and his hand tightens against the side of my face before releasing me.
“Let’s go.” His voice is hoarse. Clearing his throat, Easton leads me toward my car, never releasing my hand while catching the eyes of everyone making their way to their warm vehicles.
…
“Bowling,” I say with raised eyebrows as Easton parks his truck in front of Pins & Strikes.
“I thought it’d be fun.” His boyish smile is back, carefree and excited.
“I haven’t bowled in so long,” I comment.
“No better time to start. And don’t worry, we’ll put up those bumpers so you won’t feel bad,” he taunts me.
I glare at him, but a smile breaks free, betraying my attempt at intimidating him as I watch his excitement. “Let’s go, and no bumpers. I either lose or win fair and square.”
“Deal.” Easton jumps out of his truck and makes his way around to my door as I’m opening it. He offers a hand to help me step down.
The bowling alley is still mostly empty when we settle into our lane. I’m sure people are getting home from the game and still making plans for their Saturday evening.
“Do you want something to drink? Soda, water, beer, wine?” Easton asks.
I raise my eyebrows. “Soda?”
Easton rolls his eyes. “I was living in Virginia for long enough. Pop was not a favorable word. Just another thing to make this cowboy stand out, so I acquired some of their lingo. You’re lucky I’m not throwing y’all around.”
I chuckle. “I’m used to the y’all after knowing Ainsley, Harris, and Sutton for a couple years.”
“Point taken.” He tips his head. “So, what will it be?”
“I’ll start with a pop,” I emphasize and smile.
“Comin’ right up.” He rubs his hands together.
I watch Easton walk to the counter to order our drinks, not ashamed that I’m staring at his backside. He really has grown up. He fills his jeans out just right, showing off his strong thighs, and his sweater showcases the muscles on his arms.
He makes his way back to us, holding two cups, and wearing a knowing smile. I shrug and giggle, having been caught checking him out.
“Thanks,” I say as I take my cup from him and sip the fizzy drink.
Easton and I change into our bowling shoes, and we begin playing. Maybe we should be awkward around each other since we haven’t spent time together since we were teenagers, but this feels normal. It’s as if we saw each other a month ago and have always been in each other’s lives instead of apart for so many years.
Any nerves I’d normally feel are nowhere to be found as Easton teases me when my ball rolls into the gutter. I don’t feel as if I need to impress him or be careful around him. I know I can be myself, and that’s refreshing.
“You’re kicking my ass,” I say as I hold the ball, ready to bowl.
“Right now, I’m checking it out,” Easton calls out. I look over my shoulder and stare at him, my body smoldering at the way he’s looking at me.
Looking forward, taking a deep breath, and hoping to the heavens that my ball doesn’t land in another lane because of my distraction, I bowl and look at the ball roll down the lane, holding my breath as I watch it hit a few pins down.
“Yes!” I jump up and turn around, smiling at Easton.
“Guess I’m a good luck charm,” he winks.
My smile grows as I make my way to the built-in chair next to him. Before I can sit, Easton pulls my hand and guides me to his lap.
His arms wrap loosely around my waist as he says, “I’m glad you agreed to go out with me.”
“I’m glad you’re back in town,” I grin.
“I’m back for good. No more leaving.” He shakes his head, his tone serious.
“I hope so.” I lift a hand and cup his cheek. Easton closes his eyes and sighs, tilting his head, so his scruff tickles my skin. His lips drop a kiss against my palm, and he blinks his eyes open to look at me.
“This is more than remembering old times,” his voice is gruff. I nod, all joking from earlier gone as my heart beats fiercely. I once gave this man every ounce of love I had—heart, body, and soul. He never returned it before he moved, and I’m realizing now how deeply that has affected me—more than I was aware of.
They say you never forget your first love, but it’s a rare opportunity to have a second chance.
“Do you want to grab a pizza and come see how the house turned out?”
“Without having a winner for the game?” I mock.
“We both know I’m the real winner here, and I don’t need a game to prove that.” His hands squeeze around my hips.
My body flames at the intimate touch. “Show me the way.”
One side of his lips lift, and I stand so we can return the shoes and make our way out of the bowling alley, very aware that we’re going to be completely alone within the next thirty minutes or so.
As much as I’d like to take it slow with Easton, get reacquainted before we go further, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold back once we’re alone.
We pick up a pizza at Howdy’s and head to his house. It’s surreal being back at the Locke ranch.
I remember when it was run by Easton’s dad, and a sense of sadness washes over me. I see what Easton meant when he said he feels him here. It’s almost as if no time has passed, except a lot has happened in those fourteen years since they moved. His dad will never see this place again, but I know he’s cheering Easton on from up above.
As soon as we walk in, I can tell that Allyson helped Easton pick out furniture. The place is gorgeous, rustic and modern pieces mixed together. I’d call it farmhouse chic.
“It looks great,” I comment, walking further into the living room.
“Thanks.” Easton holds the pizza box as he leads us into the open kitchen and dining room.
“Wow,” I whisper as I run my hand across the distressed wood of the dining table. “It’s beautiful.”
“That was all Allyson,” Easton chuckles. “I was looking at a small, round table that she vetoed before I even got a word in.”
“You were right to listen to her. This fits the space perfectly.” The kitchen is exactly as I remember it, a time machine back to my teen years. It’s amazing how a space can do that.
“I want to redo the kitchen, make it a bit more modern,” Easton says.
“Really?” I turn to look at him.
“Yeah. I know it’s the same one I grew up with, but it could be time for a change. Spruce things up and lighten the cabinets. Put in white ones or a lighter wood.”
“I can see that,” I comment, looking around at the rest of the space. The cherry cabinets do make the kitchen look smaller and darker.
“I�
�ll check on the fireplace and then we can eat,” Easton says. I nod and grab the napkins I see sitting on the counter, making a mental note that he doesn’t have a holder yet.
Then, I look at Easton bent down, placing firewood into an already light fireplace. I watch as the embers burn the new wood, flames rising and flickering, shadowing him in hues of reds and oranges.
Easton smiles when he sees me watching him and makes his way into the kitchen to wash his hand at the sink before grabbing plates from a cabinet.
“I hope paper plates are okay. I still don’t have the kitchen stocked,” his eyebrows pull together.
“That’s perfect. Easier clean up and all.” I take a seat at the dining table and smile when Easton joins me, holding the plates and two beers.
“What if I don’t like beer?” I lift an eyebrow.
“Please,” Easton scoffs. “You think I forgot how we all used to sneak out to the fields and drink beer around a bonfire?”
I let out a loud laugh as I recall our mischievous adventures. Yeah, sure, some would call it illegal adventures, but we weren’t the only teens drinking beer behind our parents’ backs.
“Touché,” I nod and grab the bottle he opened for me.
Easton touches his bottle to mine before we each take a sip. As we eat, Easton tells me about his plans for the ranch.
“I’m already looking at horses, and I want to buy a dog. I’ve missed having pets. I’m excited to get back into this lifestyle. It may not be a full-on ranch at the moment, but it’ll be my hobby for now.”
I love how much thought he’s putting into it.
“I was thinking of naming the ranch Locke and Key.”
I snort, almost spitting out my beer. Grabbing a napkin, I wipe my mouth and shake my head.
“Is that a no?” His eyes widen in amusement.
“No way.”
“How about Locke ‘n’ Roll? You know, like Rock ‘n’ Roll?”
“If you have to explain it, it doesn’t work.” I shake my head, laughing.
“Soft Locke?” he asks after swallowing a bite of pizza.
“More like Hard Locke,” I say before I even realize it’s out loud. My eyes pop open before I can even cover it up with something else.
Easton throws his head back, a loud cackle echoing around us, and my cheeks burn in embarrassment.
“I kinda like that,” he nods. “Hard Locke… Like Hard Knock Life.”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I meant,” I mutter.
“Sure,” he winks. “I think that’s our winner.”
“Really?” I scrunch my nose up.
“Yeah,” he nods with certainty. “I like it, and you picked it out, even if you didn’t mean to.” He smiles, reaching for my hand, and braiding our fingers together.
“Let’s finish up, and we can sit by the fire,” his words come out gruff, and my body reacts to them as if they were teasing my skin.
Easton
A year ago, I never imagined I’d be back in my childhood home as an adult and with Faith in my arms, yet here we are, sitting in front of the fireplace. I didn’t hesitate when we first sat on the blanket I had set out, and I wrapped my arm around her to keep her close, inhaling her sweet perfume.
“What’s changed around here?” I ask, feeling as if I’ve missed so much. While Everton looks the same, it feels like a new world.
“Not much changes around here. People still love to gossip and get up in everyone’s business. Some new stores have opened. I think the biggest change recently has been Knox moving back. It was…hard for him at first. It also seems as if when he moved, a ton of outsiders moved, too.”
“Like Ainsley?” I ask, wondering if she moved to Everton on her own or because of Knox.
“Yes and no. She actually moved to Everton a little before Knox did. She wanted a change of scenery from Denver.”
“And she came to Everton?” I lift my eyebrows in surprise. Denver to Everton is more than a change in scenery.
Faith giggles, nodding. The sound is music to my ears. I smirk, tightening my arm around her waist.
“She was tired of her job, found her boyfriend at the time cheating on her, and literally threw a dart on a map.”
“Wow,” I whisper.
“Yeah.” Faith turns toward me. “It’s crazy when you really think about it. I don’t think I’d be able to do that.”
I nod, searching her face, memorizing her natural beauty. She doesn’t need to do her makeup or dress up. She’s gorgeous without all that. “It’s not easy making a move like that,” I speak from experience.
“Was it difficult?” Her eyes soften as she waits for my response.
“So fucking hard. I was miserable.” I shake my head. Moving to Virginia when I was a Junior in high school was a bitch. Not only was it a new school, but I had to leave my friends behind. I knew I wouldn’t have them to lean on after school or on the weekends. It didn’t help that we were coming from a small town where everyone knew everyone—a community—to a city.
“Really?” Faith frowns.
“Yeah.” I reach for her hand. “I missed you. I missed my friends. I missed this place.” I look around my home. “It was hard to adjust. Allyson did better, but she was younger. She was able to start high school as a freshman like everyone else. Me? I was the new kid in class everyone was curious about.”
“You were missed here, too,” she says quietly.
I lift our laced fingers and kiss the top of her hand. Faith shivers, and it takes everything in me not to lay her down on this floor and have her.
“I eventually adapted and made friends, but it wasn’t until I went to college that I felt like I had made real friends. Camden was my roommate, and we clicked immediately.”
“So he didn’t go to high school with you?” Faith shifts, crossing her legs. Her movement causes my arm to fall from her waist, missing her warmth.
I shake my head. “He’s from Virginia Beach. When we graduated, we both got hired in Richmond and moved there.”
“Is he a lawyer, too?”
“Nah,” I shake my head, chuckling. “Camden is the guy that needs a lawyer. Pretty sure it’s why he keeps me around.”
Faith laughs with me. “Well, it’s always good to know a lawyer.”
I smile at her comment. “He’s actually a software engineer.
“Wow, that sounds intense.” Her eyebrows scrunch.
“It’s not as hard as it sounds…for someone who understands all the techy stuff,” I chuckle.
“Yeah, not me. I could barely troubleshoot my Wi-Fi without having to call the company for help.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You can call me from now on.” I don’t even think about my words until I speak them. That’s exactly what I want—Faith to call me if she ever needs anything, be the person she turns to, whether to fix her Wi-Fi or talk to after a long day.
“I’ll remember that, although you might regret making the offer after the tenth call.”
I shake my head, staring into those baby blues and cupping her face. “I’ve never regretted anything when it comes to you.” I pour my honesty out like an overflowing cup.
“I get what you mean,” she whispers. “Even after you moved, I never regretted anything that happened between us.” A small frown forms on her lips.
“Hey.” I hug her to me. “I’m here now. I’m back, Faith,” I reassure her, speaking against her hair before dropping a kiss on the side of her head.
On so many nights, I wondered what it would be like to see her again, if I’d still feel for her what I did back then or if we would’ve changed too much—her a small-town girl while I camouflaged as a city boy, losing parts of myself. Maybe that’s the thing with camouflaging; you don't so much lose yourself as you hide, always staying the same on the inside. I don’t think a million years would change this. I’m sure of it as I hold her to me, wondering why it took me so long to make it back to her.
Faith looks up at me through her lashes, her eyes fil
led with sadness and nostalgia. She’s inches from me, so close, I can feel the tickling of her breath on my chin.
As I gaze into her eyes, I see pieces of the same girl I once fell in love with. The carefree girl who didn’t hesitate to say yes to a first date or jump on the back of my motorcycle, despite her yelling at me to slow down afterward.
She’s there, waiting for me, and I have to wonder if she sees the boy she loved reflecting back in my eyes.
“Faith…” I whisper, bringing my hands to her face. Her eyes fall shut and her lips part, waiting, wanting.
I’ve dreamed about this, gotten hard-ons thinking about touching her again. I take my time, my heart pounding, as my lips touch hers tentatively at first. When she leans into me, my careful approach evaporates. I explode, devouring her, drinking her in, taking her for all she’s worth, and claiming her as mine again.
My tongue runs along her bottom lip before she opens for me, seeking mine with hers. Faith claws the back of my sweater, bringing herself as close to me as possible as her lips greedily kiss me. I swallow her soft moans, bringing one of my hands to the back of her head and angling it so I can deepen the kiss.
Our tongues stroke and tangle, years of desire breaking free in this kiss. My dick strains against my jeans, remembering what it felt like to be inside of Faith. I’m gasoline, and she’s the match that lights me on fire—explosive, ardently, and destructive.
I lean back on the cushions, half of her body over mine, and my hand roams down the side of her hip, getting reacquainted with her body and becoming familiar with new curves. When my hand lands on her ass, I push her into me and thrust up, not caring that our bodies aren’t perfectly aligned or that we’re both clothed.
“Easton,” Faith moans before she presses her chest against mine and claims my mouth, kissing me passionately. I’ve dreamed about this.
My hand on her ass sneaks into the band of her jeans, needing to feel some of her skin. My other one tangles in her hair and I take control of the kiss. I trail my lips down her jaw to her neck, finding the spot behind her ear. Faith trembles in my arms and I smile against her skin. I scrape my teeth against her earlobe, and she pants, calling out my name in pleading whispers.
My Way to You: A Second Chance Romance (Love in Everton Book 7) Page 7
