I noticed he had moved the TV back to the empty living room. There were twenty good reasons why he shouldn’t lift heavy things while his leg was still healing, but I wasn’t going to start our evening with a lecture. That got us nowhere. I decided to go for a run. I changed into my running shorts and shoes. I scribbled a note on the kitchen counter and let myself out the sliding glass door.
Twenty minutes in and the wind picked up as I turned near the end of the island for my run home. I was too busy mulling over all the problems I was facing to realize storm clouds had been circling overhead. The first pelt of rain felt good on my hot skin, the next ones came in rapid succession. I dug my feet harder into the sand, trying to make it back before the bottom fell out, but I was too late. By the time I got to the landing, I was drenched and the storm was only getting started.
I took the stairs two at a time and threw open the door. Grey was sitting at the kitchen table. His expression changed to concern when he saw me walk in. He picked up the crutches and hobbled toward me.
“Darlin, you ok?” His hand slid down my wet cheek.
I nodded. “I wasn’t paying attention to the storm clouds. Just a little wet.” I pulled the tank top away from my stomach. I was drenched all the way through, and standing in air conditioning made me shiver.
He laughed lightly, something I hadn’t heard in a while. “Yeah, I’d say you got caught in the storm.”
I waited for him to offer to help me out of my clothes or just start to do it himself, but he stood there watching me, studying the water dripping off my skin. I inhaled deeply, wanting him to claim me with his mouth, his words, anything. He was so close, I could almost feel his breath along my skin. It would only take one move and we would be tearing at each other, tangling our hands in each other’s clothes, surrendering our bodies to each other. Just one move. He only had to make one damn move.
He rocked back on his crutches, his eyes moving to my face. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up and we’ll order some dinner?”
My eyes flashed to his. I suddenly realized I might have more problems than I thought. How had things gone so wrong? I bit my bottom lip and brushed past him on the way to the bathroom. I couldn’t let him see me breakdown, because that was the only thing I could think of doing.
I paced in front of baggage claim. Taylor’s plane landed five minutes ago and I couldn’t wait to see her. A month was a long time to be away from my best friend.
She broke through the slow travelers in front of her and ran toward me.
“I’m here!”
I hugged her harder than I had anyone in my life. “How was your flight?”
“Too long.” She frowned. “You are just too far away. I’m ready for you to move back home.”
“I know.” I pointed her toward the luggage carousel and away from her last statement. “But no problems?”
She shook her head. “Not one.”
I was glad her first trip to Texas was different from my experience. Everything that could happen to me seemed to in less than twelve hours.
“Where’s Grey?” She looked around the pickup area.
“Oh, he’s working. Since he took off a week after the accident, he can’t really get away.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “He said to tell you he’ll see you tonight for margaritas.”
“Margaritas? My favorite.” Taylor wedged herself between two men and retrieved her flowered bag from the rotating luggage carrier. “This is it. I only brought one bag.”
I smiled. “All right, let’s get your fall break started.” I led her into the bright Texas sun and to my car.
I turned the key for room twenty-four. It seemed like the perfect place for Taylor to stay. It was only steps from our beach deck and it faced the water. We still didn’t have a couch and there wasn’t any guest furniture in our guest room. I couldn’t very well roll out a sleeping bag for her on the floor.
“Wow, this is cute.” Taylor gushed over the quaint space. “I love the pink tile.”
I giggled. “Finally, someone else who appreciates retro-chic.” I pulled a luggage rack from the closet for her.
“Are you kidding? This is adorable.” She fluffed a pillow then hopped on the bed. “And the bed is cushy too.”
I tried not to blush. I used to share that bed with Grey.
“I’ll let you get settled, and then we can walk over to Pete’s for drinks and dinner. Grey said he’d be home by five. That gives you an hour. Is that ok?”
She walked across the room and unzipped her bag. “Yep. I’ll be ready.” She held up a cutoff top. “Do cowboys like these kinds of shirts?”
I laughed. “The cowboys aren’t going to know what to do with you. See you in an hour.” I hugged her again before heading home.
It felt good to have Taylor next door. She was a piece of home, a piece of my life that I was trying desperately not to miss. Texas was supposed to be my home now.