Page 11 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

Me: You don’t have to do that. Your busy season is coming up. I’ll be fine.

Studmuffin: I don’t want you to be fine, I want you to be amazing.

Me: Okay, I’ll be amazing.

Studmuffin: Damn straight you will, because I’m going to take care of you.

Me: You don’t need to take care of me. We’re roommates now. I AM an adult, just in case you forgot.

Studmuffin: Didn’t forget. Just don’t care. I love taking care of you.

Studmuffin: And we’re not roommates

Me: No, I guess not. I feel like I’m where I belong.

Studmuffin: With me.

Me: With you.

Studmuffin: Okay, doll. My break’s over. I’ve got to get back to work.

Me: Okay! I have to study anyway. I hope you have a good rest of your shift!

Studmuffin: Lock the door.

Me: I did.

Studmuffin: Good girl.

Studmuffin: Sleep tight, doll.

I must look like a lunatic beaming at my phone, so wide my cheeks are hurting from smiling. I love him so much. I read back through our conversation, like I always do, because I’m obsessed with Connor.

I shiver when I re-read his “Good girl” message. He’s never said that to me before and I’m all tingly about it. Is that weird?

He was glad I locked the door; it didn’t mean anything, right?

The thought of hearing his gravelly voice calling me a good girl makes my sex clench involuntarily.

Now I have another reason to crave my best friend, and new fodder for my fantasy bank.

Except, shit. I don’t have my vibrator. That reminds me and I order a replacement for express delivery.

Hopefully I’m the one who answers the door when the delivery person comes. They use discreet packaging though, so it should be okay. Connor wouldn’t go through my mail.

I make myself a hot chocolate, Livy’s an angel for buying me some, and settle in for a long night of studying. Peace washes over me being in Connor’s space—I’m safe. I check the time and count the hours until Connor will be home.

It’s never soon enough.

6

Ifucking hate swing shift. Either give me uninterrupted daylight or let me get a full night’s sleep. Swing shift is great for some people, they sleep after they get off until morning, be with their family, and go back in the afternoon.

That’s all fine and good, but my assigned locations are often an hour or two away from Swiftwater. So, I have to leave midday and don’t get home until the early hours of the morning. It fucks with my internal clock.

Plus, I don’t want to scare the shit out of Delilah by knocking on the apartment door at fucking three in the morning because I gave her my only house key. Instead, I drive home and sleep in my truck for a couple of hours. My job wrecks my back and sleeping in my truck after a long shift doesn't help.

I wake to car doors slamming and engines starting as normal people begin their day. Jesus, is it morning already? I’m fucking wiped.