Page 46 of Sparks Fly

She reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear before kissing me. It was soft and unhurried; the kind of kiss that made my stomach flip anyway.

“I’ll text you later, Sunshine,” she said with a small smile.

“You better,” I replied.

I watched her pull her helmet back on before heading inside, my heart still fluttering in my chest.

* * *

15

Sawyer

I stepped into my apartment just after eleven.

Still smelling like Addison’s sheets. The quiet hit me all at once as the familiar shape of the place settled around me. My chest buzzed with restless energy that hadn’t worn off since I dropped her off. It felt like my body was still tuned to hers. I exhaled and rubbed a hand over my face while the feeling kept humming under my skin, muttering a quiet curse under my breath. I didn’t do this. I didn’t pine.

Get your shit together, Wilson.

I headed straight for the shower, shedding my clothes on the way there, tossing them onto the floor haphazardly.

After a shower and a cup of black coffee, I felt more like myself. I put my work clothes and boots on and headed back to my workshop.

I flicked on the lights and moved toward my workbench without much thought. I had a few pieces I’d been working on: a sculpture and a tree that was a custom order for a client, but I wasn’t in the mood for either of them.

Instead, I pulled on my gloves, grabbed a fresh piece of metal and my welder, and started to create. What it was, I had no idea yet, but I was going to let the metal tell me what it wanted to be.

I got lost in it until my phone rang, pulling me out of my work. I looked at the time before I opened the text. It was 3:15. I had been working for three hours.

Lola: Beer and a ride? I need to clear my head. You in?

A ride was always a good idea. And Lola was one of my closest friends.

I typed out a quick reply.

Me: Sounds good. Give me 20 minutes to wash up and I’ll head out. Meet at The Dock?

I met Lola at The Dock and we grabbed a beer. She filled me in on the newest drama with her current girl. The simple distraction helped smooth the noise in my head. We stayed for a while, nursing our drinks and watching people come and go along the waterfront. Eventually we headed back out to our bikes.

We spent the next hour riding. No destination, no plan. Just open roads, late afternoon sun, and the familiar comfort of riding beside someone who didn’t expect anything from me except to show up.

By the time we headed back toward town, my shoulders had loosened and my mind felt quieter than it had all week.

We split off a few blocks from my place with a wave and a promise to catch up later in the week.

* * *

I pulled into my parking spot as the sun began to dip. Before I reached the stairs, Hollis and Soren waved at me through the bookstore window, so I went inside.

“Hey,” I said.

“Come talk to us,” Hollis said.

I knew exactly what they wanted to hear about.

Addison.

I walked over and leaned against the counter. “Okay.”