Page 84 of Unravel Me

“Me too. I wish she were here. She came from a small town, though, and has vowed to never live in one again. She’d hate it here.”

“Small-town living isn’t for everyone. Just like city living. I know I wouldn’t thrive in one. Do you, do you think you’ll miss it?”

“No,” I say without hesitation. “It’s not for me. Honestly, it’s claustrophobic. I felt like I was dying of suffocation. And being back in Aspen Ridge? I can breathe again. It’s the only way I can explain it and it probably sounds so silly, but I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for ten years and the moment I was back in this town, suddenly my lungs started working again.”

“That doesn’t sound stupid. It’s how you feel. I understand more than you know.”

I study his face before asking him to elaborate.

“How so?”

“It’s how I feel about you.”

“You really love me, huh?” I ask.

“Always have.”

We turn back to the tv and I press play. Jim’s voice fills the room as he pretends to be Dwight in one of the most iconic pranks on television. We spend the rest of the afternoon and evening binging onThe Officeand eating junk food. My bleeding stopped after he cleaned me up in his office, so I’m assuming he fucked my poor vagina into oblivion. I fall asleep with Sawyer wrapped around me, my head resting on his bicep, and his other arm wrapped around my stomach. His strong hand rubs lightly across my lower abdomen and I don’t dare ask what he’s thinking about. I know we haven’t been using protection and are both okay with any outcome that may come from it, but a part of me can’t help but wonder if we’re rushing. Can this be rushed after all the time we lost?

Walking into the kitchen of Barrel House for the first time to work felt incredible. Luna met me here this morning and helped me fill out paperwork and get acquainted with the kitchen, the menu, and the rest of the staff. The menu is small and complex and rotates seasonally, sourcing local ingredients like fresh fish from the docks, and vegetables and fruits from Yakima Valley. I’m impressed and extremely excited to get to work. I spend the rest of the morning preparing some of the meals and instituting family dinner before we serve lunch. It will give me the best opportunity to get to know all of the staff on a personal and professional level. Together, we all sat at a large table and enjoyed our practice meals so that I was ready for service later. Tomorrow we will use whatever leftover ingredients we have to create something to share.

Ready to start, Luna announces the beginning of lunch service. I shake out my hands at my sides and begin.

Lunch service starts to fly by, the restaurant meeting max capacity within the first hour of opening, and we still had a line out front. I guess having the majority of the menu unavailable for the last month has brought in a ton of hungry mouths to feed. It’s a mad dash of chowders, salads, crab cakes, fish and chips, sandwiches, and oysters. As we start to clean up before prep for dinner service begins, Luna comes to the back.

“Great first service! Lots of happy families. You’ve got a visitor, though,” she sing-songs.

I pull off my apron as I walk to the dining room and immediately spot Sawyer sitting with Reid at a little table that looks entirely too small for Reid’s large body.

Sawyer stands and places his palm on my hip before leaning in and kissing me quickly on the lips.

“Hi, butterfly.”

“Hi, you.” I smile up at him.

“Ivy.” Reid nods in my direction.

“Drogo.” I nod back.

“How do you feel?” Sawyer asks.

“Like I’m on cloud nine and nothing could drag me down. I missed being in the kitchen and working. It feels so good to be back at it. And look at this place!” I say as I motion my hands around the span of the room. “I can’t believe a place like this exists in Aspen Ridge.”

I look back at both men who are smiling like loons at me.

“What?” I ask them, puzzled.

“I don’t know why the hell he’s smiling so big but you’re so damn cute when you get excited,” Sawyer says. “Quit smiling at her like that or I’ll knock your teeth out so there’s no chance of her leaving me for you.”

I smack Sawyer in the stomach. “Cut it out. I’m not leaving you for anyone.”

His face goes serious. “I’m holdin’ you to it, baby.”

Dinner service goes by with few hiccups, and I walk into Sawyer’s house around nine with achy feet and a sore lower back. I forgot how exhausting back-to-back services can be and will be happy once I get used to it again. I haven’t been running every day since I got back in town, and I need to push myself so I don’t lose it.

Sawyer meets me in the living room wearing nothing but a pair of gray joggers. My eyes roam his body from his bare feet up his legs that are hidden behind the fabric of his sweats, they hang low on his hips, and I lick my lips picturing running my tongue along that sexy V.

“Are you boys pulled aside and told all the secrets that will have women all over the world falling at your feet? It’s ridiculous how sexy you look right now.”

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