Page 70 of All I Need

“Well, fuck him and the horse he probably can’t even ride in on because he sounds like a pansy ass city boy. To bigger and better!” she raises her glass and I clink mine with hers then she adds, “Because I bet Walker is definitely bigger.”

We erupt into a fit of laughter before our food is brought to us and we begin to dig in. It was good timing, too. I was starting to feel far too buzzed for my liking.

“For real, though, Ellie,” Courtney says, wiping her mouth after taking a bite of rice, “you have nothing to worry about when it comes to Brooklyn Rosin. Trust me on that, okay? I guarantee you that Walker let her down gently because that’s who he is and he doesn’t know how to be mean to anyone. Although, it sounds like he’s going to have to be kind of a dick to her so she gets the point.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. It just… she’s so pretty, Courtney. How do I even…”

“Shut up. Shut up now. You’re beautiful and wanted. I’ve never seen Walker look at anyone the way he looks at you. I’ve known him for a long time, too. Plus, if something were ever going to happen with him and Brooklyn, it would have happened already. She’s been after him for months. Trust me when I say he’s not interested. He’s only got eyes for you, girl. I know it.”

“Really? Gah—how pathetic do I sound? Seriously,” I groan. “I didn’t expect him. At all.” I chug the last bit of my margarita while Courtney signals our waiter for some water. Good idea. “You know in books when they talk about insta love?” she nods so I continue. “I hate it. I’m always rolling my eyes because who the hell falls for someone like that,” I snap my fingers. “But it’s so true. I feel like I’ve known him my entire life. He just… gets me.” I cover my face with my napkin, groaning again.

I feel movement in the booth and an arm slide around me. I rest my head on Courtney’s shoulder only it doesn’t smell like Courtney at all. I know that scent.

I shove my face into Walker’s shoulder as his other arm comes around me, wrapping me up in a hug. “I knew something was up. Why didn’t you tell me?” he whispers.

“Because I’m pathetic,” I whimper.

“You are far from pathetic. You’re beautiful. A bit of a mess at the moment, but beautiful, none the less.” He leans back, brushing the hair out of my face. I lean into his touch and he rests his forehead on mine. “I don’t want you to be afraid to tell me how you’re feeling. Brooklyn? She’s nothing to me. Not even a blip on my radar. Not when you’re all I see.”

“Really?”

“I’ve been a little afraid of being as pushy with you as I want to be. I have this insane desire to show you exactly how strong my feelings are for you but I have to hold myself back. I want to take this slow, make sure that I’m not a rebound and that our feelings are grounded.”

“How are you so perfect?”

He barks out a laugh then leans in close. “I’m so far from perfect. If you knew the dirty things rolling around in my head, you’d probably go running for the hills.”

“Try me,” I rasp.

“Don’t temp me, you little trouble causer.”

“Well, did we get this all cleared up? I’m freaking starving,” Brett says. I look over to the other side of the booth where Courtney was sitting. Both her and Brett are watching us closely, a soft smile on Courtney’s face while Brett looks like the cat who was just given the cream.

“I don’t know. Is it okay if we crash this party?” Walker asks, shifting around so his body is angled toward his friends but still looking at me.

I sigh like it’s a burden. “If you must.”

Brett and Walker order food and a couple Coronas and we sit and eat and laugh. It’s not necessarily a double date but it feels that way when we walk out of the restaurant a few hours later, Brett and Courtney climbing into his pickup while Walker and I get into his.

The ride back to Miss Polly’s is quiet and when Walker doesn’t reach for my hand, my anxiety over my overreaction to Brooklyn’s advances skyrockets.

He parks next to my car in Miss Polly’s driveway and kills the engine.

“I’m trying so hard to take things slowly like you deserve, Ellie.”

I sit quietly as he rests his head on the seat back. He’s also quiet, I assume he’s processing his thoughts and choosing his words carefully. Reaching across the console, he takes my hand in his. “You deserve so much more than a rushed romance. Do you know that? I know you’ve been hurt in the past. From the little you’ve said of them, I also know that your parents weren’t necessarily going to win any awards. I can’t change the past no matter how hard I try but I do want you to feel wanted and cherished. These feelings for you aren’t going to dwindle over time and I certainly don’t intend on letting you go any time soon. Just… I need you to trust me, okay? Let’s do this together, but slowly.”

I swallow hard, absorbing everything he just said. I want that so badly. To feel the things he wants me to feel. And dammit, he’s right. I do deserve it. Everyone does. “I’m good with that.”

He smiles, leans over and kisses me gently on the mouth, his hand sliding over my cheek into my hair. I can taste a tiny hint of beer and the Mexican food we ate underneath the mint he popped in his mouth on the way out of El Charro. It’s delicious and intoxicating. His lips are soft and full, the pressure he’s applying perfect as his tongue tangles with my own. I grip his forearm, loving how firm and strong his arms are, especially when it flexes beneath my fingers.

Too soon he pulls away, leaving me wanting so much more. My body chases his but he’s determined to do what he said he was going to do. Slowly might just kill us both but damn if it won’t be a fun way to go.

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