Page 82 of All I Need

“Bye.”

I hang up the phone and whip the covers off me. I run to the bathroom to do my business, throw my hair up in a ponytail and brush my teeth then I throw on a pair of leggings and a long sleeve t-shirt.

I’m just making my way downstairs when I see headlights come through the front window. A quick peek into the kitchen tells me that Miss Polly isn’t up yet so I jot down a quick note for her and leave it next to the coffee pot to let her know where I am. It’s not lost on me that I’m leaving a note to let someone know where I’m going because the guy I’m… seeing? Is that the right word?… is picking me up.

I lock the front door behind me and rush through the rain to Walker’s pickup. I glance up to see Grayson getting out of the passenger door.

“Stay. I’ll climb into the backseat.”

“I can sit back there.”

“Nonsense. You’re taller than me.”

He grins and opens the back passenger door for me and I climb in. From my seat I have a perfect view of Walker, which is just fine with me.

“I was gonna come get you,” Walker says, turning in his seat to look at me.

I smile at his chivalry. “I’m capable of getting to a vehicle by myself. Besides. There’s no reason for all of us to get wet.”

He smirks and I roll my eyes. “Come here,” he says and reaches a hand to me.

I take it and he pulls me to him and kisses me square on the lips, keeping hold of my hand. Apparently we’re not hiding anything since his nephew who I have an inkling is quite the blabbermouth, is sitting right here. When he pulls back, he smiles. “Morning, Ellie girl.”

Good thing I brushed my teeth.

“Morning.”

“Uh, when did this happen?” Grayson asks.

“When we saw her on the side of the road.”

Warmth floods my veins and he releases his hold on me so I can sit back in my seat.

“Figured. I knew I didn’t have a chance.”

Walker shoves Grayson lightly against his shoulder and he laughs, pulling his cap down low.

I look out the window as we take off down the now familiar road. Walker hands Grayson his phone and tells him to shoot Brett a text to let him know we’re on our way then pulls into a small building parking lot. A neon sign that says Hot Doughnuts is lit up in the front window. He pulls around the building to a drive through window.

“Welcome to It’s Doughnut Time, what can I get you?”

“Holy crap, that’s Harper.”

“Huh?”

“That’s her voice! Harper’s working!”

I grin, seeing how excited Grayson is at the idea of seeing the girl he’s interested in.

“Morning. Can I get a dozen assorted?” Walker twists around in his seat and looks at me. “Coffee?”

I nod my head and he turns back to the window. “Two coffees with cream and an orange juice, too, please.”

“You got it. I’ll have your total for you at the window.”

Grayson sits up a little taller as we follow the drive-through of the small building. I lean forward so I can get a better look because obviously I want to see what this girl looks like.

Grayson sits back casually in his seat, resting a knee against the door when the window comes into view and Walker chuckles.

---