Page 53 of A Magnolia Move-In
“I’m staying on top, so you feel safer,” Spencer said. He’d returned to resting his head on his bent arm and closed his eyes.
“Ah,” I said as I pulled back the comforter and sat down on the bed. Not wanting to disturb him too much, I lay on my side with my back facing him.
My body began to relax, and it wasn’t until I stilled that I realized how tired I was.
“Thanks.”
My eyes yanked open, and I peeked over my shoulder at Spencer. “For what?”
He kept still. “For coming to get me. For staying with me tonight.” He paused. “It means a lot.”
I wasn’t sure what to say because I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. So, I just whispered, “You’re welcome,” and turned back around.
I lay there, staring out at the surrounding darkness as I felt Spencer move beside me. Once he settled, his soft snores filled the air. There was a part of me that was annoyed that the man snored. But the other part of me—a part that was getting harder to ignore—wanted this.
All of this.
I wanted a man in my life. I wanted to be in love. I wanted to fall asleep next to a warm body every night and wake up next to him in the morning.
The more time I spent with Spencer, the more that desire grew.
One thing was for sure. Once this night was over and Spencer was back to being a grouchy old man, my lonely bed wasn’t going to satisfy me anymore.
I wanted something more.
And I wanted it now.
SIXTEEN
Naomi
Iwas an emotional wreck, but I was desperately trying to hide it. Fiona came over and helped me get ready, which I appreciated. For a moment there, she helped me forget what I was getting ready for. But that only lasted a moment before I was right back to worrying about Walker and when he was going to show up.
It was currently nine at night, and Walker had yet to materialize.
I felt like an idiot, sitting outside on Jackson’s deck with Fiona, Colten, Jackson, and the rest of the Red Stiletto Book Club. Jackson had invited them over for a bonfire—which meant he was pushing me yet again to make friends.
Any other day, I would have appreciated it—er, tolerated it—but tonight this was just an inconvenience. The last thing I wanted was for all of these people to be privy to my reunion with Walker…
If he ever showed up.
I sighed as I glanced toward the road, wondering if he was on it. I pulled out my phone and checked my messages for the millionth time today.
“You okay?” Maggie’s voice drew my attention up.
I hurriedly turned off my phone and stuck it next to my leg as I sat in my chair. “I’m okay,” I said as I offered her a smile.
Her expression told me that she didn’t believe me. Then she glanced in the direction that I’d been staring earlier. “You sure? ’Cause you look like you are waiting for someone.” She shifted a bit as if she, too, was trying to see who might be coming.
I shrugged. There was no way I wanted to get into the nuances of my relationship with Walker. Plus, what would she say if I even suggested he was coming only to have him not show up? I would feel like an idiot.
Maggie’s attention was back on me. She frowned for a moment, but that quickly slipped away. She smiled. “Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”
I nodded. “Yes, thanks.”
The women of Magnolia were so welcoming, and I wished I was in a place where I could accept their warmth into my life. But right now, I was so distracted by what was happening around me that I couldn’t focus on new relationships.
Especially when I was failing at my old ones.
