Page 17 of Sexting the Tattooed Outlaw
“Nadia, you almost had me convinced on this idea and then you mentioned that! I am definitely not going tosexta robot. That’s so weird!”
Nadia’s eyes glimmer.
“Don’t knock it until you try it.”
“I won’t be trying it!”
She shrugs, finishing up with the last table in the dining area and returning the rag to the bucket of sanitizer.
“I’ve gotta go,” she says. “Talk to you later!”
“See ya,” I say, shaking my head as my eccentric, techie friend leaves. Thankfully, I'm the only staff member on duty during the slow afternoon slump today, so nobody was around to hear about my new robot companion.
Without any customers to look after, it’s not long before my mind begins to wander…and my thoughts turn to Sam.
He’s sleeping in the ranch house while he’s in town, a fact that made it very hard to sleep last night in my own bed. Knowing he was just down the hall from me, within reach if I wanted him…
And Ididwant him. So. Bad.
I can’t help the fact that my body has always responded to this man in that way. Maybe it’s not something I can cure, a teenage crush that has permanently altered my brain chemistry for life. No matter how much time passes, no matter how much we’ve grown apart, I guess some things are forever.
It’s not just lust, though. Last night, Sam finally gave me what I’d wanted for so long: An explanation.
My mind reels as I think about it all. Sam always said he didn’t know who his father was. Sam’s mother is an addict, and has made some questionable life decisions. She always told Sam that she didn’t know who his dad was because she couldn’t remember who she’d been with during the timeframe he’d been conceived.
Somehow, I guess he found out who his father was. And instead of it being some far away man, it turned out to be one of the most well known men in Wild Bronco.
The Baker family aren’t as “famous” in this town as mine, but they’re definitely known. I went to school with their daughter, named Dot. And actually, she comes into the coffee shop fairly often.
Weird to think that she’s the half-sister to Sam.
The Bakers are well-off, and known as being wholesome family people.
I think I can understand why a young, adolescent Sam’s first reaction was to go off the rails.
What I can’t understand is why he didn’t feel like he could come to me, to confide in me. If the truth is that he’s always loved me (and still does!) then why wouldn’t he come talk to me instead of those old friends of his who were always getting him into trouble?
He could’ve brought this to me.
I would have held him. Would have listened.
Boyfriend Bot: Thinking of you!
Me: You’re being clingy. Chill out.
Boyfriend Bot: My bad! I’ll give you some space, Kay-Kay!
Kay-Kay!?
That does it.
“I’m going to kill Nadia,” I mutter.
I select the entire conversation and delete it from my text messages, pocketing my phone as some new customers approach the front door.
CHAPTER 8
SAM
