I can’t remember a time where I ever felt the undeniable hunger to have someone as much as I crave Vada. There’s an animalistic desire I can’t ever seem to satisfy. Prior to Vada, those thoughts would’ve never crossed my mind, but now, that thought no longer scares me.
“I’m pretty sure my legs will fall off if I try walking right now.”
Smiling, I reach for the soap and reposition the showerhead over us.
“Let me clean you up then.” I wink, lathering the soap between my palms before carefully placing them over her soft skin. She moans at the contact, and her head falls to the side.
I cover every inch of her perfect body and gently rinse her off. Although compared to what we just did, this somehow seems more intimate. After leading her out of the shower and drying her off, I carry her back into my bed and tuck her under the covers.
“I have a confession to make,” I say as I slide into bed next to her.
“Oh yeah?” She looks up at me with hooded eyes. “What’s that, Casanova?”
“I didn’t really invite you over for dinner.” I grin.
She turns and leans up on her elbow. “Well, then I guess I also have a confession.”
My brows raise.
“I already had dinner when you invited me over for dinner.” She smiles, and it’s the cutest fucking thing ever.
“Ahh…I knew it.” Flashing a victorious smile, I wrap my arms around her and hold her. We lie like that for several moments, both clinging to each other as if we’ll die without it.
“I know you didn’t ask, but I just want you to know something.”
She angles her head up toward me and waits.
“I haven’t been with anyone since you left. Haven’t wanted to be with anyone. In fact, Wilma’s pissed she wasn’t the only pussy I had in here, but once she calmed down and I explained everything to her, she got over it,” I confess with a grin.
Vada wrinkles her nose and snorts. “Wilma gave me the stink eye the last time I was here, so she probably thought I was taking over her territory.”
“Yeah, she’s a territorial bitch, but she’ll have to get used to sharing now.” I wink.
“Maybe Oliver and her will hit it off,” she says with fake amusement.
“Well, if Oliver loves pussy as much as I do, then I’d say he’ll warm right up to her.”
“Oh my God!” She grabs the pillow that’s against the headboard and throws it directly at me. “You’re so bad.”
“Yes, but you love it,” I say without thinking. Worried she’ll analyze those words, I open my mouth to say something else, but she cuts me off before I can.
“I do,” she says softly, but looking directly into my eyes. “Who knew I would?” She smirks, lowering her eyes as a blush forms on her cheeks.
“Well, I can’t say I’m really surprised. I mean, I’m a catch.”
“I swear to God,” she says, laughing and throwing another pillow at me.
Finding her ticklish spot, I dig my nails under her arms then laugh as she squirms against me. She squeals and tells me to stop, but I can’t get enough of this. Enough of her. Laughing and smiling. She’s so fucking perfect.
“Ethan, please…I’m going to pee if you don’t stop!” She’s giggling, and before I know it, I pull her face to mine and kiss the fuck out of her.
“I can’t let you leave without telling you first.” I inhale briefly, rubbing the pad of my thumb along her bottom lip. “I’m so in love with you, Vada Collins. I think I always have been, but having you back in my life, falling right back into our ways as if no time has passed, solidifies everything I’ve felt for you.” I pause, studying her expression before continuing. “I love you.”
She sucks in her lower lip, her eyes widening as she swallows and processes everything I’ve just said.
“Why are you so good to me, Ethan? I mean, seriously. I leave without saying goodbye, I drunk call you and leave you a bunch of crazy voicemails, you send me weekly flowers, and when you find out I’m going to be back in town, you don’t let the opportunity slip by to see me.”
Her words come off accusing, but I know they aren’t meant to be.
“I told you. I’m a catch.” I wink.
“Stop.” She chuckles. “And now you’ve just told me the most beautiful thing in the world, and I’m still so terrified to repeat them, although I want to.”
I brush the hair away from her face, staring into her eyes. “I didn’t say those words because I expected you to say them back. I said them because I never thought I could love anyone after Alana—I never allowed myself to—but with you, I want to. It was freeing, finally feeling like it’s okay to love someone else.”
“You have no idea how much that means to me.” She grabs my face and plants a deep kiss on my lips. “Seriously.” She kisses me again. “You just melted all my fears away, Ethan Rochester.”
The next morning comes too fast, and soon we’re standing on the front porch, saying goodbye. We spent all night wrapped in each other’s arms and talking. I also spent some time studying certain parts of her, and though neither of us got much sleep—because I wasn’t about to waste the short amount of time I had with her sleeping—we were up bright and early drinking coffee and eating breakfast together like tradition.
“Come back to me,” I whisper against her lips, gripping her cheeks between my palms.
“I will,” she whispers back. “I promise.”
Closing my eyes, I try to get ahold of my emotions before kissing her once more. Olivia came in an Uber to pick her up, and in Vada’s words, “to make sure I actually get in the car” since they have another flight to catch.
I walk her to the door, and when Vada opens it, I pop my head in and smile at her assistant. “Hello, again.” I flash my million-dollar smile.
“H-hi,” Olivia stumbles, clearly blushing.
“You’re just mean,” Vada teases, reaching up to give me one last hug.
“I was saying hi,” I defend. “It’s called being polite down here in the south,” I remind her, teasingly.
“Yeah, right…” She rolls her eyes. “With your shirt off.”
I shrug, smirking.
“Text me after you land, okay? Or call me. Or just stay, I mean, whatever.”
She chuckles before giving me one last peck on the lips. “I will.”
As I watch them drive away, it feels like a knife drives directly into my heart. I know this isn’t the end; she’ll be back; we’ll get our second chance to do this right, at least those are the words I tell myself.
“What’s wrong with you?”
I spin around in my chair to Aunt Millie standing in the doorway of the tower.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I say, releasing my foot off the accelerator and stopping the pottery wheel. I dip my hands in the bucket of water and quickly wipe them off.
“Watch your language,” she scolds, giving me pointed look.
“Sorry, Aunt Millie. What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” she asks as if she’s offended. “Well, boy, if you ever answered your dang phone, I wouldn’t have had to leave my church group early to come check on you.”
Guilt surfaces and I feel awful for making her worry. “Sorry, I’ve been working.”
“Yeah, I see that.” She looks around the tower and eyes the stocked shelves with mugs that are ready to be glazed. “You’ve been working ‘round the clock again?” She arches a brow, and I know that look.
“Yes, but I’m just trying to keep myself busy,” I tell her, which is the truth.
Ever since Vada left a week ago, I think about her nonstop and the anxiousness to have her back drives me crazy. Drowning myself in work is the only way to keep myself sane.
“That doesn’t mean you ignore my phone calls.” She clucks her tongue.
“You’re right. Well, I’m fine. Just working to keep my mind busy.”
She flashes me one of her pity looks, which I fucking hate. “She’ll be back in a couple weeks,” she reminds me as if I don’t already know that. “So while I’m glad you aren’t wallowing around, I need to get you out of this house.”
“I’ve been out,” I retort, though she knows it’s only a half-truth.
“To the studio is not going out. C’mon. Get cleaned up and dressed. You’re taking me to the church dinner tonight.”
Smiling, I nod.
I’d been working so much, I filled up every ounce of space on my shelves, which meant I had to start glazing them so I could put them in the kiln next. I loved every step of the process, but glazing was something I could do without much thought. Creatively, I just did what felt right for that piece, and no two were the same.
Per Aunt Millie’s request, I cleaned up and dressed so I could take her to the monthly church dinner. It was good to get out of the house for a change, but just another reminder that I was missing my other half. I told Mama and Millie about her return and anticipated permanent return, yet they refused to allow me to stay cooped up while I waited for that moment.
“Oh, did you hear?” Katie, a girl I’ve known since kindergarten, leans over her chair.
“Hear what?” I ask, turning to face her. Her eyes widen as she licks her lips, and I know it must be something juicy.
“Harmony was caught having an affair with one of her daddy’s best friends, and he cut her off, completely.” Her eyes widen with a smirk on her face. “No more fancy clothes, expensive car, and getting her hair done every week.”
“What a pity.” I snort. “Guess she’ll have to start hustling for her next sugar daddy.”
“Well rumor has it she caught one of those STDs, so unless her sugar daddy doesn’t mind double-wrapping every time, I doubt she’ll find one who’ll want to take care of her.”
I choke back a laugh at her words but realize it’s funny as hell.
“Well, karma’s a bitch when you get caught fucking a married man,” I say, not feeling the least bit of pity for her. It’d been a long time coming for karma to catch up to Harmony and her antics.
“The best part? The guy’s wife had suspected something for quite some time and hid one of those nanny cams in their bedroom, so she got the entire show on camera.” She arches a brow with a knowing grin. Yeah, that’ll be somehow “leaked” out.
I leave the church dinner in a much better mood than when I arrived. Seeing familiar faces definitely helped.
“Thanks for dragging me out, Aunt Millie,” I say, kissing her cheek before opening the car door.
“You’re very welcome. Now stop ignoring my phone calls, so I don’t have to do it again.” She winks, and I nod.
Once I’m back inside the house, I’m not the least bit tired. I decide to walk around the back. Henry greets me out there as I wander around the garden and cottage. It’s been quiet out here ever since guests stopped staying, which was probably for the best given my state of mind during those months.
Getting a new idea, I pull my key out and open the cottage door. I’ve only been in here to keep up with the dusting and cleaning, but now that I’m looking at it in a whole new light, I decide it could use a makeover. Something that’ll actually get some use.
And when I think of Vada, I get the best idea yet.