Page 45 of Homesick
“Like friends with benefits?” Blake asks with raised eyebrows.
“Something like that,” I agree, warily. “We’re obviously still attracted to each other. We just need to get it out of our systems and then we can finally move on when my brother gets better.”
Blake’s eyes drop momentarily and his shoulders slump forward. He only assumes this position for a moment and like a rubber ball, he bounces back.
“And that’s what you want?”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “But with rules, of course.”
“I’m starting to think rules are your kink, Campbell,” Blake jokes.
“Very funny,” I respond, rolling my eyes. “I think this is obvious, but let’s keep things light. No long talks about what could’ve been and all that bullshit.”
“Geez, Wren. Tell me how you really feel,” he replies in a sarcastic tone.
“See? That was perfect! Also, no cuddling or lingering afterwards. A light conversation beforehand is fine, but nothing too intimate, obviously.”
I pause for a second to make sure Blake is fine with everything I’ve said so far before I continue. “And if either of us starts feeling like we want more, than we should end things. I don’t want our relationship to affect our work at the farm. And of course, no one can know. Well, except for Emma because I already told her a little bit.”
“That’s bullshit. You can tell your friends, but I can’t?
“Emma isn’t just a friend. Also, who are you going to tell? My brother? Because that’s the main person I don’t want to find out.”
“Fine,” Blake says with a slight grumble. “No dating other people while we’re messing around. That’s the only rule I want to add.”
“Okay, that’s fair. There’s one more rule I want to add, too. I’m fine with everything and anything, except for actual sex. That’s too intimate for me . . . you know, with all our history and stuff.”
Blake looks at me for a second like he wants to protest but stops himself before he responds. A second later he finally says something. “Okay. There’s still plenty of ways to get each other off without sex.”
“Okay great. Well, I guess there’s not much else left to discuss,” I finish shyly. I like to consider myself confident when it comes to what happens beneath the sheets, but it’s different with Blake. We have a lot of catching up to do and I’m eager to dive in.
Before I can say anything else, Blake sets down his cup and stands up. He grabs my hand and guides me to the edge of the table. With one fluid motion, I’m sitting on his dining room table with him tucked between my legs.
“Are you ready,” he whispers in my ear as his hands glide down to my hips. “Yes,” I reply breathlessly and watch him lower himself to the ground. I’m already loving this deal and we haven’t even scratched the surface yet.
CHAPTER 16
“I talked to the visitor’s bureau and they’re going to feature us in their monthly newsletter!” Sheila crushes me in one of her world-famous hugs before I can make a break for it. “This is so exciting!”
“That’s great, Sheila, but I can barely breathe at the present moment.”
“Oh geez, I’m sorry, hun,” she says before finally releasing me.
I take a deep breath once I feel the oxygen beginning to circulate again.
“Oh! Before I forget, their director wanted to see if I could give her your card. She said something about helping other small businesses boost their online presence. I told her I had to make sure it was okay with you first, though.”
When I first started helping the Rustic Inn a few weeks ago, I was just using it to get through the day. I never imagined it could lead to other opportunities. At my old job, we worked with outside agencies frequently, so maybe I could do that. Maybe I could even turn this thing into a business of my own.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Let me pull together a portfolio and you can share that with her.”
“Okay, perfect! Again, so exciting! I’m very proud of you, Wren.”
I flash her my best prideful smile as I feel the heart within my chest grow. It feels like after months of feeling lost, I’m finally finding my footing. There’s still a lot of uncertainty, and nothing is guaranteed, but I’m hopeful for the first time in a long time.
I hear my phone ping and without thinking, I pull it from my pocket. My mouth curves into an unexpected smile when I see Blake’s name pop up on my screen. We have been hooking up for the past two weeks and it hasn’t completely blown up in my face yet.
My phone pings again, but this time I see Emma’s contact pop up. I feel my smile deflate until it’s inevitably replaced by a frown. I’ve been avoiding Emma since I started seeing Blake. She probably already knows what’s going on between Blake and I following our conversation at the Fourth of July picnic, but I’m still reluctant to tell her. I know she’ll be disappointed and that will lead me to overthink this whole thing.
