But Hudson was snatched up by Dolly without a single look back, and Jake? He fell hard and fast for Riley Rivers, and he made her a Turner.
I flip the switch on the bathroom wall after listening to the familiar plunk of my toothbrush hitting the bottom of the stainless steel cup. I walk the same eight steps to my bed, and sink into the cool covers.
Some old Western movie plays on AMC,True Gritby the sound of it. John Wayne’s voice quietly echoes in my room, and after double-checking my alarm is set, I close my eyes.
I sleep with the TV on, because I hate the sound of my quiet house. Granted, yeah, night time is supposed to be quiet. But it’s always quiet. Always. And the silence only serves to remind me that I am lonely.
Football is a good distraction, and a good place to put my energy. I love football, and I love those boys who live for the game, too. I was just like them. My mind should go to football, because that’s where I force it when I feel down like this.
But it doesn’t, not tonight.
Not any night since I met Clara June Colt.
The guys want to set me up with someone. I don’t know who. Hell, Leah has already tried to set me up in the past. And I’m pretty sure last week, Cadence Caine was making fuck me eyes my way.
Alone or not, I never saw myself meeting my wife on a blind date. I don’t know. It ain’t about it hurting my ego or anything, it’s just, that’s not how the most intoxicating, all encompassing, world making and breaking love is built. On a set up?
Which leads my brain to circle back to Clara June.
She’s so tiny, I think if she and I would stand toe-to-toe, she’d only come up to my chest. As much as I feel like a dirty coach for it, I can’t stop seeing the way those top two buttons on her uniform were straining to keep that faded dress closed. Fuck me. Those tits were testing that dress, making it work to keep her inside. And when she walked away, the shapely curve of her calves paired with the deliriously arousing sway of her full hips—I put myself in a hard position there on that football field. And okay, I’m probably sounding like a complete pig right now.
Well hold the hell on before you judge.
See, all those hookups that didn’t lead to more? Those really did end around college. Maybe there were a few my first year of teaching, when I was still trying to date. But truthfully? And a truth I share with no one else? I haven’t slept with a woman in over eight years.
Even knowing that, I need you to know this.
Yeah, I saw Clara June’s gorgeous figure, and got hard. But checking her out came secondary to talking to her. And when we talked, I don’t know. It was one of those experiences that you never really quite think is real, and when people recall these moments back to you, you nod your head and act wowed, but inside, you’re making the jerk off motion with your fist and rolling your eyes.
She opened her mouth and I couldn’t have pulled my focus off of her if someone had given me a million dollars to do so.
Every word she spoke, the way her eyes volleyed from soft to full of emotion and adoration as she talked about her sons, the care she took to shower Tanner in praise after his game, the kindness in her voice, the sultry undertone that wrapped around my spine and rendered me motionless as she said goodbye—everything about Clara June had me in a chokehold from that single conversation on the field.
I see parents with their children all the time. It’s never affected me before.
Not until Clara June. Clara June with Archie and Tanner. Managing it all. Balancing it. Having enough love, enough time and patience for everyone. Doing it all alone.
So sweet, so soft, so goddamn gorgeous. So damn inspirational.
I twist in my sheets, turning to face the other side of my empty room, wishing I could get my mind off of Clara June.What’s worse, I’m not only thinking about her. Now I’m thinking about all the things I keep telling myself I’ll have one day, once I meet the right woman… and I’m seeing Clara June there.
A woman to adoreandto please. My fist full of her chestnut locks, holding her head steady as I curve my tongue down her jaw and kiss her throat until she’s weeping.
A family of my own.
Having the honor of being between her creamy, velvety knees, pushing them apart to find heaven’s gate waiting. To bury myself deep, placing promises and plans in her ear as I unload my cum inside of her, breeding her, forever banding us together with the babies we make. She’d clutch at my shoulders, her diamond ring leaving a mark in my flesh. Her diamondweddingring. Mornings would be spent with a baby on my arm and my shaving razor in my other hand. Her belly would always be round. I’d have a goddamn army of kids if I could.
Barbecues at dusk that only draw to an end when we can’t see our toes in the long grass any longer.
Cold feet kissing beneath warm blankets.
The comforting arms of the person that rights your world, every time you need it the most.
Interlocked fingers and sweaty palms.
Temple kisses and touches to the small of the back.
All I’ve ever wanted was to give happiness to the woman I love, and to receive happiness in return. And ever since meeting Clara June, suddenly the desire to no longer be alone is overwhelming, more potent than ever.
