Page 6 of Forever and Always #1
DARKE
ME: I’m on my way. We’ll be there in a few minutes.
I hit send and wait for a response, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. My phone pings with his reply.
BOBBY: Okay! I’m right in front of the building.
A smile tugs at my lips as I arrive at his location. Bobby is standing outside, looking effortlessly handsome in a white shirt and dark jeans. As he climbs into the cruiser, our eyes meet, and I feel that familiar jolt of electricity.
“How was work, little prince?” I ask, slipping out the nickname before I can stop myself.
Bobby’s cheeks flush slightly as he buckles his seat belt. “It was good, Darke. Long, but good.”
I quickly nod, feeling a rush of embarrassment. I start the engine and drive toward the mechanic’s shop, the cabin filled with a charged silence. Occasionally, I catch Bobby glancing at me.
“How about you? How was your day?” he asks, breaking the silence and looking out the window.
I take a deep breath and clear my throat. “Good. Just keeping the streets of Norton safe.”
We make small talk during the drive, but there’s an underlying tension that neither of us addresses. When we pull up to the mechanic’s shop, Bobby thanks me again and gets out of the cruiser. He hesitates for a moment, turning back with a hint of uncertainty.
“What’s wrong, little prince?” I ask, stepping out to meet him.
Bobby’s eyes widen, and a soft blush colors his cheeks. “Uh, nothing. I just… wasn’t expecting that.”
I realize my slip and try to cover it up, my heart racing with excitement. “Oh, sorry about that. Just a habit, I guess.”
Bobby’s smile returns, looking a bit more relaxed. “It’s okay. I kind of like it.”
He likes it?
Our eyes lock, and I feel a spark of connection. I clear my throat to break the tension. “Well, I should let you get to your car. But maybe… maybe I’ll see you around?”
Bobby nods, his smile growing wider. “I’d like that, Darke.”
As he walks toward the mechanic’s shop, I’m struck by the realization that I’ve developed feelings for this guy I was just supposed to help. Bobby drives away in his car, leaving me standing by my cruiser, contemplating the nickname “little prince.” Where did that come from?
I stand there, feeling a mix of emotions.
I’ve never been one for pet names or terms of endearment, but “little prince” just slipped out.
I try to shake off the feeling, convincing myself it was just a slip of the tongue.
Deep down, though, I know it’s more than that.
I’ve been drawn to Bobby from the moment I met him, and that nickname was an unconscious expression of my feelings.
I get back into my cruiser and start the engine, trying to process my emotions. I’ve always been a by-the-book kind of guy, but Bobby has me feeling like I’m breaking all my own rules.
As I drive away, I can’t help but wonder if I’ll see Bobby again and what might happen if I do.