Page 17

Chapter seventeen

Day Six

It was time to go home.

I hadn’t even wanted to go on this trip, so why was I so sad now?

I packed up the last of my stuff in my duffle bag and deflated the mattress while folding blankets.

All of which Crow had selflessly shared with me.

Fuck me, if I didn’t start tearing up.

Why?

Fucking Nelson Crowell.

That ass had gotten under my skin.

Filled me with hope and promises, and now it was ending.

I didn’t want to think about it because every time I did, my heart raced uncontrollably.

So, I busied myself with packing up and carrying all of Crow’s shit to the bus.

Then I helped at any other campsite that needed it.

Until there was nothing left to do but climb on the bus.

I plopped down in the first empty seat and slid across to the window, leaning against it.

I closed my eyes, feeling the tired down to my bones and regretting none of it.

When someone slid in next to me, I turned to see who.

I should have known.

“Skyler.” Crow took my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do.

He had been amazing on this trip, never giving up on me when, by all rights, he should have.

And he totally changed my opinion of him.

He wasn’t a giant asshole at all.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

And when I had been so angry about him ruining my case, it turned out it was because he was a nice guy with a big heart and even spent extra money to help the guy out who had tried to sue him.

Baffling, but I loved that about him now.

What was going to happen between us when we returned to the real world?

That was the question.

I thought this was going to be a one-and-done.

Convenient and let’s make the trip fun with some sex.

But he squeezed my hand and smiled.

He’d said he wanted me in his life, but what did that mean to him exactly?

Were we going to date now?

Were we boyfriends?

And couldn’t we find a better term than that?

We weren’t in high school after all.

The trip home was subdued compared to the one out.

It seemed as if everyone else was worn out too, and I ended up falling asleep, my head on Crow’s shoulder.

But I woke up quickly when the bus stopped and parked in front of Drew’s office building.

Home again.

We all got off the bus and started unloading.

I helped whoever needed it, especially Crow.

I only had my one duffle, and that took a whole two seconds to toss in my trunk.

Once Crow’s car was loaded, he looked at me across the hood.

Nerves jumped up, making me sweat, and my pulse picked up again.

I wanted to ask him what was going to happen with us.

When could we see each other again?

Instead, I stood there and stared at him, shifting my weight from foot to foot.

Warner and Cody had shoved their shit in Crow’s car as well, so I assumed they would ride together, and sure enough, they climbed in, waving at me.

I bit my bottom lip.

Was it over?

Crow circled the car and came up to me, stopping face to face.

“Skyler. I need your number.” He handed me his cell.

“Uh, right. Okay.” I took it and entered my number, still unsure.

Maybe he’d call me then.

Why would he ask for it if he didn’t plan on calling?

Why was I so fucking insecure about this?

He pulled me to him, my face smashed into his chest, and hugged me—kissed the top of my head.

“I have to get these kids home.” He thumbed over his shoulder.

“You okay to drive?”

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Uh. I’ll, uh, get a coffee on the way.”

Crow scowled then fiddled with his phone a second, then my ass buzzed.

Oh yeah, I’d stuck my phone in my back pocket.

“That’s me. Call me when you get home, so I know you’re okay.”

It was on the top of my head to say yes, Daddy , but I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

“Oh, okay. I will.”

He winked.

Kissed me.

And got in his car.

He was leaving, but this had to be the start of something.

I think it could actually work out.

Maybe for once, I could be the one loved by a hot daddy.