Page 6 of Traveling with the Mountain Man

CHAPTER SIX

Leilani

Sawyer wasn’t lying when he said we wouldn’t leave the van for a few days once we slept together.

We didn’t leave for almost a week.

Well, kind of.

We had to leave for things like food, showers, bathroom breaks, and taking care of Betsy.

But the rest of the time?

We were in bed together.

Sawyer’s stamina wasn’t something I expected but I welcomed it. It was the best sex of my life, and I planned on enjoying it as much as I could.

When we’d finally spent a day outside of bed, we planned the next few places to go.

“Do you want to make our way back towards Colorado? See what we should do about your car?”

I sipped on my iced coffee. “I’m debating just calling my parents and telling them I’m with you now. I know they’ll be pissed about my car. They won’t want to tow it home and let it sit in the driveway. My dad does not like clutter. Maybe I should just cut my losses and turn it in for junk parts?”

“How about we take it one step at a time. First is telling your parents about us. How we plan to travel and have no idea where we would settle down just yet.”

“Oh, they’ll totally love that.”

Sawyer chuckled. “Or don’t tell them anything.”

I shot him a look. “I’ve already ignored a bunch of phone calls. Pacified them with a few texts. But it’s not enough. I’m their only child and they worry. A lot.”

Sawyer took me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Makes sense. I’d worry about my child, too. It’s what parents do.”

“Are your parents around?” I asked, curious about his family life he hasn’t shared much about yet.

“No. My mom was a drug addict, and my dad was an abusive alcoholic. I was in and out of foster care a lot, never got adopted. Around my eighteenth birthday, I found out my mom had died of an overdose and my dad was in jail. A couple of years later, my dad died. Cardiac arrest. Just dropped dead in his cell. So, when I say my mama raised me right, I’m actually talking about my grandmother.

I lived with her for a while, but unfortunately, she lost custody of me, too. ”

“I’m so sorry, Sawyer. That’s awful. I should be more grateful for mine, annoying as they can be.”

He hugged me close. “The grass is always greener, love. Overbearing parents aren’t fun either. But at least they care.”

“You’re right. Will you stay with me while I call them?”

“Of course. Wouldn’t hurt to meet them, right?”

I laughed and shook my head. “I feel like our relationship is on speed.”

“Can’t slow love down when it’s on a mission. When it’s right, it’s right.” Sawyer said. “And I know with you, it’s always right.”

I reached up and stroked his beard. Then I brought his face closer to me and pressed my lips to his, enveloping us both in a heated kiss. It didn’t take long for the kiss to turn hot and heavy, but I reluctantly stopped him before we got carried away.

“I can’t believe I met my dream man while taking a tantrum about my car.”

“And I can’t believe I met my dream girl while she was taking a tantrum.”

We both laughed and then I took a few deep breaths and pressed call on my parent’s number.

Two weeks later and we were crossing over the Colorado border, headed to my hometown.

I needed to clean up some loose ends before starting my life with Sawyer. My car still had to be dealt with, I needed to pack up the rest of my things and finally move out of my parent’s house. All the way out.

Not just a foot halfway out the door.

I was more concerned with my parents meeting Sawyer and what they’ll think of him. Not that it mattered in the end, because I loved him, and he was it for me, but it would be nice having their approval. Plus, it would make for a lot more peaceful events in the future.

“Wow, I forgot how many amazing shots I got!” I said as I flipped through my endless scroll of photos, so many unique sights I was lucky enough to photograph. I couldn’t wait to make photo collages and do some scrapbooking, my creative well always needing to be filled with something.

“You’re an amazing photographer, love. The angles of your photos always blow me away. The candid shots you always manage to create are unbelievable.”

“Thank you. And thank you for seeing the beauty in my art. Not many people appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” Sawyer winked. “You can thank me some more in the bedroom later.”

I wiggled my eyebrows and licked my lips. “Hmm, let me just check my calendar.” I teased.

“There’s no calendar to check. You’re mine and in my bed.”

I laughed. “No place I’d rather be.”

A few hours later, when we arrived at my parent’s house, weary and exhausted from traveling, my parents were excited to see us and my mom began serving food, insisting we must be hungry.

“Please, eat, eat.” She pushed plates at us and kept an eye on us as we ate it all. “You look thin. Are you eating, darling?”

Both of my parents loved Sawyer and couldn’t be happier to send me off with him.

So, when we said goodbye a few days later, I blew them kisses and drove off into the sunset with my handsome man and our little camper, ready to see the world.

And most importantly, photograph it, too.

Who knew I’d meet the man of my dreams while chasing my own?