“It’s all good. Go home and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
For a second, I think he knows about Shay’s secret plan, but then I realize he’s talking about dinner here tomorrow night. “Yeah, tomorrow,” I agree, keeping the surprise.
Chapter 11
Willow
I get to Unc’s a little before noon, figuring he’ll be out the door to pull the opening shift at the bar. I’m maybe a bit too early, though, because his truck is still sitting in the drive, so I loop around the block, not wanting to get busted.
As I drive down the side street, I see Unc making his way from the house to his blue Chevy long-bed pickup. He’s limping, but it’s not as bad as yesterday, so maybe the extra day of rest did help a bit. I hope I have him set up well enough that today isn’t too much for him. I cross my fingers and toes that he keeps the pockets of his baggy jeans on a stool all day long and doesn’t run Olivia ragged.
Once he pulls away, I pull into his driveway spot and climb out. Stretching my arms toward the blue sky, I eye my mission of the day.
“You’re going down,” I tell the weeds in the flowerbeds. I’d like to think they cower in fear, but it’s more likely the breeze blowing them around.
I get to work, pulling weeds first then trimming up the small but overgrown bushes. It’s back-breaking work, but I’m glad to tackle it so Unc doesn’t have to, or worse, pay someone to do it. Not that he would. He’d rather let the whole place fall to shambles than admit he couldn’t handle things with his own two bony hands.
I even manage to pull out the couple of cracked edging pieces and flip them around so the unblemished side of the concrete is facing forward. I’ll sneak back over and replace them at some point, but I wasn’t sure how many I’d need so I couldn’t buy them at the hardware store this morning.
By the time I’m done, my shirt is soaked through with sweat, my shoulders are a bit pink from the sun, and my heart is full of butterflies. It looks great, maintained and cared for, but not so drastically different that Unc will pull up and immediately notice that something’s changed.
That had been my worry about adding any flowers or doing anything too major. Unc would probably have a fit, and this way, with it being such a minor update, maybe he won’t even realize it. That’s my hope, anyway—to be able to take care of him without abusing his sense of pride and independence.
I head back home, those butterflies moving into my belly. I need to shower and get dressed to head out to Bobby’s for Shayanne’s surprise plan. What do you wear to ambush your boyfriend?
Boyfriend?
A small laugh bubbles up at the idea of Bobby as a boy-anything. He’s all man, from the top of his dark hair to the tips of his booted feet and everywhere in between. Well, I assume as much from what I’ve felt through his jeans, I think with a smile.
I’d like to know for real, but the way he’s slowing us down physically while speeding us up emotionally is unexpected and keeping me on edge. Hunger, want, need, lust, and true enjoyment of his attention all bloom like little seeds he planted deep inside me, growing at a pace he sets.
In the shower, I take the time to shave everywhere because I know that it’s only a matter of time and I want to be ready whenever Bobby is. I am ready, so ready I consider taking matters into my own hands the way Bobby said he’s done. But I wait, knowing that while I’m good, I want this orgasm from him, not a weak imitation where I’m fantasizing about his fingers gracefully playing me like that guitar he loves.
After applying a bit of aloe to my shoulders and lotion to my legs, I get dressed in cutoff shorts and a fresh T-shirt, knotting it at my waist. I choose my work tennis shoes because if I’m going to be in with the goats, I’ll want something more protective than my Walmart flip-flops.
I’m about to head out when my phone rings.
“Hey, Mom,” I answer.
“Willow Grace Parker, I have not heard from you in two weeks. Unless you’ve taken up a vow of silence, there’s no excuse,” she replies, a smile in her voice. Funny