The Broken Falls Series

Chapter 5

Alexis

My body screams with the best kind of soreness as I roll over in bed. The sun is shining through the curtains. Typically, I close the curtains before bed every night, but this wasn't a normal night.

Glancing over to the other side of my bed, I don't expect to see Boone there. But I'm surprised when I see a piece of paper on his pillow. I stretch over, pick up the note, and open it.

Morning, Alexis,

As much as I wish I could be here when you wake up, I had to go to work early. Boss man has to be there first. You were sleeping, and I didn't want to wake you up. You looked peaceful all curled up in a ball.

I'm gonna be real honest with you. I'd love to see you again if you'd like to. You blew my mind, and everything else. For you, I'm considering changing every boundary I've ever had.

Text me if you're interested. Regardless of whether you choose to see me again in this way, know that I had a great time and we can always be friends, lollipop.

Boone

Glancing at the bottom of the page, I see a phone number. I take my phone from my bedside table, enter the number along with the name Boone, then fire off a text.

A: Thank you for the best night of my life. You've ruined me for anyone in the future. I'd love to see you again if you're okay with it. I knew what I was getting into when I decided to have a night with you. Let me know what you'd like to do.

Getting out of bed is harder than normal. There's a sweet pulling between my thighs, one I haven't felt in longer than I care to think about. I move slowly to the bathroom, reach into the shower, and turn it on before walking over to the sink. I almost don't recognize the woman in the mirror. There are love bites on my chest and one on my neck I'll have to cover up before I go into work tomorrow. There's also some beard burn on the top of my breasts. A part of me hopes it never goes away, but another part can't wait until it does so Boone can put it there again. Provided we get the chance.

My phone makes a noise, so I go over to check it. My pulse speeds up when I see Boone's name.

B: I would love to see you again. Did you sleep well?

A: I did. Just woke up and about to take a shower.

B: Are you as sore as me? Thought I was in good shape, but you turned me out last night.

A giggle and a feeling of pride works its way through my body.

A: I am, and I'm wearing some badges of honor too. For real, I didn't know it could be like that. Thank you.

B: Feel like I should be thanking you. Been a long time since anything felt that good. Anyway, I gotta get back to work.

A: I'm off both jobs today, so I'm gonna recover.

There's a stupid smile across my face as I get in the shower. These old pipes take forever to warm up, but when they do, it's the perfect temperature. It's exactly what I need to loosen the muscles I didn't even know I could use when getting freaky.

After I'm done, I quickly get dressed and hurry down the stairs. I have a date with my best friend, and I don't want to be late. I'm starving after last night, and nothing is going to taste better than the best taco truck in West Virginia. Literally. It was voted on.

“You sure you don't wanna work for me tonight?" Justin yells when he sees me.

“Screw that. I'm off tonight at both places, and I'm going to enjoy it."

He's still talking when I walk out into the bright sunshine. To say last night turned me into a new woman would be putting it lightly. I've never been the type of person who thought one encounter with a man could change her life, but consider this as me rethinking that.

I get into my Jeep and crank on the AC and the radio as high as I can stand them. If I wasn't planning on being anywhere, I'd take the soft-top off and let the wind blow through my hair, but I want to be cute, and the temperature is f*****g hot. When I put the car in gear, I silently thank the gods. This Jeep was handed down from my uncle to my brother to me. She's older than I am and approaching three hundred thousand miles, but she's still going strong.

I back out of the parking spot, turn in the direction I need to go, and head out. Driving is one of my favorite things. It started in college when I was stressed about a paper or a final. I would get behind the wheel, turn up the radio, and drive to no place in particular. The habit continues now that things have been even more stressful and I'm going to have to figure out how to pay back these student loans.

But today, that's not something to worry about. I'm meeting my best friend, Kara, and I can't wait to share my night with her.

There's already a line at the taco truck, and I can't help but feel pride as I go to the back.

Kara sees me from where she's taking orders and motions me around to the side. “Hey!" She waves. “Let me get these orders and whatever you want, then I'll join you."

“Sounds good. I'll grab us the picnic table under the oak."

“Perfect! I made some strawberry lemonade for you today."

I love her. We've been friends since we met on the first day of college, and over the past few years, she's morphed into the sister I never had. “You're the best! I'll take a quesadilla. You know what I like."

“Got it."

There's a tap on my shoulder, and I move to the side as another one of her workers hops up into the truck. At last count, she was employing fifteen on a rotating basis. I've never seen anything like what she's been able to accomplish. On random days and at random times, she streams on YouTube, f*******:, and Twitch as she's cooking, and it's made her—and her employees—very popular. Her day-in-the-work-life series, and all the behind-the-scenes videos on what it takes to be a small business owner, have made her a small fortune. But she's smart and puts all of that money back into her food truck. I wish I had it as together as she does.

Heading over to the picnic table, I pull my hair back in a low bun and wait patiently while I try to convince myself it's much too soon to text Boone again.

“Hey, hey." Kara puts my plate in front of me.

“Hey. Oh this looks amazing."

“Yeah." She grins. “I have a new dip for us to try. My take on creamy jalapeño. You'll have to let me know what you think before I put it up for sale."

Along with the food I've ordered are fresh chips and the new dip. I go for that first, moaning when the vibrant flavors hit my tongue. “Okay, that's f*****g delicious. You're gonna have to sell that by the tub."

“That's the plan. So, what's going on with you today?"

I take a drink of the lemonade and sigh happily. “It's not about what's going on with me today. It's about what went on with me last night."

She covers her mouth after taking a bite, talking around the food. “Spill if you have some goods."

“I did the dirty last night with a man who's old enough to be my father, and it was the best s*x of my life."

Her eyebrows go to her hairline. “Who?"

“Boone Wilson."

She gasps. “Big Daddy Boone? That's what I like to call him in my head."

I snort laugh. “What? You call him something in your head?"

“Not in that way," she says quickly. “But to create the perfection that is Abel Wilson, you've got to be pretty magnificent."

“You and your crush." I give her an understanding look.

She nods, taking another bite. “It's hard, ya know? This is what most of my time is." She gestures around at the food truck and the line that isn't slowing down.

“You two are good friends, though. And ya know what they say—friends can sometimes make the best lovers."

She rolls her eyes, a smirk playing on the corners of her lips. “Says God's favorite. I've been praying for a shot with Abel since I moved here. Still waiting."

“Good things come to those who wait," I remind her.

“Says the woman who came to have lunch with me while wearing the hickeys of the night before."

I laugh because I know she doesn't begrudge me anything and this is how we are with one another. At the same time, she deserves the best of everything, and although there's absolutely nothing I can do to help her, when I look at my watch and see it's 1:11, I make a wish—not for me but for her, because that's what friends do.