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Back Where There's A Will Save as PDF
Chapters (39)
  1. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  2. PROLOGUE
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. Interlude
  37. Acknowledgements
  38. Content Warning
  39. About the Author

“When you’re done ogling me, feel free to walk yourself out.” I squeeze my eyes shut as soon as the words leave my mouth and bite down on a curse.

Why the fuck did I say that?

I hold my breath, wondering if this is the moment he finally snaps. I’d deserve it for all the hot and cold I’ve blown his way. For being a grade A prick. I’d welcome it even. His wrath.

“Why are you awake so early?”

I blink my eyes open, wondering if I heard him right.

“Do you always wake up at the ass crack of dawn, or is this just some other way to torment me? Feeding me coffee while you remind me to check my privilege.”

Slowly, I turn to face Will.

He arches a brow, that stupid crooked smirk of his lifting his cheek. With his messy dark blond hair curling up every which way, his bare chest, and low-slung jeans, he looks like some kind of...I don’t know. But it has me thinking things that I should not be thinking about. Alternate realities where this is our morning routine. Sipping coffee barely dressed, hair tangled from too many wandering fingers. Skin slick with a fine layer of sweat from more than just the summer heat.

“Way?” I must have taken too long to respond.

“I’m going for a run.”

His eyebrows lift toward his hairline. “Okay.”

“I have shorts you can borrow and another pair of sneakers.”

What the hell am I doing?

Will’s eyes widen as surprise flickers across his face.

Avoiding his questioning gaze, I hurry forward, brushing past him as I make my way toward the short hallway leading to my room. My shoulder bumps against his chest, the whisper of skin-to-skin contact igniting my nerve-endings like there’s an army of fire ants buzzing through my veins, sending chills up my neck and standing the little hairs on end.

“I won’t slow down for you,” I say harshly, just loud enough for him to hear me. “So try to keep up, or I will leave your ass behind.”

I don’t wait for his response before closing myself in my room.

I slouch against the door, tossing my head back with a thud. And for what feels like the billionth time in a matter of days, I think to myself:

What the hell am I fucking doing?

13

13

Waylon McAllister

“Wow,” Will breathes. He’s panting, bent over at the waist, eyes focused on the horizon and the ground below. “Always wondered what it’d look like from up here.”

Walking past him, I climb up and straddle the barrier. The time-weathered concrete is cold and rough under my thighs. Twisting my head, I watch as the sun peeks out over the mountains, casting a hazy glow over the sleepy town of Shiloh.