Songbird

Thirteen: Lennie

That weekend went by far too fast. It was almost frightening how easily Colt and I slipped into being 'together.' Not that we were official or anything. There had been no conversation about it anyway, but... I wasn't sure one was needed. I certainly wasn't interested in spending my time with anyone else and considering it'd been nigh on ten years that Colt had even tried going on a date, I was pretty secure with where we stood. So onward we went, no conversation or titles or anything needed. I was already content with it.

By that Sunday evening we were all starting to pack up. Melody and Leon had already been gone an hour or so but the rest of us were dragging our feet, not ready to return to the mundane day to day. Especially me. Going back to Snyder only meant less time by Colt's side and I was not interested in that at all. Here we were free. We could act like kids and be all over each other without a teenager or the hopeful eyes of relatives peering down every second. Here we didn't have to worry about a bar or a bed and breakfast or games or other tasks of adulthood. We could just BE, and I wanted more of that than I could put into words.

"Someone's dragging their feet."

I sighed as I glanced back over my shoulder as I pretended to pack, finding Colt, leaning against the door frame, all tan and shaggy hair. His arms were folded over his chest, his brightly colored tattoos on full display thanks to the grey tank that hung from his broad shoulders. He had the cutest little grin on his face for whatever reason, but I didn't really care what that reason was. The man looked like a damn dream. "I don't wanna go back," I said with a pout, tossing a pair of flip flops into my open bag. "Can't we stay here a while longer?"

"We can always come back, baby," Colt responded, trying to sate my sadness. He took a step forward and I felt his thick forearms band around my waist and a whisper of his lips on the cap of my shoulder. "Whenever you want."

I turned to look into his molten chocolate eyes and accentuated my already pouting lips. "But that doesn't help me now."

Colt chuckled softly and gave the tip of my nose the tiniest, sweetest peck. "I know, sweetheart. Being an adult is stupid sometimes."

"I have yet to find a time it isn't," I sighed dejectedly. "Stupid responsibilities ruining all the fun."

Colt laughed a little louder this time and wrapped his arms even tighter around my midsection. "I don't know. I think being an adult is okay sometimes..."

"Yeah? Like when?"

"Mmm... like being able to kiss you whenever I wanna," he responded, his lips brushing against the side of my neck and making me shiver. "Or being able to touch you and not worry that I'm gonna be skinned alive when my momma finds out."

I giggled as his hands started roaming the curves of my body. "Not sure that ever really stopped you before."

"I don't know," Colt argued. "We were kids the last time you actually liked me... and I was fucking terrified of you."

"You were not!" I exclaimed, spinning around in his arms and slapping an open palm against his chest. "There was no way you were scared of me."

"I definitely was," Colt insisted, now clasping his hands together at the small of my back. "It took every ounce of courage I had to even kiss you, let alone even think about doing anything further. Not that I had any fucking idea what further would entail at that point."

I smiled as I draped my arms over his strong shoulders. "What? Making out under the lilac bush wasn't good enough for you?"

"You kidding?" he asked with a crooked grin. "Best fucking days of my life."

"I think both of our mommas woulda skinned us alive if they had known that was going on."

Colt chuckled and leaned in, gently rubbing the tip of his nose against mine. "Good thing Cora's the only one who ever caught us then, huh?"