Close As Strangers

Sixteen.

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When we were finally take Nova home, Wes carried her out to the car and gently placed her sleeping body in the back of the car. The whole ride home, he held my hand in his, and when we reached the house, Wes carried Nova to her bed while I changed out of the clothes I had been wearing at the hospital.

I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling, and then Wes walked in, lying beside me. I glanced at him, and he caressed my cheek, staring intently at me, until he leaned over and pressed his lips against mine for a slow, tantalizing kiss. He gripped my hips, pulling me on top of him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, running my fingers through his hair. In a flash, he flipped me over so he was hovering above, and his lips trailed across my jaw, down to my neck where he placed open-mouthed kisses. My arms tightened around him as my eyes fluttered shut, and his smile brushed against my skin as his lips found mine again. We continued on for a couple more minutes before we pulled away, our breaths mingling together as his forehead touched mine.

"Can I stay?" He whispered, burying his head in the crook of my neck, and I simply responded by pulling closer.

The next morning, my head was resting against Wes' chest while his arms were wrapped tightly around my waist. He looked peaceful as he slept, and I sighed before maneuvering out of his arms so I didn't wake him. After getting a shower, I prepared for my shift. It was the weekend, so it was going to be busier than through the week, but luckily, Evan helped me as much as he could.

As I hopped in my truck, I twisted the key in the ignition, but it sputtered. I tried again, holding the key in for a little longer, but it failed again. After the third try, smoke flew from the front of the truck, and I let out a frustrated groan as Wes walked out the front door, his eyes squinted from still being half asleep. He opened the hatch of my truck, looking around, before closing it and leaning against the side of the truck. "Looks like your truck is a little broken down."

"No, really?" I crossed my arms over my chest, rolling my eyes. "I couldn't tell. Thanks for the information, captain obvious."

He rolled his eyes as he grabbed his keys out of his pocket. I raised my eyebrows, and he motioned towards his car. "I'll talk to work, my little country girl."

I glared as I stomped to his car, and he busted out laughing before climbing in the car. As we pulled into the parking lot, I faced him. "Pick me up at eight, okay?"

He nodded leaning over to peck my lips, and I blushed as I climbed out of the car, watching as he drove away. Inside the restaurant, chatter flowed through the air, and waitresses and waiters were bustling around, tending to customers, filling drinks, and preparing orders. I clocked in and then tied my apron around my waist as I met Evan at the host's stand. "Where do I go tonight, Ev?"

"Section four and five, hun bun." He shot me a sweet smile, and I giggled as I walked toward my sections. I tended to a family of four at my first table, and then took care of another several tables.

I repeated this cycle for the next two hours. Around the third hour, I walked towards the kitchen, when all of a sudden, the floor began swaying beneath my feet, and my head throbbed with pain. I tried to walk back out to my section, but my knees buckled, and I collapsed on the spinning floor. Evan rushed to my side, trying to help me stand, but my limp body clung to the floor.

"You're definitely not fit to work. Who do I call?" He asked, and I weakly handed him my phone.

"W-Wes..."

He scrolled through my contacts before placing the phone against his ear. My eyes fluttered close, trying to eliminate the spinning, but it only made it worse.

"I'm not sure... She was waiting tables and when I turned around, she collapsed on the floor and couldn't get up." Evan pushed my hair out of my face. "Okay, I'll watch her 'til you get here. Thanks, Wes."

He hung up and slid the phone in my pocket before sitting beside me. A few minutes later, Wes burst through the front door, and Evan stood. I watched as they talked before Wes knelt beside me, running his fingers through my hair. "I'm here, Molls."

He wrapped his arms around my back and legs, carrying me bridal style. I buried my head in his shoulder as my arms remained limp. Wes planted a soft kiss against my forehead before facing Evan. "Thanks for watching her, man. I owe you one."

"No problem. She's my best friend. I would do anything for her."

Wes walked out of the restaurant, carefully placing me in the passenger's seat of his car before climbing into the driver's side. Once we reached the house, he carried me out of the car and to my room. As he opened the door, a sudden rush of cold air hit my body, and I shivered ferociously. Wes pulled me closer to his body, before laying me on my bed and changing my clothes. He pulled my blanket over me, pressing another kiss against my forehead, and as he started to walk away, I weakly grabbed his wrist. "Stay, please."

Wes hesitated before lying on the other side of the bed, wrapping his arms around my waist. He buried his head in my shoulder, and I smiled, intertwining our fingers. My head spun, but somehow, I felt like I was okay, simply because he was there beside me. And At that moment, I realized; sometimes, feelings that returned were feelings that never left.