Rural Romance by Alexa Riley
Chapter Three
Chapter 3 Wess
“Holy shit, that was good.” Shelly rests a hand on her belly and leans back against the seat.
“Told you so.” I smirk, and she does it right back.
“Okay fine, you were right.”
“I like hearing you say those words.”
She shakes her head as she reaches out and grabs my fork. Without asking, she scoops up some of my mashed potatoes and takes a bite.
“Damn, those are incredible too.” She takes another bite, and I grab her hand to stop her from taking a third.
“You’re going to eat all of my potatoes?” I tease, and she nods around a mouthful.
“Sure am,” she answers after she swallows. “Move your hand.”
She playfully nudges it out of the way, and I push my plate closer to her. I don’t know how a woman so tiny can eat so much, but I’ll give her every potato in the state if it makes her this happy.
“This makes me miss the town I grew up in,” she says after she scrapes my plate clean. I flag the waitress down, and she brings the list with today’s pies on them.
“I didn’t know you grew up in a small town.” I nod to Shelly so she can order what she wants, and she gets one of everything. I try to hide my smile, but it’s no use as she practically bounces in her seat with the anticipation of pie.
“Yeah, I lived with my aunt out in the sticks. The town only had one stop sign, but it was probably the best childhood anyone could have given me. I lived with her and three of my cousins after my mom died.”
“Damn, I’m sorry,” I say, and I truly am. I know what it’s like to not have parents in the picture.
“Thanks, but I was a baby and don’t remember her. My aunt has always been like a mom to me.” She shrugs and drinks her sweet tea. “But yeah, it was actually a lot like Pink Springs. We had a trailer by a lake, and we spent every moment we could in the water. I learned how to fish and kept a turtle as a pet. Most of my favorite memories are in that small town.”
“So what made you move?”
“Art,” she says simply. “My high school art teacher was amazing and encouraged me to apply for scholarships. She even wrote me some incredible recommendation letters that went a long way. I applied for art school and got some scholarships. It helped launch my career.”
“Sounds like you had a lot of good people in your corner.”
“I really did. During art school I got into tattooing, and my work grew from there. I did an apprenticeship for five years at a studio in the city, and my popularity built just by word of mouth. It’s part of the reason I keep my face off social media. I want people to see the art and not the artist.”
“I get that,” I agree, and the look she gives me is one of understanding and kinship.
The waitress comes by and places all the slices of pie between us. Shelly rubs her hands together and licks her lips as she looks them over.
“So while I sample all this deliciousness, tell me what your future looks like.”
“You mean here in Pink Springs?” I ask, and she nods. “I’ve got my shop here where I tattoo and pierce, and then I’ve got my online galleries for my canvases.”
“Damn, that lemon is good,” she says as she goes for the coconut next. “I know all that, Westley.” She puts an emphasis on my full name like my grandmother does.
“She’s the only one who ever calls me that.”
“I can tell. I like it.” She shrugs, and I like it too. “I mean beyond that. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?”
An image of Shelly naked and stretched out on my bed with a round belly flashes in my mind. “Um, here.” I clear my throat and try to rein in my thoughts. “I want to stay here, maybe raise a family.”
“Really?” The look in her eyes is one I can’t read. It’s almost like pride.
“I spent my whole life running from here. When my grandmother got sick, I knew I had to come back.” I blow out a breath. “To be honest, at first I had some resentment in my heart that I was being dragged back here. But the second I planted my feet in Pink Springs, I knew this was home. I ran from it because I wasn’t ready to deal with the pain in my past. My parents ditching me really fucked me up, but I never stopped to think about how that shaped me in a positive way. I got to live with a grandmother who loved me unconditionally and devoted her life to my happiness. I was raised in a safe home with enough food to eat and without fear of what tomorrow might bring. Her love and this town allowed me to create my art and live my dream.”
“That’s really beautiful.” She smiles sweetly at me, and then I feel her hand reach across the table and squeeze mine. “Opie really loves you.”
“She sure does.” I smile as I rub my thumb along the inside of her wrist and then lean forward. “Now give me a bite of that apple pie before I have to take it from you.”
Shelly pretends to scowl but uses her free hand to scoop up a bite and hold it out to me. There’s no mistaking the look in her eyes right now; she’s hungry, and it’s not for food.
