Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(4)

"I accept your offer beautiful Sarah, for me to um...how did you so eloquently put it... buy you some greasy food? But I really need to ask you a few things first. One: What the hell is the point in drinking decaf? Two: Where exactly are you from that causes you to say y'all every other sentence? And most importantly, why in God's name, would you want to name a baby Danika?" I mock in horror, then smile giving it every ounce of charm I have to offer.

"Oh, because Hephzibah is so much better?" she snarks over her shoulder as she walks into her closet, presumably to get dressed.

I grab my heart feigning injury, "Touché Sarah, touché."

And just like that I start to think that maybe I was wrong, and it's not too soon to fall in love this fascinating woman after all.





Brett

"OKAY, EXPLAIN this to me one more time," I ask Sarah while we sit in a candy cane striped booth, in a dive restaurant a few doors down from her apartment.

Sarah gives me a long suffering sigh before repeating, "They put the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches together wrong. So I order a fried egg, two pieces of toast, four slices of bacon, and two pieces of cheese to make my own."

I lean forward intrigued, "It's bacon, egg, and cheese on toast. How can anyone possibly make that wrong?"

"The proper way to make it is: bread, cheese, bacon, egg in the center, then bacon, cheese, and bread. It gives you the perfect bacon to egg ratio. When they make it for you, they stiff you on the bacon and the cheese. And then, it's really nothing more than an egg sandwich flavored with bacon and cheese."

"I don't think I have ever had a conversation where the word bacon was used more," I laugh at her.

"You obviously don't have very intelligent friends then. I've had an entire conversation with Manda about why bacon is superior to all other meats. I'm passionate about the things I love, and that includes bacon."

"How are you not fat?"

"Good genes. Oh, and stripping every Friday night really helps me burn off the calories, too," she says nonchalantly, taking a sip of her Mr. Pibb.

I try to cover my shock but obviously fail as I shout, "What?" loud enough to make all the other customers turn to look. She dies laughing, falling over onto the bench seat.

"Wow. That was wrong." I pretend to be annoyed.

"No, that was hilarious. Oh my God, your face was priceless." She continues to laugh until the waitress shows up with our food.

"You sure you're feeling okay after puking all night?" I ask purposely as she lifts her first bite to her mouth.

"You did not just bring that up right now."

"Of course I did, your face is priceless!" I say, mocking her as I dodge the pickle she throws at me.



OVER THE next hour, we finished the most entertaining breakfast imaginable. The conversation flowed easily, never lulling even for a minute. We swapped funny stories, laughing at all the crazy things we had done in our teens. At one point, we were so loud the waitress came over and asked us to keep it down. Her warning did nothing to quiet us, though. I was so enamored with this woman, half the time I forgot we were even in a restaurant at all.

After Sarah taught me the finer points of making the perfect breakfast sandwich, we finished up and headed to the register to pay. As soon as we were both on our feet, I reached down to grab her hand, craving the physical connection the table denied me during breakfast. In true Sarah fashion, she lifted my arm and twirled under it before wrapping it around her shoulders and leaning into my chest.

We walked back to her apartment wrapped in each other. I kept my arm around her shoulders and she held my hand as it draped down her chest. Her other hand tucked securely in my back pocket. Every so often, she would look up to give me one of her award-winning smiles and in those moments, as silly as it sounds, I knew that my life was never going to be the same. I was ruined and wrecked, and I hadn't even seen her naked yet.

"Give me a minute and I'll take you to your car," she says as we walk back into her apartment, releasing my hand only to search for her keys.

While I wait, I walk around her apartment looking at her pictures, studying each one for clues about Sarah Erickson. I stop on a picture of her in a bar, huddled together with Manda and Casey. Sarah was in the middle leaning down to their level, arms thrown around them. The girls all looking in different directions, but Sarah was staring directly into the camera. She's dressed almost exactly as she was last night. Different dress, same black heels. Her hair is sweaty and her eye makeup was starting to run. I can almost guarantee it was from a night spent on the dance floor.

Less than twenty-four hours ago, I would have told you she looked ridiculous. Now, I can honestly say, I have never seen a more beautiful woman in my life. I have an overwhelming desire to steal the picture, but I'm sure I'd never hear the end of it if she caught me trying to escape with it shoved down my pants.

"You ready?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind. I turn in her grasp, reaching up with both hands to tuck stray hairs behind her ears and peering into her clear blue eyes.

"How weird would be if I said no?" I ask honestly, and kiss her on her forehead.

"How weird is it that I want to ask you to spend the day with me?" she responds, standing up on her toes, kissing me chastely on the lips.