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Waverly Earp peered over the old beer taps, watching her older sister, Wynonna, serve another drink to the woman on the other side of the bar. The redhead was clearly verging on too drunk, but Wynonna continued to serve her for some reason. Not that it was the first time that someone had gotten too drunk in their bar. Hell, Waverly had been drunk on more occasions than she could count, but there was something about watching the attractive women and Wynonna that didn’t sit well with Waverly.
She wanted to say something to Wynonna, but it was a busy time at Shorty’s, and Waverly had been stuck on her side of the bar all night, pouring beers for the hockey team and making margaritas for the bachelorette party. She should love nights like tonight. The nights when the money flowed in as the alcohol flowed out, but she would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t want a break. Waverly would be lying if she said she hadn’t paid more attention to Wynonna and the redhead than the rest of their customers.
It was nights like tonight that Waverly wished she was sitting at the bar and not an owner of Shorty’s, one of the only bars in her small hometown. Shorty’s had been an establishment almost as long as Purgatory had been a town. Waverly’s great-great-uncle had opened the bar back when the West was wild and wicked. The bar had stayed in the family over the years, even to the detriment of most of her relatives.
Her great-great-great-granddaddy, Wyatt Earp, drank there. There was a sign hanging on the wall like it was some major accomplishment. Hell, all the Earps drank there at some point over the last hundred years, but maybe none as much as her daddy, Ward Earp.
Ward had worked steadily at the bar, even though it drained the life out of him. He had worked long hours, but guzzled most of the profits, almost losing the place more times than Waverly could count. By the end of Ward’s time on earth, there was hardly enough left of the man, or the building, to bury. Then, Waverly’s mother grew tired of being lonely, so she ran off with a local firefighter, leaving the old building and the rest of their family to survive.
And now, Waverly and Wynonna owned the cursed bar.
Waverly had dreamed of more. She had wanted to go away to college. She had hoped and longed for a life outside the Ghost River Triangle. Waverly had wanted to be a marine biologist, but instead of exploring the seas, she was buried under the snow of Canada, and the responsibilities she inherited all because of the family she was born into. At least their oldest sister, Willa, had escaped the town and the burden of their last name. Waverly loved and hated Willa for being able to free herself. The three sisters had been thick as thieves growing up, but Willa fell in love. She chased her heart’s desire, becoming yet another person who left Waverly behind.
Right before Waverly was ready to tell Wynonna she was leaving, their Uncle Shorty died suddenly. He had bought the bar out of foreclosure after Ward’s death. Shorty probably thought he was doing right by keeping the place in the family, but he died before he even started running the place. Wynonna and Waverly, being the only Earps remaining, inherited the bar.
So then there were two. Two Ws. Two sisters.
Wynonna had stayed. She was the only person who had stayed with Waverly. For Waverly. So, when it came time to leave for college, Waverly let the bus leave without her. She gave up her dreams to help Wynonna run the bar. She stayed because Wynonna needed her. Waverly wanted to run, but she planted her feet firmly on the ground in Purgatory. That was three years ago, and even now, she longed to finally live her life. There were days the desire to leave crawled inside her chest and ran through her veins, trying to make her feet unglue themselves from the sticky bar floor. Days like today when it took everything in her not to give into those desires.
“Hey, Waves,” Champ Hardy called from down the bar, bringing her out of her downward spiral. “May I please have another beer?” He smiled and held out his empty glass for Waverly to take. Champ paused, studying Waverly for a beat before reaching for her hand. “You okay?”
Champ was one of the hockey players and Waverly’s high school sweetheart. He was a nice guy, but when Waverly had been accepted into Harvard, she’d broken up with him.
“Waves?”
“Coming up,” Waverly yelled over the music that was playing, ignoring Champ’s question. She continued to ignore Champ as she waited for the beer to fill the glass. She didn’t need to look at him to know what he was doing or thinking. They had known each other all their lives. He was good-looking and fun, but she hadn’t ever thought about dating him again after she had been stuck in Purgatory. She knew there was still a part of her heart that hoped she’d still be able to chase her dreams one day. She closed the tap and carefully slid the beer to Champ. “Here you go.”
Champ’s lips curled into a grin, and he pointed toward Wynonna and the woman at the other end of the bar. They didn’t get a lot of newcomers in Purgatory, and everyone was probably wondering who she was and why the hell she was there.
“Who’s the redhead?” Champ asked before taking a long drink of his beer. His eyes darted between Waverly and the end of the bar. “She’s new, huh?”
Waverly forced a smile at Champ and shrugged her shoulders. “Don't know. I’ve never seen her before, so I guess so.”
As Waverly and Champ stood there with the worn wooden bar between them, they both seemingly took the opportunity to observe the new person. Her bright red hair barely touched her shoulders, and when she laughed at something Wynonna was saying, her head tilted back, revealing a long, lovely neck. The green and blue flannel she was wearing was opened, uncovering a tight navy tank top. She was….
“She’s hot,” Champ mumbled and Waverly nodded in agreement. He wiggled his eyebrows and smiled, pointing toward the other end of the bar. “Maybe you should go down there and take over for Wynonna.”
Over the last couple of years, Waverly learned a few things about herself. She hated sake. She wanted to try Geoduck. She wanted to jump out of a plane. She wanted to do things that scared her. Most importantly, Waverly learned she liked women as much as men and, strangely enough, it appeared that she and Champ had similar tastes because the redhead was red hot.
The woman laughed and grabbed Wynonna’s arm, tugging it across the bar. A fire started in Waverly’s stomach and burned up through her chest as she watched her sister pat the other woman's cheek. It was stupid to feel jealous over someone she didn’t know, but Waverly knew the green-eyed monster, and he was currently visiting her.
Shaking her head at Champ’s question, and to clear her wayward thoughts, Waverly turned to look at Champ. “Looks like she is enjoying Wynonna’s company. I don’t want to interrupt.”
Another loud roar of laughter pierced through the music and Waverly gritted her teeth to stop herself from turning to look. She closed her eyes and tried to shake off the weirdness that had been making her skin crawl over the last few hours. She felt Champ’s hand on her arm and quickly pulled it away. Waverly didn’t need comforting about something or someone that she didn’t even know. She didn’t need sympathy for the choices she had made.
“Sorry,” Champ groaned as he leaned over the bar, forcing Waverly to look at him. He placed his hands on Waverly’s shoulders and she knew he was about to say some insightful shit. He had been this way ever since he took Psychology 101 in college. “Actually, I’m not sorry. I know that you gave up everything to stay somewhere you didn’t want to be. I know you did it for Wynonna. Don’t you think it is time for you to do what you want?” He paused and squeezed Waverly’s shoulders again. “ Who you want. Besides, we all know that Wynonna and Rosita are a thing.”
Rosita was beautiful and brilliant. She and Waverly had been friends for years. When they were kids, they had sleepovers and followed Willa and Wynonna around like little puppy dogs. When Rosita returned home from college early in the year, Wynonna started following Rosita around like a little puppy dog. It was cute and sickening at the same time.
“Yeah, I think they are getting pretty serious,” Waverly admitted. “I had to move back upstairs to avoid all the….” She made a strange gesture with her hands, causing Champ to laugh. “You know. Sex.”
“Waves, if you think that’s what sex is, maybe you need to read some more of that fanfic you like so much.”
She often wished she hadn’t confided everything to Champ.
“Shut up,” Waverly grumbled, waving her hand toward Champ’s friends. “Go play with the boys. I’m about to yell last call, so you better get out of the way.”
Before she could say anything, Wynonna yelled from the other end of the bar and motioned for Waverly. She hesitated for a second, looking at the newcomer. Waverly stared into honey-brown eyes and saw something that looked familiar.
Goosebumps ran along her arms, and Waverly couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the first time she had seen the woman. She shivered and searched her mind, looking for something that was just outside her peripheral vision. There was some memory that she couldn’t see, or maybe it was only a feeling of deja vu, but Waverly didn’t think so. She stopped and stared, trying to force open whatever it was that was locked away.
Red hair. Brown eyes. Stetson.
“Baby girl,” Wynonna called again, pointing toward the redhead. “Come talk to Haught Stuff.”
Haught Stuff was desperately trying to stay on the bar stool, and it was apparent she was beyond tipsy.
Waverly rolled her eyes but started walking toward Wynonna and her new friend. She wished she had worn her hair down instead of in the two braids that she often wore when she was working behind the bar. There were times she wanted to cut her long brown hair, but it was one other thing that she hadn’t changed.
Stopping and grabbing a pitcher of water, Waverly poured a large glass before continuing her slow walk. She gently placed the glass on the bar top, looking at Wynonna. Waverly narrowed her eyes as she watched her sister grab a bottle of whiskey.
“Don’t you think Haught Stuff has had enough?” Waverly questioned, pointing toward the booze in Wynonna’s hand. “She can barely stay on the bar stool.”
Wynonna’s eyes narrowed as she brought the glass to her lips. “This one's for me, but yeah, she’s probably had enough.”
Haught Stuff flung her hand across the bar, grabbing for Wynonna’s hand. “Don’t be mean to my best friend.”
“Best friends,” Wynonna chuckled, winking at the other woman. “No take backs, Haughty.”
Before she turned to look at Waverly, Wynonna squeezed Nicole’s hand before pulling it away. If Waverly wasn’t sure that her sister and Rosita were exclusive, she’d think Wynonna was hitting on Haught Stuff.
“Nonna,” Waverly warned, taking a step closer to her sister. “Rosita should be here any minute.”
Wynonna shrugged. “Just taking care of my best friend, Haught Rock. She’s had a bad day. Right, Haughty?” Wynonna pointed toward Waverly. “Yo, Haught Cakes, this is my sister, baby girl. Remember?”
The woman’s eyes blinked as she tried to focus on Waverly. An easy smile appeared on her beautiful face and she stood, holding out her hand for Waverly.
“Nicole. Nicole Haught,” she slurred as she shook Waverly’s hand. “And you’re Waverly Earp, also known as baby girl. Your sister has always said you’re quite the popular girl around here.”
The handshake lasted longer than it should have, and Waverly knew she should pull away, but Nicole’s hand was warm and soft. Waverly’s mind may have drifted to Nicole’s long fingers and imagined a world of possibilities in the brief moment they were connected.
And there was something about Nicole, Nicole Haught. Waverly could feel it in her bones. She knew Nicole.
Maybe it's only that you want to know Nicole.
“Anyway,” Wynonna coughed. Waverly quickly dropped Nicole’s hand. “Today is Nicole’s birthday. I was helping her celebrate since she’s here in town all alone and someone named Joanne H. called her weird.” Wynonna held up her hands. “Whatever the hell that means.”
“Damn, Joanne,” Nicole grumbled, falling back onto the bar stool. She tried to steady herself but had to grab onto the bar to do so. “I’m not weird, just drunk. Do you have donuts?” she asked, sounding hopeful and cute.
Cute?
“No.” Wynonna and Waverly answered at the same time.
Wynonna looked at the clock and the wall and then at the door as if she could sense her girlfriend was about to appear. Rosita walked in and waved, then leaned against the wall.
“Bar’s closed,” Wynonna hollered. There were moans and grumbling, but the good folks of Purgatory started moving. A few started making their way to the door while the regular customers headed to the bar to pay their bills before heading out. “I’ll take care of the tabs. You take care of Haught Potato.”
“What?” Waverly moved to stand in front of her sister. “What do you mean take care of Haught Potato?”
Looking over her shoulder at Nicole, Wynonna blew out a long breath. “I may have served her too much and she doesn’t have anyone to make sure she gets back to wherever she’s staying.” Wynonna returned to her focus on Waverly before continuing. “So, I guess that means she is staying with you upstairs.”
Waverly was shaking her head before Wynonna even finished the sentence. There was no way in hell she was taking a stranger upstairs, even if that stranger was hot as hell. Nope. No way.
“Wynonna, I am not taking someone I don’t know to my apartment.”
Wynonna groaned and tried to step around, but Waverly blocked her again.
“You take her to the Homestead.” Waverly crossed her arms and her chest and glared at Wynonna. “I can’t believe you would suggest I take a stranger back to my place. What are you thinking?”
“She’s not a stranger to me,” Wynonna replied, crossing her own arms over her chest and then quickly dropping them to her side, mumbling something Waverly couldn’t understand. “I know Nicole. Okay? I met her back when I took that vacation to Greece, and we kept in touch. She’s a good one and she’s a cute drunk.” Wynonna took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, Waverly saw a determination that typically meant trouble. “She was on vacation in Calgary and I asked her to come visit me on her way home to Boston. I thought it would be good if you two met. You know, so you would know someone when you go to Harvard next year.”
Waverly opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.
“I didn't mean to get her drunk,” Wynonna rambled on. “I knew it was her birthday and wanted to celebrate, but maybe not that much. Anyway,” she slapped Waverly on the shoulder. “Take care of her, and then tomorrow, get to know each other.”
Wynonna moved before Waverly could object or deny that she was going to Harvard next year. No one knew that she had reapplied. No one knew she had been accepted. Not even Champ. At least, Waverly didn’t think anyone knew, but she was obviously wrong. She hated to be wrong.
“Heyyyyy, Waverly,” Nicole waved. “You’re so pretty. Wynonna told me alllll about Harvard. I have been instructed to make sure you have a safe time in Boston, or Wynonna will shoot me with her gun.”
“She doesn’t have a gun,” Waverly said, pushing the water toward Nicole. “Drink up and tell me what Wynonna told you.”
Nicole swayed, but gulped the water and then carefully placed the glass on the bar. “Wynonna said you were super smart. And pretty. Okay, she didn’t say you were pretty, but you are.” She nodded. “Pretty smart.” She shook her head. A few strands of hair fell over her eyes and Waverly fought the urge to tuck the red locks behind Nicole’s ears. “No. That’s not right. You’re smart and pretty. Yep. That’s it. Pretty and smart. That’s you.”
The bar suddenly became very quiet. There were no drunk voices other than Nicole’s. There was no blaring music. Waverly looked around and saw Wynonna push Rosita out the door. Wynonna must have done the same thing to all of their customers. Waverly had never seen the place clear out so fast.
“I’ll lock up, baby girl, no worries!” Wynonna called back, closing the door before Waverly could reply.
“Pretty and smart,” Nicole repeated, sounding very proud of herself, nodding her head as she swayed. “That’s what you are.”
Waverly sighed. She thought about leaving Nicole here, but knew she wouldn’t do it. She poured another glass of water and walked around the bar to collect Wynonna’s drunk best friend.
“Come on,” Waverly said, trying to help Nicole stand and not spell the glass of water. “Let’s go upstairs and get you into bed.”
Nicolle blinked, tilting forward and whispering. “Upstairs? In your bed?”
Waverly hadn’t considered the fact that, yes, she and Nicole would be sharing a bed. She could make the poor drunk woman sleep on the floor, but it was Nicole’s birthday, and that didn’t seem right. Plus, Nicole was hot in more ways than one. It wouldn’t be so bad to share a bed with the smoking hot redhead.
“Yep.” Waverly started guiding Nicole toward the stairs. “I think you need to sleep this off, and tomorrow, I have a few questions for you.”
Nicole stopped walking. Her eyes were wide and she was vigorously shaking her head. She tried to whisper but failed miserably. “I can’t sleep with you. Wynonna will shoot me with her magic gun.”
Even though Nicole was very serious, Waverly couldn’t help but laugh. The woman was too precious with her big brown eyes and lip poking out in a pout. She was a cute drunk.
“You think I’m weird too, don’t you?” Nicole threw her hands in the air. “Damn it. I wanted you to like me.”
“You did?” Waverly asked through a smile. She should not feel anything about Nicole’s comment, but she still felt a rush of excitement. “And why is that?”
Nicole stumbled and pointed toward Waverly. “Wynonna says you are the best. The best of us. For sure, that’s what Wynonna says and I believe Wynonna. Did you know she was my best friend?”
A warmth spread through Waverly’s entire body. She knew Wynonna loved her. She always said that she and Waverly were soulmates, and Waverly agreed. But it was still nice to hear those words, it didn’t matter that the words were slurred and coming from a stranger.
Stumbling again, Nicole tried to catch herself, but had to grab Waverly to keep herself from falling. Waverly placed the water glass on the bar and wrapped both of her arms around Nicole’s waist
“Do you have a bag?” Waverly looked around, but only saw a dark blue jacket on the back of the bar stool. “Is that yours?”
“My bag is at the Homestead,” Nicole answered, leaning heavily on Waverly. “But I need my jacket. It has something very important in the pocket, but it’s a secret.”
“A secret, huh? You’re tall,” Waverly muttered and started walking them toward the stairs. She wasn’t concerned about what was in Nicole’s pocket. It was probably her wallet. “Is it really your birthday today?”
Nicole hugged Waverly tightly before allowing herself to be guided upstairs. “I’m 5 '10” and as of midnight yesterday, or is it today, it is my birthday. Oh! Will you sing to me? Wynonna said you can sing. I would love for you to sing for me. I’ll sing for you.”
And Nicole started to sing, loud and off-key Taylor Swift’s Bad Reputation. Kind of.
“Wait,” Nicole stuttered. “You’re a Swiftie, right? Because that is a deal breaker. But don’t tell the guys at the firehouse I am a Swiftie too because they would totally make fun of me.”
Waverly was about to take the first step but stopped. Nicole, in a firefighter uniform, suddenly flashed into her mind. The thought made Waverly’s body tingle in a completely inappropriate way. She shook her head and started climbing the stairs, but she still couldn’t stop herself from asking.
“Firehouse?”
“Yes. I am a firefighter.” Nicole answered proudly. “I fight fires.”
As they continued up the stairs, Waverly allowed her mind to wander to all of those inappropriate places. Nicole in a uniform. Nicole saving her from a fire. Nicole taking her on these stairs.
Wait. Bad Waverly.
“I do like Taylor Swift,” Waverly replied as they made their way to her room above the bar. She did like TSwift, and she could sing, but she was tired, a little hot and bothered, and in no mood to sing. “But I think I will save the singing for next time.”
“I’ve got to pee,” Nicole announced as soon as they walked inside Waverly’s tiny apartment. It was one room with a bathroom, but it worked for her. It had a small kitchenette, which was big enough for Waverly to prepare her meals. Plus, it was convenient to work, and the bed was more comfortable than the one at the Homestead. “May I please use your bathroom?” Nicole asked, looking a little more sober but not much.
Waverly dropped her arms from Nicole’s waist and opened the bathroom door. She moved inside the room, making sure nothing was out of place and then opened the drawer that held her extra toothbrushes. She placed one on the vanity and moved out of the room.
“I left a new toothbrush for you.” Waverly pointed toward the bathroom door. “I’m going to get you some more water and pain pills. Do you need anything else?”
Nicole shook her head and walked toward the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Waverly took a deep breath and shook out her arms. She had a feeling that Wynonna, in her Wynonna way, was trying to set Waverly up with Nicole. Waverly needed to get through one night of sleeping with Nicole in the bed, and then she would deal with her sister.
Opening her dresser drawer, Waverly looked for something appropriate to wear while sleeping with a complete stranger. She normally liked to sleep in the nude or something silky and soft, but not tonight. She grabbed a pair of her old cheer shorts and an oversized t-shirt.
Nicole would have to sleep in her clothes. There was no way Waverly was allowing that woman to be in anything other than fully clothed when they climbed into bed together.
“Damn right. I don’t think my heart could take it,” Waverly spoke to the empty room as she waited for Nicole to finish. “But maybe some day.”
When Nicole exited the bathroom, Waverly was tired and ready for a shower. She wanted to crawl in her bed and sleep off the long day and weird night.
“Nicole, drink the water, take the pills and go to bed. Okay?”
Nicole nodded and took small steps toward the bed. After she took the pills, Waverly stepped into the bathroom and closed the door. She was going to take a quick shower. She hated to go to bed smelling like stale beer and sweat.
Letting the warm water wash over, Waverly thought about the woman in her bed. She thought about Wynonna. But mostly, she thought about Harvard. Wynonna knew and she wanted Waverly to go so much so that she brought Nicole to Purgatory to meet Waverly. The possibility of being able to finally leave, if only for a little while, thrilled Waverly. She wanted to go. She needed to go, and if Wynonna was okay with it, Waverly would follow her dreams all the way to Boston.
When the water started to cool, Waverly turned off the faucet and dried off. She freed her hair from the braids and brushed out the tangles. She would wash it later in the day. It was nearly 3:00 a.m. and she still had to try and fall asleep with Nicole next to her. It was already a long night and it was probably about to get even longer.
She opened the door and stopped in her tracks, moaning at the sight. Nicole had pulled off her flannel and tossed it on a nearby chair. She had obviously tried to take off her blue jeans too, but had forgotten to remove her boots, so she was standing by Waverly’s bed in a tight t-shirt, black boyshorts, and her jeans around her ankles.
Waverly’s eyes started at Nicole’s feet, moving up her muscular thighs, staying there for a moment before continuing their path and meeting Nicole’s eyes.
“I’m stuck.” Nicole held up her hands, and then her shoulders slumped. “I tried but failed. I’m normally really good with my fingers, but they won’t work tonight.”
Such a shame.
Waverly rubbed her face and tried not to look at Nicole’s exquisite body. It was easy to see that the woman took care of herself. Her body was lean and fit.
From fighting all those fires.
Taking a deep breath, Waverly dropped her hand and stepped closer. She pushed Nicole onto the bed and bent down to untie the laces. Nicole giggled and mumbled something that sounded like “strong like a little warrior princess. That’s sexy.”
Without responding or thinking about that comment, Waverly finished untying the shoes and covered Nicole with the old, worn blanket she kept on her bed. Waverly remained silent as she laid down on her side and pulled the blanket over her weary body. She would make Wynonna pay. She just needed to survive a few hours.
Before Waverly closed her eyes, she heard Nicole’s soft snores. She could do this. Nicole was asleep, it would be fine.
It would be okay. It didn’t mean anything. They were only sharing the bed. It wasn’t like they were sleeping together.
But then, Nicole wrapped an arm around Waverly’s waist and pulled her close.
Waverly tried to move Nicole’s arm, but that only made Nicole hold her tighter.
“So soft, like a little snuggle turtle,” Nicole murmured against Waverly’s neck, sending a shiver down her spine. “Little bitty snuggle turtle.”
“Shit.” Waverly tried to move again, but Nicole wouldn’t let her go. Waverly’s heart started to beat faster and she felt her body start to tingle in all the places Nicole was touching her, making her yearn for more. “Wynonna, I am going to kill you.”
“Comfy,” Nicole giggled. Her hand started to rub Waverly’s stomach, moving to somewhere it shouldn’t be going right now. “We should…..” she trailed off without finishing what they should do more, but Waverly was already imagining the things she and Nicole could do.
Waverly whimpered. She forced her hips not to buck as Nicole’s leg slipped between her thighs. Waverly tried not to grind and hoped against all hope that Nicole would not move anymore. If she did, it wouldn’t take much for Waverly to wake the woman up and beg her to finish what she accidentally started.
“Stop it,” Waverly grumbled to herself, waiting to see if Nicole moved again, but she didn’t. “Nicole is drunk and you’re being a little pervy.”
A glance at the clock on the nightstand told Waverly it was 3:15 a.m. Nicole was snoring again and Waverly knew if she didn’t get any sleep, she wouldn’t be able to throttle her sister later.
“Go to sleep, Waverly,” she mumbled softly to herself. “Don’t think about how warm Nicole is. Don’t think about her legs in those boyshorts. Don’t do it.”
Waverly couldn’t stop her mind, though. She closed her eyes and immediately saw Nicole’s body. Waverly knew she should get up. She knew she should sleep on the floor, down in the bar. Hell, she should drive to the Homestead and wake up Wynonna, but she couldn’t move. It felt too good to be in Nicole’s arms.
Plus, Nicole smelt like vanilla-dipped donuts, and those were Waverly’s favorite. Plus, once again, there was something so familiar about Nicole — something about the comforting scent.
Red hair. Brown eyes. Stetson.
Allowing herself to sink more into the embrace, Waverly felt Nicole’s warm breath on her neck. There was no point in fighting it. It was only one night. It would be fine. Waverly allowed the comfort and the faint snores coming from Nicole to lure her to sleep.
One night.
Later, when the sun was breaking through the window, Waverly felt moving under her.
Under?
Her eyes fluttered open, and she immediately knew that at some point during their sleep, their positions had changed. Waverly was now sleeping basically on top of Nicole. Their legs were intertwined and Waverly could feel the softness of Nicole’s breast under her face.
Oh no .
Waverly tried to move slowly, but once again, Nicole’s arms stopped her.
“It’s okay, Waverly.” Nicole’s sleepy voice broke through the silence of the room. “Don’t freak out. I know this is all my fault, or maybe a little bit of Wynonna’s fault for getting me drunk.”
Slowly sitting up, Waverly brushed her hair out of her eyes and looked at Nicole. Her red hair was messy and her big brown eyes were still sleepy, but she was gorgeous. Did the woman ever not look amazing?
“Sorry,” Waverly whispered. “I didn’t mean to use you as a pillow. I hope I didn’t drool on you.”
She mostly hoped Nicole couldn’t feel the dampness between Waverly’s legs because she sure as hell felt it.
Nicole chuckled and moved off of the bed. She looked down at herself and shook her head. Waverly could almost feel the panic Nicole was feeling the moment she realized she was basically naked.
“I’m a terrible drunk. I am so, so sorry. I am going to have words with your sister. I’m sorry she made you take care of me.”
Waverly turned around, allowing Nicole to gather her clothes. Waverly had decided, as she fell asleep in Nicole’s arms, that it wasn’t so bad taking care of the woman. It was nice even.
“You aren’t the only one, but I do have some questions for you too.”
Waverly waited until Nicole was in the bathroom before she got out of bed. She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled down her t-shirt. She was mad at Wynonna, too, but there was something about Nicole, and Waverly desperately wanted to know what it was.
Minutes later, Nicole stepped out of the bathroom and moved to grab her boots. She sat on the end of the bed and started pulling them on. Waverly needed to go to the restroom, too, but she didn’t want Nicole to leave until she had all her questions answered.
“Don’t go anywhere,” Waverly called out as she ran to the bathroom. “I mean it!”
Waverly’s mind raced with a million thoughts. She was attracted to Nicole, and Wynonna must have thought Nicole was an acceptable suitor. Nicole lived in Boston. Waverly might be going to Harvard, which was close to Boston. But Nicole was a stranger, and she was leaving soon. Maybe even today?
It wasn’t that Waverly believed in love at first sight, because she didn’t. What Waverly knew of love was pain and loss. Yes, she wanted to meet someone. Waverly wanted to have a partner, but it wouldn’t be after spending a night sleeping in the same bed.
Damn it. This is not a one-bed trope or a meet-cute, for that matter.
Still, Waverly felt something when she looked at Nicole. Lust? Yes. But maybe something a little more than that.
She opened the door, maybe hoping Nicole would be naked again, but sadly, she was fully dressed and even had on her jacket. She also had a piece of paper in her hand. It was probably her cell phone number, which Waverly definitely wanted, but she wanted something else, too.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Waverly demanded. “I told you that I have some questions for you.”
Nicole’s lips pressed into a shy smile and she shrugged her shoulders. “I have to catch a flight.” She rolled her eyes. “And Wynonna made me promise I would come see her before I go.”
“But,” Waverly started.
“I know. Last night didn't go the way I planned, so maybe we can try again when you’re in Boston. I mean, the first time I met you, you were drunk and then I was drunk last night.” Nicole rambled. “I was hoping we could have a normal introduction.”
Waverly tilted her head. “What do you mean the first time you met me, I was drunk? I’ve never met you.”
“Oh.” Nicole’s eyebrows pulled together. “Hmm, yeah, I was at the Halloween party. We talked for like an hour and I kind of sort of helped put you in bed.”
Red hair. Brown eyes. Stetson.
“You were dressed like a cow…person.”
Nicole chuckled softly and her cheeks tinted Waverly’s favorite shade of pink. “Cowgirl, yep, that was me. Stetson and all.”
Waverly took a step closer. “Are you sure you have to leave?”
It seemed as if Nicole was about to nervously rub her neck, but before she could, she remembered she was holding some papers. She blushed more and then handed the documents out for Waverly to take.
“I do have to leave,” Nicole huffed. “But we can talk more in two weeks. Wynonna bought you a plane ticket to Boston. At first, I didn’t know why she wanted me to give it to you, but I see now that she is playing matchmaker. Sorry about that.”
“No need to be sorry.” Waverly interrupted. She didn’t like Wynonna being all Wynonna either, but she sure as hell didn’t want Nicole to be sorry about it. She looked at the plane ticket and the note attached to it. “Is this your number, Nicole Haught?”
With her hands free of the paperwork, Nicole used one of them to rub the back of her neck. She nodded and then cleared her throat.
“It is my cell number. If you decide you’d like me to pick you up at the airport and show you around Boston, I would be happy to do it. I have some friends who went to Harvard. I could introduce you to them.”
Waverly stared at the paperwork and then at Nicole. “You’d do that for me?” She mentally slapped herself for sounding awestruck.
Nicole’s eyes were locked on Waverly’s bare legs. She nodded her head slowly. “I’d do a lot of things to you.”
There was a brief pause when Waverly was thinking about all the things Nicole could do to her before she was able to speak again.
“For me?”
Nicole’s eyes snapped to Waverly’s face. “Yup. That too.”
They seemed to be locked in that moment for minutes, but Waverly knew it was only seconds. When her phone started ringing with Wynonna’s ringtone, she considered ignoring it and asking what things Nicole would like to do, but instead, she sighed and reached for her phone.
“Wynonna, you’re in big trouble,” she answered, keeping her eyes on Nicole. “Yes. Your best friend is coming to see you before she leaves and then you and I are having a long talk.”
Waverly ended the call before Wynonna could make some excuse. Waverly needed to talk to her sister, not so much about Nicole, but about a future she had only ever dreamed of.
“I guess I better get going,” Nicole said quietly. “I hope to see you in two weeks. Text or call me whenever. Okay?”
Waverly nodded but couldn’t speak. Her mind was like a whirlwind and everything in her world was spinning. It wasn’t in a bad way, but more like a fun amusement ride that you never wanted to end.
Nicole moved toward the apartment door, but before she left, Waverly knew she had to make her intentions clear.
“Nicole, wait.” She moved quickly, pushing up on her toes and brushed her lips against Nicole’s cheek. It was a simple kiss. Waverly’s lips barely touched Nicole’s soft cheek, but it felt like an electrical current coursed through her veins. It didn’t feel like a goodbye but a beginning. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”
Smiling brightly, Nicole tilted a pretend Stetson and walked out the door.
Waverly’s heart was still racing long after the door closed. And she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Nicole Haught was going to mean something to her. The possibility of a future with her was thrilling.
But Nicole wasn’t the only reason Waverly’s heart was racing. The thought of leaving the familiarity of Purgatory, even though it had been hell at times, scared her. Boston was big and overwhelming. Waverly would have to learn how to move around the city. The thought of trying to live in such a busy place was terrifying.
The thought of leaving the source of her strength, her sister, was way more frightening than leaving Purgatory. It was hard to believe that she would not see Wynonna every day. Wynonna was Waverly’s home. It was almost inconceivable that she would leave her big sister behind, but Waverly knew she could always come back to Purgatory. To Wynonna. She would always be welcome wherever Wynonna was.
Waverly’s hands were shaking, her knees felt weak, and thought she might be sick. All of the things running through her mind took her breath away, but why wouldn’t it? She took a long, slow breath in an attempt to settle all her worries and concerns. It was okay to be afraid. She was about to embark on the most extraordinary journey of her life.
“Harvard,” Waverly shuddered. Talk about terrifying and intimidating. She couldn’t even think about that right now. There would be days and weeks to worry over it, but she wouldn’t let her fear stop her. “I’m going to go to Harvard.”
Yes, Waverly was scared and nervous, but there were two things that kept running through her mind. Nicole would be there to help. Wynonna would always love and support her no matter where her wings took her. It was going to be okay. Maybe even amazing and wonderful.
“Yep. Definitely the start of something.”