I shoved open the front door, pushing passed the crowd of college kids getting their IDs checked by the bouncer. I forced a few calming breaths while huffing towards the truck. Walker had to jog a little to catch up to me.

“Mags, that was amazing!” His hand rested on my shoulder to stop me. I turned to look at him with tears streaming down my face.

“Fuck that damn bitch, and fuck you for bringing her to my home. What the hell were you fucking thinking, Walker?”

His head fell, staring at the floor, unable to make eye contact with my death stare. He muttered in a broken tone, “I thought we were over this shit. I am so sorry. Everyone else is in my past. My heart beats for you. I will do anything; just name it, to make you see that.”

I wanted to yell, kick, and scream. I hated what he had done, but I was not innocent in the situation. With a few deep breaths and some escaped tears, I forced my rigid body to relax. There was no use in fighting with Walker. He was right, we needed to move passed all of this and just allow ourselves to be happy, and it needed to start right then and there.

I cupped both of my hands onto his cheeks. “I’m sorry, it’s her I’m mad at. I won’t bring it up again.”

He took my hand in his and led me to the truck saying he was sorry about five more times before slamming my door shut for me. “Well, I’ll say we had a crazy day, let’s get you home to some wine, a chick flick and that couch.”

I sighed and scooted across the bench seat to climb into Walker’s arms. “Thanks, Walker, you’re amazing. But I just acted like a child.  Don’t let me act like that again, promise?”

He nodded and playfully pinched my ass, “Alright, I think of a few ways to punish you.” His eyes narrowed as his southern accent seductively twisted into his words making breath catch.

 “You’re truly the perfect girl.” He sighed, breathed in deeply and started the truck. It grumbled and groaned while it carried us home to finish out our night of passionate roughness and pleasure.

18

The next morning I woke up dressed in my favorite pajamas, alone in my bed. Stretching into a yawn, I wondered where Walker was. I slipped out from under my covers, shuffled my feet into my slippers and then into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I could see how rough a day my Saturday really had been. My makeup was smeared and my skin looked pale and pasty. I scrubbed my face clean and brushed away the taste of stale liquor from my mouth.

Suddenly, to my delight, the wonderful smell of bacon on the stove wafted up into my room. I was thankful Walker was still with me, and that I didn’t do anything stupid in my drunken sleepiness to piss him off. Especially after my episode with Cindy at The Saloon. I knew I needed to drop the situation, not allow myself to get into a drunken bitch fest with Walker, and just relax for the night. I had a terrible habit of not being the most pleasant person when I was drunk, and I was always concerned I would lash out at the wrong time, at the wrong person. I really was proud of myself for not diving head first over the bar to rip Cindy’s face off and for not freaking out on Walker.  But pride turned to shame quickly, there was no excuse for my actions.  It was high time I started to grow up and move on.

Striding into the kitchen, I found Walker at the stove, shirtless, cooking up a storm. There was bacon on the griddle, with pancakes being made next to them, and a bunch of eggs whisked in a bowl, waiting to be scrambled up. My ears perked up with the sound of the coffee maker groan and bubble into life as it started to brew much-needed headache medicine.

Quietly, I slid behind Walker and wrapped my arms around his lusty torso, kissing his shoulder blade softly. “This is a pleasant surprise.” I breathed into his back, kissing him one more time.

I could feel all of Walker’s muscles relax as I kissed his ripped back. He turned around to me after flipping a few pancakes onto a plate, smiling so sweetly. “Good morning, sleepyhead!” His hand ran across my freshly healed tattoo, raising up my shirt a little to look at the little bird flying across my hip bone. “I still need to get my tattoo since you stole my appointment.” A sly smile spread on his virile, stubble-ridden face.

I shot him a playful jab to the ribs. “You offered!” He raised his eyebrows at me and winked, turning to continue cooking. Walker refused any help, saying he had everything under control. I poured both of us coffee, putting sugar and a splash of cream in Walker’s just the way he liked it, and leaving mine black. I leaned up against the fridge and watched with a slight smirk on my face as Walker scrambled cheese into our eggs and plated our feast. With a quick kiss to my forehead, Walker carried both of our plates to the table and pulled out my chair. I smiled at his wonderful gesture and thanked him again for how unexpectedly nice this all was.

Taking his seat across from me, Walker rested his hand gently on mine, a soft expression spread quickly starting at the corner of his eyes and dancing all the way down and across his plump lips. “I’m just treating you the way you deserve, Mags. I promised Mitch, after all.”

A playful smile settled in and I laughed a little. “Well, thank you very much.”

Halfway through our meal, I felt my cell vibrate in my pocket. I looked down to find a text from my boss saying that most of the offices would be ready for work on Wednesday and mine was one of them. I was a little relieved that I was going back to work. Even though the few extra days off gave Walker and me a lot of time to spend together and figure things out, work was my escape from reality, and I was really looking forward to getting back into my routine.

“Looks like I get to go back to work on Wednesday.” I tried to sound a little sad about it, giving a frown and an eyebrow crease for good measure.

“At least you like your job, though. I’m sure you’re ready to go back.” Walker took another sip of his coffee to wash down his last bite of pancakes. “Besides, I’m going to have to report to base soon and now you won’t be too bored without me.” He smiled and winked, getting up to put his plate in the sink.

Before he could start washing the griddle and plates, I shot up and shooed him out of the kitchen. It was simple in my head; he cooked, and I cleaned. He creased his brow while he protested, then plopped on the couch to watch sports highlights in a daze, clinging to his mug filled with coffee for, what looked like, dear life.

“Don’t forget I made plans for us to have dinner with Liz and Jim tonight,” I yelled to him, while elbow deep in hot soapy water. Walker agreed to call and confirm the plans while I finished up. He walked into the kitchen before dialing Jim’s number on his cell.

“Hey Jim, how’s it going?” Walker’s voice was different when he talked to Jim, a little bit rougher than I was used to. “Yeah, Mags and I will be heading over around seven if that works for y’all.” He paused before asking if there was anything we needed to bring, and asking how Liz was doing. Their conversations were always short and to the point. “Alright, Jim, we’ll see you tonight, and we’ll bring something for dessert.”

Walker came over to the counter, crossing his arms over his chest before leaning right next to me. “Is seven good for you, babe?” A sly smile spread on his lips while saying the last word, and it sent flutters through my body.

“Yeah, that’s good.” I was hiding the giddy tizzy in my response to the best of my ability. It was wonderful to be happy again and every time I thought something along those lines, guilt always settled right in. I made a mental note to talk to Candice about that during our next session.

A small frown had formed, along with a crease in Walker’s brow as he looked at me. Shaken by his expression, I threw some suds at him. “What’s wrong, sourpuss?”

Walker shook his head and then smiled amiably. “It just makes me sad that every time I make you smile, it’s followed by a look of pain, sadness or disgust.”

I was taken aback; I hadn’t realized that my face gave me away so easily. I tried to smile, taking Walker's hand in mine. “I’m just still learning how to be happy without guilt. I’m sure you, of all people, understand.”

Walker’s eyes went cold and shallow as his face went pale. “More than you know…” His head fell as his words trailed off. He bent down, gave me a quick peck on the cheek and then started to walk out of the kitchen. “I’m gonna hop in the shower. Be out soon.”

I leaned against the sink and stared after Walker. I was shocked by his reaction; most of the time he seemed so well-adjusted. I felt bad, not knowing if I should have gone after him to make sure he was okay. Right when I was about to take my first steps, the pipes above my head started to whine as the water was turned on in my guest bath.

I went back to the dishes and finished cleaning the entire kitchen and table before Walker came back downstairs. Before his musky shampoo finally filled the living room, where I had found myself curled up on the couch, I’d started to get worried.

From a low, almost growl, Walker strode into the room with pre-made questions that quickly caught me off guard. “Why didn’t you pitch a fit last night? What that bitch did and my half-assed comeback deserved a lashing and you fucking pussied out and I just don’t get it, Mags.” Walker was pacing between the kitchen and the living room, his hand resting on his crew-cut scalp.

I sat, paralyzed for a minute, not sure what to say. “Walker, I am over being pissed for no reason, letting things build. I’m a free spirit and have not been living lately. I died that day with Randy in that fucking hellhole and I am ready to reclaim my life.”