Wilson James Taylor

My brain woke me up before my alarm clock. It had to be four in the morning as I usually wake up at five thirty but I could tell it was earlier.

I reached for my phone only to find it had fallen on the floor. Retrieving it, I was a little hype to see Sydney stayed on the phone. She was fast asleep, it amazed me how she still looked like a Barbie while dreaming.

To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing with this girl but she was beautiful and made me feel seen, heard.

It felt weird to watch her, as beautiful as she was, so I closed my eyes again, trying to wait for the alarm.

A gasp woke me up. It was Sydney.

That's when my alarms sounded.

"Shit, sorry," I excused, turning it off.

She wiped her tired face, wrapping her whole head and body in a white sheet.

"My phone's hot," she said. I felt mine, it was too.

"Mine, too," I said.

"Are you about to get ready for work?"

"Unfortunately," I sighed.

"You're your own boss, you don't have to go."

"I do, though."

"Why?"

"A successful man told me: stop working, you die."

"Was that man you?"

I laughed, hanging my head. "No, uh, close - my dad."

"Hm," she sounded, dozing off.

Wes texted me:

car in the shop. pick me up?

I smiled in the camera at a sleepy Sydney.

"I gotta go, alright? This was-- this was cool."

"Have the best day," she said something my parents used to to Levi and I.

Not gonna lie, that warmed me up a little inside.

I bit down on my smile. "You too."

With that, she hung up. I hoped she got to sleep in and relax, that must be nice.

I sat there, phone on my bare chest, a few more minutes, smiling for no reason.

"It's coming along great, boys," Delaney complimented. I was surprised she stayed home for once.

"Lemonade?" she offered.

"Please," I rasped, taking a glass.

My face turned up at how tart it was, definitely not like Sydney's.

"Thanks, Delaney. Tom in?" Wes asked her.

"Sleep on the couch. Want me to wake him for you?"

"No, no," he answered quick. "don't want him to beat my ass."

I laughed as he walked away.

Delaney took the glass back and hung around to talk.

"Thanks for this," she said, smiling wide.

"You don't have to thank me, yet," I emphasized, making her laugh.

"Will, when it's done, I'm throwing a party. You can come, but invite your parents, will you? I need to do some networking," she worked in.

"Uh, yeah," I said, wiping sweat from my head.

I saw movement behind her in the kitchen and peered through the sliding glass door to see.

"W-who're you looking for?" she cracked up, snaking around my body.

I laughed it off. "Nobody, just thought I, uh, saw something."

"Sydney, hm?" she followed me.

"Aheh," I sounded. "it's not like that. I'm a professional, I swear."

"I've seen the clips: landscaper and lonely house guest. That's my niece, but I like you. I say go for it," Delaney advised.

I... I didn't know what to say. The clips? Lonely house guest? She lost me.

"Yeah. I'ma just get back to work," I said awkwardly, trekking away.

"What was that about?" Damian asked me at the truck. Wes and Omar circled us.

"I dunno, bro," I replied, grabbing my water jug.

"Let's just get done this project already," Omar voiced.

"I'm with you, bro. The sooner, the better," Wes added. They slapped hands.

"Speak for yo'self. I only got a few more days with Chyna fine ass before she leave," Damian sulked, shaking his head.

"Leave?" I asked.

"Yeah, bro, back to LA," he let me know. "Ima be sick when she say goodbye."

A few days? So much for Sydney not having a plan. . .

"Hey, guys," Chyna's matured voice greeted us.

Damian kissed her cheek and she brought him a plate with a sandwich on it.

"Ham, extra mayo, mustard, and provolone, like you said," she cooed under his body.

"What is he, married now? I'm gonna be sick," Wes cracked, walking away.

"Hey, where's Sydney?" I almost didn't wanna ask but did.

"Oh. Sydney? She's not feeling so good today, got some... bad news," she told me.

I started towards the house but she grabbed my hand.

With thoughtful brown eyes, Chyna shook her head at me. "I wouldn't," she said.

***

Done for the day, the guys wanted to go out and have a drink or two.

"Will?" Dame asked if I was tagging along.

Before I could even object, Wes butt in.

"Allow me," he said, annoyed.

Wes jumped on my tailgate and puffed his chest to imitate me.

Deepening his voice, he said, "Not tonight, guys, I have so much to do tonight. Drinking's lame, anyway, bro. Aheh. Leg day, bulk season. I hate everything. Women suck, Hunter, blah, blah, blah."

I sarcastically clapped for him while Omar egged him on.

"I don't even know you like that and it was pretty spot on," Chyna cackled.

I messed with her a little and then threw my bag inside the truck.

"Yo, Wes, you riding with me?" I asked him.

He scoffed. "Nah, bro, I'm going where the drinks are. Have fun with your sobriety."

"And abstinence," Omar added.

"Don't listen to them," Damian said to me, pushing my head. "I think it's cool you can hold out."

"It's not holding out, he knows what he wants. Isn't that right, Will, you're a gentleman?" Chyna smiled, proud of herself.

Damian and I looked at each other.

I held off laughing. "Yeah. Right, Chyna."

"You comin' out with me?" Damian asked his new fling.

It was funny, all these years I thought Wes was my best friend and it's really Damian. He was the better man, and I liked Chyna for him. It's just sad she'll be leaving him in seventy-two hours.

I watched them kiss and didn't even realize my lip curled until Chyna slapped my arm.

Laughing, the two of them asked if I was sure I didn't want to join.

"Will you two go already, damn?" I cussed, chuckling.

"Bye, Will," she said, walking around Damian's work pick-up.

"A'ight, bro," he said, dapping me up.

"Text me when you get home," I sent them off.

I got in my truck and almost pulled off before I remembered we needed Delaney's opinion on something. I hadn't seen her spy on us in a few hours but I figured she could still be inside.

I knocked twice, no one answered, but the tv was on. Tom knew me and I was sure Delaney would appreciate me going out of my way, so I went inside.

"Hell-o?" I echoed. Didn't look like Delaney or Tom were in, and the music was coming from a back room. I followed it.

Just as I was reaching for the knob, the door opened.

"Will?" Sydney gasped.

"Come somewhere with me?"

***

"I've never been on a beach so late," she admitted.

We sat in the sand, watching the sun set.

"Really, never?"

She shook her head, the high, wavy ponytail sweeping the white cropped jacket that covered her shoulders.

"Nuh uh. In LA, we just go to the beach to take pictures while the sun's high, then leave. I don't know anyone there that actually goes unless it's for content. It's fucking sad, actually," Syd released as she drew in the damp sand.

"If you don't like LA so much, why're you in such a rush to go back?" I asked, looking up at her as I rested on my side.

"I'm not-- oh. How'd you know, Chyna?"

My jaw clenched. "A few days, huh? You weren't lyin' when you said this was temporary."

"It's--"

I interjected to say. "I thought you didn't have a plan?"

She sucked her full pink lips into her mouth and slouched. "I don't. Err, I didn't. Look, I'm going for court. Please, don't ask, but if it doesn't go my way, I'm extending my stay at la casa de Delaney."

I wiped my hands and looked at Sydney through low eyes. "If it does?"

Sydney looked in another direction, pulling away a strand of hair that got stuck to her glossed lips.

After hesitating, she said, "Then I'm staying with Chyna in LA."

I sat up, watching the waves crash.

When I just nodded, Sydney said, "Say something."

"There's nothing to say, really. You're leaving, I'm not going to beg you to stay, I just thought we were hanging out, getting to know each other."

She pulled my arm. "We can still fall asleep on FaceTime. I even thought of a name for our podcast: Unwarranted with Will and Syd."

I shook my head and gave a short laugh. "I wish you would've told me before."

"Well, it's not like we were dating," she mumbled. "you made that very clear."

I threw my head back. "Okay, I take it back, we can count it as a date."

"Um no, you can't take it back," she argued.

I looked at her, furrowing my eyebrows. "What you mean, I can change my mind?"

"You made the rule, I'm just enforcing it."

"Christ. It's a date, Sydney, we went on a date."

"No, I didn't ask you the hard hitting questions and you've already lied to me. You could have kids or a criminal past," she listed.

"You're impossible," I had to laugh, looking around her natural face.

"You're insufferable," Sydney shot back.

I laughed to myself because that's what I said about my mother and what she said about Dad.

Sydney nudged me when I got quiet.

"Wilson-middle name-last name, I really need to win this court case, but it would be nice to come back," she spoke softly. I really liked Sydney's voice, it was very calming and addictive over her spirited personality.

"I hope you go to jail," I played.

Sydney picked her head off my shoulder and laughed aloud. "Oh my God, see, I was trying to have one cute moment before I left. Just one!"

"Should we talk about it - the court thing?" I asked.

She shook her head, looking away. Gulping, Sydney said, "No. It's not important."

"You could have a criminal past," I mocked her from before. "or worse... kids."

Sydney's laugh was so cute, that's why I was trying to be funny, to hear it.

"So it's nothing I should be worried about, huh?"

"Not at all," she said low. I appreciated that. Shit, I couldn't deal with another woman with skeletons in the closet.

***

"It's gonna look really good when it's done," Sydney said about Delaney's backyard.

"Yeah because it's shit now, right?" I gave her a hard time.

She laughed on the patio. "No, but kinda."

I stood on her left, towering over her curvy body.

The sky was that dark blue, instead of pitch black, you could hear wolves howling at the full moon, and crickets danced in the grass.

I looked down and stole a look at Sydney's breasts as they spilled out of that little lilac-colored, body-hugging square neck mini dress. What? Chyna branded me a gentleman, I never claimed that.

I swallowed, looking away respectfully.

"It's such a nice night," she said sotfly.

"You get this in LA?"

She rolled her eyes at me. "Stop trashing my city as if it'll make me stay here anymore."

"I liked the name for our, uh, podcast," I chuckled, wetting my lips.

Sydney, looking up at me, bit down on her smile. "Yeah?"

I nodded, meeting her eyes.

She said, "Then I'll call you. Every night if I have to. You know, so you can sleep."

Sleep hadn't crossed my mind once tonight. I wanted to do some other things in bed with her.

I inhaled, looking around.

"Well, it's late. I better go before Delaney bitches about me 'never being home.'"

I don't know why but I grabbed Sydney's hand and felt how small it was in mine.
Her lips parted like that took her by surprise.

With no words, she walked into my chest. "Thank you for being the most interesting thing about me coming here," she whispered.

Maybe it's the drama of it all, but I felt secure with her arms around me. Like, it felt right - the perfect moment. We stayed like that for a while, just hugging.

I didn't realize the impact she had on me until she let go, but I kept her hand in mine.

"Is this you saying bye?" I hated to ask.

Sydney batted her eyelashes and I leaned in, the manly urge took over.

She stood on her tiptoes, meeting me halfway with her lips effortlessly synching with mine.

One hand tangled in her hair as the other pulled her waist close. Sydney lost herself and didn't know where to touch me. I smiled in the kiss, guiding her hands around my neck because I like girls in that position, it makes them seem smaller and less in control.

"Mm," she moaned in my mouth, making me feel good, and I didn't even do anything special, yet.

I sunk my nails into her hips, pushing her back against the side of the house.

Sydney pulled at the hem of my pants and shyed away.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked, catching her breath.

I smirked and brought our lips back together, already missing how she tasted.

Between kisses, she talked. "We'll just have to be quiet. Mmm. Or w-we can go to your Jeep, it looked room-y."

I kissed her neck once and then pulled back, collecting myself.

"I'll wait until you come back," I teased.

She pouted, driving me wild.

Sydney pushed out a laugh, wiping the corner of her lips. "Wow. You are impossible, really. Bye, Will."

I let her hand go and stepped off. "Good night, Sydney."