Summary: You thought that with the reveal of Wanda being your professor, and you her student, that your summer romance would have been forgotten about. You were mistaken.
Word Count: 2,478
Warnings: Mommy kink, legal age gap, strap on use (R receiving), oral (Wanda receiving), fingering (Wanda receiving), and jealousy/possessiveness. 18+, Minors DNI.
Author’s Note: The highly requested second part to When In Rome! I hope you all enjoy it!
You hadn’t expected anything to come of your summer romance, if you could even call it that, with Wanda Maximoff; not when you had abruptly left her behind in Italy and definitely not when you discovered that she’d be your professor for the upcoming school year.
What you did expect was for Wanda to not give you the time of day, both of your departure and because your existence had the very real possibility of ending her career, both of which didn’t seem to weigh in your favor of getting back into Wanda’s good graces. However, Wanda was anything but predictable as she had demonstrated after her first lecture. Her simple command for you to stay after class sending a thrill down your spine, but it was only when you were alone that you noticed the darkened emerald gaze that seemed to bore into your very soul. An almost carnal smirk curling her full lips as she sauntered towards you.
Her words still echo within your head while you’re laying alone at night, staring blankly at your ceiling: “It’s so good to see you, detka. I’ve missed you and that pretty little mouth of yours. Why don’t we start back where we left off?”
You would have been a fool of epic proportions to deny her, which meant that you leapt at the chance to be claimed by her once more. Something that had only caused the dark desire within Wanda’s gaze to sharpen that much more.
It was a look that promised damnation and salvation, and you couldn’t wait to get pulled back into it.
One of the first things that you had discovered upon starting your relationship with Wanda again was how uncomfortable the tiled floors of Westview University actually were; at least when you were kneeling on them for long periods of time. It was only the extra-curricular activity that you were doing said task for that made it more than bearable.
Being on your knees, underneath Professor Maximoff’s sturdy oak desk, with your mouth peppering open-mouthed kisses to the exposed skin of her inner thighs was more than enough reason for you to deal with aching knees. The sweet smell of her arousal, mixed with something heady that caused your mouth to water, that wafts across your senses as you grow closer and closer to your goal being an additional benefit.
The sight of her clear arousal soaking through the fabric of her lace panties almost caused a broken moan to escape your lips, but you’re able to stamp down the action just in time. Wanda’s words from earlier, before she pushed you down underneath her desk, coming to mind: Be a good girl for me, detka. Get on your knees and make mommy feel good, but if you make so much as a peep you won’t be allowed to cum for a month.
It was a warning that you know Wanda would follow through on. One that she had in the past, and you didn’t want to go through that torture again. So, like the good girl you were, you gently nuzzle the center of Wanda’s panties before a trembling finger hooks underneath the flimsy fabric and pulls it to the side. The sight of Wanda’s clear arousal, even as she continued to grade papers above you, sent a jolt of wet heat between your own thighs. Her mouthwatering scent all the more powerful without her panties obstructing the view.
Slim fingers running gently through your hair was all the warning you needed to get a move on. Shifting forward, you brace your hands on Wanda’s thighs and lower you head to the apex of them. Your nose brushing through soft curls, as Wanda hadn’t had the time to groom to the extent she normally did with finals fast approaching, and your tongue finally parted her wet folds to taste the liquid heat that was more addictive than any drug.
At the feeling of your tongue, Wanda lets loose a soft sigh to show her approval of your actions. Something that causes you to push forward with your task with the fervor of a drowning woman searching for air. Your tongue easily dives into Wanda’s hole, that immediately constricts around the invading appendage, before your lips suction around her clit. The action rewards you with a fresh wave of Wanda’s slick that coats your tongue with its addictive taste.
After only a few minutes of passionately eating Wanda out-- delighting in the soft sighs that escaped her parted lips-- you faintly hear the sound of a soft knock against the door of Wanda’s office. Something that causes your eyes to widen in shock. Intending to pull away, both for your own sake and so Wanda could have a proper conversation, the action is halted by the feel of Wanda’s fingers tightening in your hair, forcing you back against her heated core. The intention of the action clear: Don’t you dare stop.
Not needing to be told twice-- you’re well aware of that punishment too-- you begin your earlier work of making Wanda cum.
“Come in.” You hear Wanda call, the rustling of a few papers following as she began to work once more. At the sound of the door opening and hesitant footsteps approaching the beautiful Sokovian’s desk, mere feet from where you knelt, you could tell that it wasn’t a professor that had decided to drop by. What was Wanda playing at?
“Ah, Ms. Danvers,” Wanda practically purrs, her countenance completely unperturbed by the seemingly sudden appearance of one of her students. Though you couldn’t stop your own gaze from widening at the realization that Carol, your ex-girlfriend, was currently standing in front of Wanda’s desk; completely unaware of what was going on underneath. “I was wondering if you were going to arrive at all. After all, you are ten minutes late to our scheduled meeting.”
What!?!
You falter in your movements, and Wanda immediately shifts, her thighs clenched around your head for the briefest of moments before she let go. It seemed that Wanda’s earlier insistence of you coming to her office, despite your need to finish up an essay, was actually for an ulterior motive than the one she had given you. Why? You’re not exactly sure as Carol and you have been broken up for quite some time now.
“I-I’m sorry, Professor Maximoff,” Carol stutters out, an action that’s most unlike her. Though Wanda did have a way of being completely terrifying when she wished to be. “Coach Hill had us run extra laps because one of the Freshman messed up a couple of our plays.”
Wanda’s answering hum was the picture-perfect definition of disinterest. Her tone almost bored as she detailed why she had called Carol into her office; it seemed that the star athlete of the lacrosse team wasn’t doing the best when in regard to her essays. Something that could very well take her off the team if she didn’t fix it soon.
“I’ll definitely get my grade up, Professor Maximoff,” Carol insists, her tone almost desperate. “I’ll make sure to get a tutor. Maybe Y/N L/N will be willing to help. I go way back with her.”
The Sokovian Professor tenses at the reminder of your past with Carol Danvers; her fingers forming a first in your hair and forcing your deeper underneath her skirt. Your tongue desperately trying to lap up as much of Wanda’s arousal as you could, but there was a rigid quality to Wanda’s body now that you knew wouldn’t be productive to making her cum.
Knowing this, and knowing how Wanda got when she was tense, you slowly slide a hand up her thigh, overjoyed at the way her muscle tenses at the feel of your touch, and before she can react two of your fingers slip into her sopping core. The feel of her tight, velvet walls clenching around your fingers almost as addictive as the taste that overwhelmed your tongue. An almost pained gasp falls from Wanda’s lips, her grip tightening that much more in your hair; on the precipice of being painful but toeing the line perfectly.
Carol’s concerned voice drifts dully through your ears. “Are you feeling okay, Professor Maximoff? You look a little flushed.”
You didn’t have to see Wanda to know that her lips were pursed in clear agitation, emerald eyes filled with thinly veiled annoyance. “I’m fine, Ms. Danvers, but your grade won’t be if you don’t head out and prepare for the upcoming exam.”
Shuffling footsteps appear a moment later before the sound of Wanda’s office door slamming shut follows. Leaving you, once again, alone with the woman that had held your attention, and your heart, since you had met her in Italy all those months ago. At Carol’s departure, what was left of Wanda’s nerves disappear and she easily pulls you up from you kneeling position by your hair. The darkened green gaze sending another bolt of arousal straight to your core.
She barely gave you the time to react before her lips were claiming yours in a bruising kiss: teeth meeting teeth, tongue warring with another tongue, and her hands holding you firmly in place. Wanda wasn’t asking you for anything in that moment she was only taking. Demanding for you to sit still and let her consume you.
“That’s my good girl,” Wanda pants, detaching her lips from yours. “You’ve been so good for me, detka. Not making a noise while you ate mommy out and not giving away your position when mommy had to talk to that bitch.”
Your mouth falls open at her words. “What’s wrong, Wanda?” You’re not normally like this.
The Sokovian smirks. “Do you think I don’t notice how that tramp watches you? How her eyes trail after you like a dog looking at a piece of meat? How she clearly wants what can never be hers again?” Wanda stands, taking you with her as she pushed you against her desk. “Isn’t that right, detka? You’re mine and no one else's? I’m the only one that can touch that pretty little pussy of yours, my pretty little pussy, and see the way your face looks when you cum? You’re mine to wreck and destroy, aren’t you?”
All you can do is nod dumbly as Wanda steps back from you. One of her hands expertly unlatches a box situated within the small cupboard off to the side of her desk. Pulling out a familiar red toy that immediately causes your mouth to water with the knowledge of what was about to happen. The look within Wanda’s darkened gaze telling you all that you needed to know.
You weren’t going to be walking right for a long time...
“Get on the desk, baby,” Wanda gently urges after clicking the harness into place, her hands cupping your thighs and lifting you just as you jumped. Her nose brushes across your neck, her teeth briefly nip the sensitive skin underneath your ear, before she settles fully between your parted legs. The feeling of the strap laying against your belly only fueling your desire. “I’m so fucking happy that you decided to wear a skirt for me.”
Meeting your gaze, Wanda maintains eye contact as she roughly yanks your panties to the side and plunges into you; the action, while you were more than wet for it, surprising you all the same. A sharp cry of pure pleasure escaping your lips at the feeling of being completely filled by her. And, by the expression on Wanda’s face, that’s exactly the reaction she had been hoping for. A carnal possessiveness burned within her gaze as she waited for you to adjust to her. Once you gave her the go ahead, she lowers her head to place her forehead against your own.
You knew logically that Wanda couldn’t feel the way you clenched around her, the way your walls grew even more slick when she rotated her hips just right, but you swear that she could at times. Her own pleasure, barring the stimulation she got against her clit due to the toy, seemed to grow because of your own; because of your nails digging into her back as you arched against her, the sharp cries and deep guttural moans that leave your throat, and the way you nuzzle into her neck to place frenzied kisses to the sweat soaked skin there.
“That’s right, detka,” Wanda hisses against your ear, a sharp hiss following after as your nails bite into her back. “I want you to feel every inch of me filling you. I want you to feel as I wreck you for anyone else. No one can make you feel like I can, I’m the only one that can fuck you like this. You’re mine, do you understand?”
All you can do is nod as another cry escapes your lips as Wanda slams into, but the action didn’t suffice in the slightest bit to the beautiful Sokovian.
“Do. You. Understand.”
Each word, each syllable, is intercepted by a sharp thrust right into your g-spot. The repeated action causing you to see nothing but stars, but you’re in your right mind enough to be able to answer Wanda’s command.
“Yes,” you sob. “I understand, mommy.”
Wanda drops her head into the crook of your neck, her thrusts speeding up, as she grunts in response. “Good. You can cum.”
As if your body had been waiting for that specific command, you completely unravel in the safety of Wanda’s embrace as she guides you through your intense orgasm as she rode through one of her own. Her sharp pants ghost across the damp expanse of your neck, but you only tug her closer to you. Content in the knowledge that Wanda was with you and that she was wanted you just as much as you wanted her.
It was only when you caught your breath that you decided to tease her just a little bit.
“Are you jealous of Carol, Wanda?” The Sokovian stiffens in your arms, a rumbling snarl working up from her chest. “Because you don’t have to be, I’m yours. Completely.”
Green eyes peer up at you as Wanda offers you a tender smile.
“You always will be, detka. Just like I’m yours.” She presses a light kiss to your jaw. “Though I am tempted to flunk her if she keeps staring at your ass every time you walk by.”
You giggle. “You wouldn’t.”
Wanda’s eyes flash seriously. “For you, Y/N? I’d do anything.”
And, for once, you didn’t have any response, or quip, in return. You were more than aware that Wanda was truthful in her words. That she would do anything in order to keep you in her arms, and you were more than fine with that.
Summary: Nicky Maybank, JJ’s older sister, just graduated. Her summer break was supposed to be normal. Work, party, chill. But then she somehow Topper came into the mix. Fun little summer romance fic with the twist of a pogue navigating a relationship with a kook.
A/N: First time writing for Outer Banks! This doesn’t really follow the canon storyline much at all and I’ve taken my own liberties like making Topper a year older in this fic. I’ve had this idea in my head forever and finally had the right motivation and inspiration to start writing! Hope you enjoy the start to this short multi-chap :) No taglist yet, but just let me know if you’d like to be added for the next parts.
TW: All my fics are 18+. Mentions of alcohol, cursing.
Chapter Index
Word Count: 3.7k
“Nicky Maybank,” a voice slurred as she filled up her red solo cup at the keg.
Her eyes traveled up from the tap to see the six foot tall blonde, sporting a billabong long sleeve shirt over cargo shorts. Her eyes moved back down to see the sperry boat shoes and a smile formed on her face before her eyes met back up with his.
“Topper Thornton,” she casually said back as she handed him the keg tap.
“What brings you here this fine evening,” he stumbled on his words, clearly drunk.
Nicky smiled again as she brought the solo cup to her mouth, pretty much downing the beer she had just poured for herself.
“Same thing as you, I’m sure,” she picked the tap back up from him to refill her cup.
“Now if I was a concerned citizen, I might say you might be drinking too much, Nicky Maybank,” Topper said.
“Well, I’m glad you’re not a concerned citizen,” she said, throwing the tap down to the ground since she was done, letting the leftover beer that was in the spout spit out onto Topper’s boat shoes.
Topper took a step back throwing his hands up to avoid the spillage, causing Nicky to laugh under her breath a bit.
“Yea, real nice,” Topper joined her in a laugh, which was unexpected. He was a kook and she was a pogue and this was the annual beginning of summer bonfire, while both crews were invited, they were likely not to intervene, let alone get along.
“Why are you talkin’ to me, Top,” the girl used the nickname pretty much everyone around the island referred to him as.
“It’s our last bonfire, we graduated, figured being pleasant wouldn’t cause any harm, but I guess I was wrong,” he shook his head.
“You realize you’ve punched my brother at least 5 times, right?” she squinted her eyes at him waiting for a response.
“Nick!!!” JJ’s voice called out amongst the crowd.
“Speak of the devil,” Topper laughed sarcastically as JJ approached.
“Nick,” he called out again to the girl, at a lower tone since he was now right behind her. His hand came out and lightly grabbed her left arm to get her attention. But before he could explain what he needed her for, he realized who she was talking to and looked Topper up and down with a frown.
“Have a good night, Nicky Maybank,” Topper nodded and raised his cup up in a cheers before retreating away, still not taking his eyes off both of the Maybanks for another few seconds.
“You good?” JJ questioned his older sister. Nicky didn’t break eye contact with Topper as she nodded her head and chugged the rest of her cup, throwing it into the bin that was in tossing reach.
“Okay good, cause I made a bet that you could out time Peeler in a kegstand,” he said waiting her reaction.
Nicky’s head turned now, after hearing her little brother’s words. “So you need me for the cash or the kegstand?”
“Kegstand first, then maybe cash,” he smiled awkwardly.
“What time I gotta beat?” Nicky asked with no way of telling if she was annoyed or not.
“15 seconds,” JJ answered.
Nicky practically choked on her laugh. “Tell Peeler it’s on.”
____________
Nicky’s eyes fluttered open, and from the minute they did the pain began to radiate throughout her head and her aching body. She looked around and realized she had crashed on the couch at her house. “JJ!” she called out. Almost instantly he was in front of her with his hand extended with two white pills with blue writing on them, advil.
“Shouldn’t I be the one taking care of you?” she grabbed the pills and the beer that was next to her to wash them down.
“Considering you used the little graduation money you got to pay for us to eat this week, I think handing you an Advil is the least I can do,” he walked to the fridge and pulled out milk and grabbed a box of cereal from on top of the fridge.
“You want some?” he offered up the breakfast.
“Yea, lucky charms,” Nicky rubbed her eyes trying to fully wake herself up.
“Not me lucky charms,” JJ raised his voice multiple octaves to mimic the lucky charms commercial as he clutched the box to his chest before pouring his older sister a bowl.
“What happened last night?” Nicky begrudgingly moved over to the kitchen.
“You mean before or after you knocked Yvonne out,” JJ smiled as he inhaled his cereal.
“You’re kidding me,” Nicky froze looking up at her brother.
“Okay, knocked out is an exaggeration but you definitely got a solid shot to the face,” he chuckled.
“Why?” she asked, closing her eyes trying to remember.
JJ’s face dropped and he moved to put his bowl in the sink, letting it clatter.
“She said something about dad, didn’t she?” Nicky said knowing it was the only reason she’d lose her cool.
“Doesn’t matter, you’re done you’re out of here, you can kiss Kildare county goodbye, you’re goin’ to Julliard or Brevard.” JJ boasted.
“You know I deferred a semester,” she said, not wanting to talk about her college plans.
“Not sure why,” JJ grabbed his backpack as the girl dumped her half eaten bowl into the sink.
“Speaking of dad,” she quickly changed the subject, “still no sign of him?”
“Don’t jinx it,” JJ retorted.
“While I agree, I also would like for him to pay shit,” Nicky said, annoyed.
“Like what?” JJ frowned.
“Every month this person called our landlord comes to collect rent, and if we pay they lets us live here,” she grinned.
“You just paid that,” JJ shook his head.
“Yea, last month,” she sighed. “It’s fine I have a shift today at The Wreck and then at Heywards later this week so I can ask Anna and Heyward for an advance. They know I’m good for it,” Nicky thought through her plan.
JJ looked stressed, like he wanted to help but wasn’t sure how. He knew things were rough for his sister. She took on the role of caretaker for him since they were kids. Their mother had left when they were both young, leaving their alcoholic, drug addict father in charge of them both, and as they got older the less involved he was. Which, in all honesty, despite Nicky’s comments and complaints, she much rather have had it this way because when Luke Maybank was around, things tended to get out of control.
“So What are you up to today?” she quickly asked, changing the subject.
“It’s the first day of summer baby!!!! What do you think we’re doing?” JJ yelled out. “Smoking beers and drinking weed!!!”
“I’ll be sure to stop by the chateau tonight,” Nicky said knowing that the group had a first day of summer tradition.
“I’m out of here but I’ll see if there’s anything around town I could do to pick up some extra cash,” he said as he departed from the house.
With that, Nicky got ready for her shift at The Wreck. Kie’s parents had been kind enough to give her a shot without any experience. Nicky wasn’t stupid she knew that The Carreras looked at her as a pity case, someone to feel sorry for, but she also knew that Richard Carrera had grown up on the Pogue side of town, and Anna still had fallen in love with him. She was pretty positive that she owed her for the chance that was given to her two years ago.
Luckily, the restaurant wasn’t too packed, she had the afternoon shift where most people were out running errands, still hungover from the night before, or out on the water. But just as Nicky was thankful, a group of Kooks walked in.
Kelce, Rafe, and Topper strutted into The Wreck not even letting the hostess seat them, just picking the patio seat like it belonged to them.
“Play nice,” Anna’s voice said with a hint of a smile behind it.
“I always do,” Nicky matched her voice.
“They’re your last table for the day anyway,” she closed the register and handed her a few menus to give to the guys.
“Can I talk to you after my shift is over?” Nicky asked. The nerves caused her to feel clammy and anxious. She hated asking for money, she knew her family name was already enough to cause doubt and judgment around this town, and she didn’t need to add to it, but she was a 17 year old supporting her and her brother, and while not everyone grasped that concept, she knew Anna did.
Anna nodded as her lips curled up to ease some of the tension she knew the girl felt.
“When you finish up at their table just come find me.”
____________
Kelce and Rafe were in rare condition, although to Nicky this was normal, but Topper could tell they were acting out more than usual. Dropping their napkins on the ground, tossing food around, spilling things, just making a mess and being difficult.
“Can I get you guys anything else?” Nicky asked as she re-approached the table.
“I don’t see you on the menu,” Rafe’s hand moved outwards to graze the girl’s exposed leg.
Like a force of habit, she stepped back and swatted his hand away.
“Now that’s no way to treat a paying customer,” Rafe said, now a little angry.
“Take your money and shove it, Rafe. And while you’re at it, go fuck yourself,” Nicky spat at the man before slapping their check on the table and retreating back to the bar.
“No need to act crazy, Nicky!” Kelce called out but the girl ignored it.
Topper said nothing just watched the two make more of a mess before they left. Noticing when they all got up they barely covered the bill for their food and left no tip for the girl.
Nicky walked back up to the table with a sigh. She began stacking the dishes, the gross remnants of food sticking to her hands as she attempted a first pass of cleaning. She threw the dishes into the tub that the busboys usually held but today, since they were short staffed the job became hers.
Nicky moved down to the ground to pick up the napkins and anything else they decided to discard on the ground. Her frustration was rising, this was demeaning to her and she was angry.
“Hey, forgot to leave this for you,” Topper’s voice cut off Nicky’s thoughts.
She moved to stand up forgetting the table was right above her and it collided with her head. Even though she was wearing a baseball hat, there might have well been nothing in between her head and the table with how hard she hit it.
“Fuck,” she murmured as she maneuvered her way out.
“You alright?” Topper leaned down trying to get eye level with her but she waved him off.
“What do you want? Haven’t you reached your quota for being an asshole today? Or since it's the end of the month you gotta make up for the slow days?”
“I just realized we forgot to leave this,” he went to place the $100 bill on the table but stopped when he saw there was really no place to put it since the table was disgusting.
“No go for it, leave it there, it can be your parting trick to me, that oughta to earn you some clout, let’s see if Nicky will take the $100 bill that’s covered in already eaten food and gunk,” she rolled her eyes and threw the remaining cups into the tub.
“Just keep your pity money, you didn’t have the balls to say shit when tweedle dee and tweedle dum were here, so don’t think you gotta clear your conscience now,” Nicky grabbed the grip of the tub at both ends and turned to face Topper. She stood there waiting for him to step aside, because she wasn’t going to add more work for herself.
He nodded and moved so she could pass, but as she retreated to the back, Topper created a little contraption that held the money out of reach from the dirty table. Using straws from the table behind him, he created a little stick figure man, cutting a slit in the straw hand to hold the $100 bill and then in the other arm as well to hold a sign that read “sorry.” He placed the contraption on the napkin holder in the middle of the table and left, knowing it wasn’t worth arguing with the girl more, she was right, he and his friends had done enough.
Nicky walked back to the table to finish up when she saw the masterpiece Topper had left. As much as she wanted to be angry, she appreciated his effort. She pocketed both the $100 bill and the straw figure before cleaning up the rest of the table.
After she dumped the dirty rags and dishes into the kitchen, she washed her hands off not just of the stickiness but of the day. She had to go into her talk with Anna with a clear mind, not upset or frustrated. She took her apron off, hanging it where the dirty laundry went to get done and threw her sweatshirt over her work tee. She took a couple moments, staring into the warped mirror that stood a whopping 4’11 in the small locker room meant for the staff. She didn’t fit into the mirror, about 6 inches were cut off leaving the bottoms of her legs cut off as she stared into her own eyes. Taking one more deep breath she turned her brain off and just walked up to the manager’s office, giving the large wooden door a sturdy knock to announce her presence.
“Come in,” her voice was sing-songy. “Hey Nicky,” Anna smiled, “Sit please.”
Nicky sat in the barreled chair across the desk from Anna, who could tell the girl was nervous.
“So what’s up?” Anna lead the conversation in a nonchalant tone, hoping to get the girl into a bit of comfortness.
“You know how much I appreciate you giving me this opportunity, it’s honestly been such a huge help, and I– well, I hate that I even have to ask this but could I get an advance on my next paycheck? Rent’s due and I used my graduation money on dinner for me and JJ this week and–”
Anna reached over and grabbed the girl’s hand and squeezed. “You don’t need to explain yourself,” she gave one more squeeze and leaned back, opening the locked drawer with the pre-cut checkbook in it.
“I know a lot of people in this town don’t know what your situation is at home, and I know you don’t want to tell them, it’s noble of you, but you work here 5 days out of the week, even though you don’t say much, I know Luke hasn’t been home in 2 months,” Anna replied looking up at the girl.
Nicky said nothing. “You very much earned this already, you’re here early most days, you bus tables when we’re short staffed, and you even run errands for Richard when we’re low on stock,” Anna said as she filled out the check.
“That’s just because I work at Heywards, I have a connec–”
Anna cut the girl off again. “It’s because you’re a good person.” The check was being handed over. “Consider it a graduation bonus. You’ll still get your paycheck next week,” Anna leaned back.
“I can’t accept this, Mrs. Carrero.” Nicky handed back the check.
“You can. And you will. It’s not just for you. You’re taking care of your house and your brother, and as much as your brother ircks the living hell out of me,” she paused to chuckle, “you gotta take care of each other.”
Nicky laughed and nodded, putting the check in her bag tucked away with the $100 bill she had gotten as a tip.
“Thank you, seriously, you don’t know how much this means to me,” she said as she retreated out the door. “And for the record he ircks me too,” Nicky laughed.
“Take the lunch rush leftovers home, they won’t do any good here for the dinner rush.” Anna called out to the girl.
“Thank you times a million Mrs. C!” Nicky called back to her and grabbed the already packaged up food.
She made her way to the beat up truck that was older than her that she shared with her brother. After she threw her bag and leftovers into the passenger seat and made her way to the driver side to get in, she heard some commotion over by the dock. Her attention averted over to where the noise was and to her surprise she saw Topper there struggling with a crabbing cage.
Her brain went back and forth for a minute, wondering if she should go help him or let it be but she decided since he had gone out of his way to make up for earlier, she’d do the same.
“Your chicken string is too short!” Nicky called out from the bed of her truck, pulling out bungee cables and walking over to the boy.
“I never like using chicken string anyway, snags too much,” she said, grabbing the cage and putting the bungee cords on the corners of the cage.
“I ran out of the string,” Topper shook his head, while he grabbed the other bungee clip and attached it to the cage.
“What bait do you use?” Nicky tried to look into the cage to see what was in the wire trap.
“Chicken necks.” Topper held the bag up.
“Not so bad,” she smiled and tossed the cage into the water. “You use some rank ass flounder and you’ll only have to wait 5, maybe 10 minutes before your cage is filled.” She offered up the advice.
“Don’t really have any of that hangin’ around, you know,” he laughed.
“Could just use the entire table you and your kook friends left behind, smells the same.”
Topper stopped laughing and re-situated himself, he averted his eyes out to the ocean and fiddled with something to fill the awkwardness.
“Thanks by the way, your gesture didn’t go unnoticed, when did you become so crafty Mr. Thornton,” Nicky tried to break the awkwardness, and it worked.
Topper chuckled, “Long story,” he shook his head.
“Well luckily, you chose chicken necks to catch crabs so we’ll be here for at least 30 minutes,” she laughed and threw her legs over the dock.
Topper looked over and frowned at the girl getting comfortable and clearly expecting him to tell his story.
“My sister, she’s 12 and loves to make weird crap,” he shrugged.
“I thought it was a long story,” Nicky’s eyebrows raised.
“It’s not really what I like to lead with, you know,” he paused and lifted his hands, “ hey I do arts and crafts with my little sister,” he mocked himself.
“I still play the ground is lava with JJ so I see no issue,” Nicky grinned as Topper’s face went into a huge smile, knowing he now had a bit of dirt on the boy he quite often had issues with. Nicky could read his intention and directed daggers from her eyes at him. “And don’t you dare use that against him or I’ll use you for crab bait,” she pointed at him.
“Aright alright, we each have a secret to keep to the grave,” Topper raised his hands in innocence.
“So why are you out here on a Thursday night, the first night of summer vacation, crabbing?” she leaned her back against the wooden column that held up the short boardwalk they were on.
“You ask a lot of questions, you know that?” Topper looked over at her but Nicky didn’t respond, just waited for him to answer.
“It’s seafood night.”
“Why not just go to Heyward’s?” Nicky responded without missing a beat.
Topper motioned his hands to the ocean in front of him, as if it was obvious.
“Yea, Heyward gets his seafood from the same place, I know, I’m out on the boats with him,” she shook her head.
“You know,” he paused for a minute, “fresh is best,” he looked over at the blonde. “And this is how I get fresh.” Topper paused wondering if he was going to get into the full story with someone he barely knew, and he decided against it, biting his tongue.
“I’ll pull the story out of you one day,” she smiled and began to readjust herself. Sitting on her legs as she moved to pull the cage out of the water. There were about 8 crabs inside, 3 of them were clearly too small but the others were decent sized.
“Thanks for saving seafood night,” Topper smiled as he threw the crabs into the cooler he had.
“Anytime,” Nicky awkwardly stood up, she could tell their little moment together was over so she began to walk back to her car.
“Your bungees!” Topper called out to her, waving them in the air.
“I got plenty, don't worry about it, keep it for future seafood nights!” she called back to him. Just as she was about to get back in her truck she froze, the thought came to her and she tried to push it away but no such luck. Before her brain could even comprehend what she was thinking, her feet were walking back toward him on the dock.
“I can show you a way better place to go crabbing, bigger shells, longer legs,” she was now mentally scolding herself. This was Topper Thornton, her brother's biggest rival, king kook, and she was inviting him to her private fishing spot.
“Yea, I’d actually love that,” Topper agreed without hesitancy, “when did you have in mind?” he now felt awkward.
Nicky thought for a minute. Her schedule running through her head along with the final thought that she could still back out, make up an excuse right now, or give a day weeks from now and just let it come and go.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by reading an excerpt of Jessica Pennington’s next romance novel, When Summer Ends! Just flip a coin (or drag the GIF) to see which one you should read ❤️
