No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty

Just realized i posted the next chapter instead of this one. sorry for the confusion xx

Norma walked briskly through the center of town, Emma at her side, balancing a stack of freshly purchased motel sheets in her arms. The mid-afternoon sun cast warm light across the sidewalk as they passed shops and cafés. Norma's voice carried a light, casual rhythm as she chatted with Emma about her classes.
"So, how's school been?" Norma asked, glancing at her daughter. "Classes going well?"
Emma shrugged, a small smile on her face. "It's fine. Same as always."
Norma was just about to press her for more details when they turned a corner, and she collided directly with someone. The force was enough to send the neatly wrapped sheets tumbling to the ground.
"Oh! I'm so sorry—" Norma started as she bent down to quickly recollect her things, but her words faltered as she looked up.
It was Alex.
His hands were already moving to pick up the fallen packages, a small, apologetic smile tugging at his lips. "No, my fault. I wasn't paying attention," he said, his voice low and even.
Norma froze for a moment, her breath hitching as their eyes met. His gaze was warm, steady, and disarming in a way that always left her feeling exposed. He handed her the sheets, his fingers brushing hers briefly. Her cheeks flushed, and for a second, the bustling town around them seemed to fade away. Her gaze flickered to his lips before she could stop herself.
"Wow, I'm having deja vu right now." Emma's voice broke through the silence, a teasing lilt in her tone.
Norma blinked, her face heating further as she quickly stood up and stepped back, putting some space between herself and Alex. He straightened too, a faint smile lingering on his face as he adjusted his stance.
"It was good seeing you, Sheriff," Norma said, her voice a little too high-pitched.
Alex tilted his head at her use of "Sheriff", a flicker of torment in his eyes. She knew exactly how it affected him, coming from her lips. Still, a playful smile tugged at his lips, the tension crackling between them.
"Nice running into you," he replied, stepping aside to pass by them. As he did, his fingers brushed her arm lightly, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down her spine.
Norma stood frozen for half a beat, breathless, before she quickly recovered and turned back to Emma, who was watching her with a knowing grin.
"Don't," Norma said firmly, starting toward the car without waiting for Emma to follow.
"I didn't say anything," Emma replied innocently, trailing behind. But her tone was smug, loaded with unspoken meaning that made Norma's pulse quicken for entirely different reasons.
Back at the motel, Norma and Emma moved efficiently, stripping old sheets from the beds and replacing them with the freshly purchased ones. The room was quiet except for the rustling of fabric and the occasional creak of a mattress.
Emma broke the silence first, glancing at Norma as she tucked in a corner. "So... are you seeing anyone?"
Norma froze for half a second, smoothing the sheet a little too carefully. "No," she said after a pause, her voice calm but deliberate. It wasn't completely a lie, she didn't know what she and Alex were. But it wasn't entirely the truth either.
Emma narrowed her eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed she'd just finished. "Why not?"
Norma shrugged, avoiding the young girl's gaze. "I'm too busy, Emma. Running this place, keeping things in order, my boys... there's no time for anything else."
Emma hesitated now, her voice soft as she ventured, "Have you ever thought about Sheriff Romero like that?"
Norma's laugh came out too quickly, a little forced. She turned to Emma with a raised brow. "Why are you so set on me and Alex getting together?"
Emma smiled, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "Because I think the sheriff likes you. Like, really likes you. I've never seen him like this before. And..." She hesitated before adding, "He deserves to find happiness, you know?"
Norma paused mid-motion, her fingers brushing over the edge of a pillowcase. A soft smile crept onto her face as she thought of Alex. He did deserve happiness, maybe more than anyone else she knew.
Emma wasn't done, though. "And... you'd be a good match. I mean, he is easy on the eyes."
That made Norma laugh, shaking her head at Emma's hopeful expression. For a fleeting moment, she considered telling Emma the truth about her and Alex, about the confusing in-between space they seemed to inhabit. But she couldn't. Not yet. Not until she figured out what they actually were.
Instead, she gave Emma a small, teasing smile, her voice light but thoughtful. "Yeah, he is easy on the eyes."
Emma grinned, her optimism shining through. "So there's a chance."
Norma shook her head again, laughing softly as she turned back to her task. But Emma's words lingered, sparking a quiet hope she wasn't ready to acknowledge just yet.
By the time nightfall approached, long after Norman had retired to his room for the night,
steam filled the bathroom as the hot water pelted Norma's skin, washing away the day's grime and tension. The heat soaked into her muscles, quickly relaxing her, but her mind refused to settle.
As much as she tried to stop it, her thoughts always found Alex.
She braced her hands against the cool tile of the wall, her head bowing forward as the water cascades down her back. The thought of him stirred something deep within her, a warmth spread through her body in a way she hadn't felt in years, perhaps ever.
She closed her eyes, the vivid memory of his touch, his voice, his gaze pulling her under like a tide she couldn't resist. Her hands began roaming her body, almost absentmindedly at first, until her mind betrayed her.
She imagined his hands instead, rough and strong, yet capable of so much tenderness. She could see him standing behind her, his lips brushing the nape of her neck as his hands explored her skin. A soft gasp escaped her lips as her fingers began moving in rhythm with the fantasy in her mind.
She couldn't quite remember ever being this consumed by a man before, this undone by just the thought of him. The ache for him grew sharper, more insistent, as she tried to seek her release.
Her touch was urgent but never quite enough, the longing for him gnawing at her even as she reached the edge. Her body tensed, shuddered, and finally relaxed as a low moan escaped her lips. The water, which had long since gone cold, was beating down on her, but it did little to extinguish the fire still burning beneath her skin.
She stood there for a moment catching her breath, letting the chill bring her back to reality, but the truth lingered in her chest, heavy and undeniable.
Even now, after everything, she couldn't replicate the high he gave her, couldn't quench the need he ignited in her. Her yearning for him only grew more difficult to ignore.
As she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the shower, her skin was flushed, breathing uneven, and her mind was still racing with thoughts of him. She'd somehow managed to walk back to her room and dress herself in a daze, this feeling almost consuming her entirely.
She found herself pacing her bedroom, her phone clutched in her hand, until she finally gave in to the urge and called him.
He answered on the second ring, his deep voice like a balm to her nerves. "Norma."
Her shoulders relaxed instantly. "Hi, hon," she breathed out, a smile stretching across her face.
"Everything okay?" he asks with worry, making her almost roll her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. I just... I needed to hear your voice," she admitted softly. "I miss you."
"I miss you too," he said, but there was something heavy in his tone, something that made her chest tighten.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her words.
Alex sighed, the sound weary. "Can I come by? Just for a second."
"Of course," she replied without hesitation, her heart leaping at the idea of seeing him. "I'll meet you at the motel."
"I'll be there in five," he said, and the line went dead.
Norma rushed to the bathroom, brushing her teeth and dabbing on a hint of makeup before heading downstairs. By the time she reached the porch, Alex's car was pulling into the lot. He parked directly in front of her, stepping out slowly. Even in the dim light, she could see it on his face, something had happened.
The moment his boots hit the porch, Norma moved toward him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He didn't hesitate, leaning into her embrace, his hands gripping her as if anchoring himself.
"What's wrong?" she whispered against his shoulder, her voice soft and steady.
Alex let out a small, humorless laugh, his breath warm against her hair. She had a way of reading him better than anyone else ever could.
"Let's go inside," he said, and she nodded, leading him into the office.