#starcavwrites

(Kinda barely f!reader.. he says girl once.)

Imagine.....

Being outside the super 8 two towns over. Halfway across the parking lot from each other as he makes his way to his truck. You're yelling about how you can't go sneaking around anymore. It's been months of hiding and going to cheap run-down motels to get away and be able to just touch each other without worrying about someone you know seeing the pair of you together and it finally breaks you one humid summer night. He grits his teeth and tells you to keep your voice down, keys in his hands jingling softly as the frogs scream in the summer heat. You're standing there, arms crossed over your chest, almost entirely wrapped around yourself, searching for any kind of comfort since he's not willing to give you any out in the open. Ripping your gaze from him you stand without speaking for a long moment... quiet when you finally speak up again. 

"I... can't..." You search for the words to explain yourself.

"I can't do this anymore, Joel... The hiding... The pretending that we don't have... Whatever it is that we have with each other, whatever it is that you're willing to call it.."

He continues to face you, even though he could get into his truck without another word, and leave this conversation. You wish you could.

"Darlin'..." 

Your eyes shift quickly back to his face when his voice carries to you. Barely a whisper in the night air. The pet name makes you wince 

"Joel, don't--"

"Darlin'.. please..." He takes a slow step across the asphalt towards you, away from the safety of his truck. Then another. 

You can't seem to tear your eyes from him now that he has your attention again, his dark brown eyes enrapturing you. You feel the burn of tears in the corners of your eyes as he steps to be directly in front of you. If you pulled your arm away from your body, then you're sure you could touch him.

"Joel... Please..." Now it's your turn to be quiet, whispering softly to the darkness.

You hear the soft jingle of his keys as he puts them back into the pocket of his jeans. Your eyes locked onto each other. 

"Darlin'...."

You feel your breath hitch in your throat as he reaches to touch you, fingers making soft contact with the bare skin of your arm. He continues to invade your space slowly, as if to not scare you off. He touches your jaw, lifting your head slightly. Suddenly breathless, you speak his name, it coming out as a sigh.

He nods softly at the sound of his name being whispered from your lips, looking over your face.

"My sweet girl..." 

You crumble, eyes fluttering shut. Letting your tears fall, he tuts softly, wiping them away with his thumb. He pushes any hair that you may have had stuck to your face and traces a soft line over your brow. Your eyes open slowly, surprised with the tender look he has been giving you. 

"..You're too good for me.. You know that, right...? I'm sorry, darlin'..." He takes you into his arms and gives a small squeeze, keeping you against his chest.

"We'll figure somethin' out... Together..."

You lean your forehead into his shoulder as he keeps his arms wrapped around you, unyielding in his hold of you.

You unwrap your hold of yourself and slowly wrap your arms around his middle, slowly but surely coming back to yourself.

"...I love you, Joel... I just don't wanna lose you...." You mumble against him.

He lets out a puff of air through his nose before he speaks.

"I love you too darlin'... You ain't gonna lose me..." 

And you can feel him sealing his promise with a kiss to the crown of your head.