Page 53 of Need You To Choose Me

“Miss Parker.”

The hair at the back of my neck prickles at attention at the sound of that low baritone. I bite the inside of my cheek, sucking in a sharp breath. Both Becky and Jessica just watch me with matching amused expressions on their faces.

Traitors.

“Delusional, huh?” Jessica smirks. I glare at her, but it doesn’t faze her in the least. Instead, she smiles sweetly and greets Blake. “Coach. It’s nice to see you here. Are you enjoying our small town?”

His brows furrow in confusion, but he nods. “Yes, Levi heard about the fair at school and asked me if we could come.” Those dark gray eyes turn to me, and I can feel the goosebumps rise on my skin as he oh-so-slowly moves his gaze up. “Are you having fun,Miss Parker?”

“I was until a few moments ago.”

Before you showed up.

He doesn’t miss the silent jab, the corner of his mouth tipping upward. “Well, my day just got better. You look nice today.”

Color rises up my cheeks at his words. They were completely inappropriate, something I’m pretty sure my friends didn’t miss and will bring up the first chance they get. I’m just about to tell him that when a little body connects with his side.

“Dad! Dad!” Levi tugs at his arm. “Gage and I want to go to the haunted house. Can we? Pretty please?”

Blake looks down at his son. “Umm… yeah, buddy, sure thing.”

“Yes!” Levi fist bumps excitedly, and turns around, which is when he spots me. “Hi, Miss Parker! Do you wanna go to the haunted house with us?”

Blake and I in the darkness alone?

“Oh, no, I’m good.”

As a matter of fact, I was ready to leave. Somewhere far, far away from here. Fromhim. Not like that was possible since the man seemed to be everywhere I went.

Blake turns to me, his arms crossing over his chest, making the tattoos on his forearms stand out. My throat goes dry as I watch those muscles flex. How is it possible that he can make a motion so mundane look so sexy? It doesn’t seem fair.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid, Miss Parker?”

“What?” I look up from Blake’s arm to find him giving me a knowing smirk. My eyes narrow at him as I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Of course not, don’t be ridiculous.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I know I said the wrong thing.

“Prove it.” Blake grins at me. “Come with us.”

“Yes, Miss Parker!” Levi chimes in immediately. “You should come with us. It’ll be so much fun. And if you’re afraid, my dad can take care of you.”

Levi’s innocent words make me choke in surprise.

“I-I don’t…” I stutter, trying to come up with something to get out of this mess, only to come up empty.

Becky snorts, or maybe it’s Jessica, but before I can tell them exactly what I think about their reaction, Levi grabs my hand.

“C’mon. The haunted house is this way.”

I look over my shoulder, trying to signal my friends to save me, only to catch Jessica and Becky high-fiving one another.

I’m so going to get back at them for this.

“Gage, let’s go!” Levi yells, letting go of my hand, just as another one slides to the small of my back.

A bigger hand.

Much warmer.

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