Page 103 of The Way We Collide

“It’s delicious!” Her eyes water, and her nose starts to run as she laughs, still waving her hand. “Smoky…”

“Are you getting any of the sweetness?” Dylan is beside her, watching like they’re in a laboratory.

Raven shakes her head fast. “It’s burning my mouth off!”

“Here!” Allie holds out a small cup of vanilla ice cream.

Raven takes it, ripping off the cardboard top and sticking her tongue straight into the cup.

“Want some, Hen?” Dylan turns to me, holding another small cup.

Both my hands go up like she pulled a gun. “I’m good for now.”

Rachel snorts a laugh, taking the serving. “In that case, you’d better get dancing. Your big brother’s been waiting for you.”

I look up at the bar where Garrett, Craig, and several waitresses in cutoffs and Cooters & Shooters T-shirts shake their hips in time, then I look at my bride holding a party-sized vanilla ice cream cup to her mouth.

Our eyes meet, and she blinks with a smile.

“I think I’d rather dance with my wife.” Stepping forward, I hold out a hand. “Are you okay with that?”

She tosses the ice cream into a nearby trash can and puts her hand in mine. “I was born okay with it.”

25

Raven

Hendrix wraps his arms around me, pulling my body to his, and we groove to the strains of “Stars Like Confetti” by Dustin Lynch.

He sings in my ear about climbing in his jacket, and like my heart, you can have it, and warmth slides through my veins.

Leaning back, I smile up at him. “You have a really nice voice.”

Pulling in his chin, he grins down at me. “I’m not sure I’m pageant material.”

“Don’t worry. I never was either.”

His arm tightens around my waist, and he hugs me closer. “Don’t sell yourself short, Pink. You could be the queen of my double-wide trailer any day of the week.”

My head falls back with a laugh. The crowd around us sings the chorus, and Hendrix moves his hips in a way that fills my mind with dirtythoughts.

I’m right there with him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and letting him take the lead. “Is this our first dance?”

He looks around as if he’s thinking. “We didn’t dance at Dylan’s reception?”

Slanting my eyes, I smile. “We left early.”

“Yeah, we did.” His eyebrows waggle. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Dare Night is everything I imagined it would be, from the crazy food to the wild lights and dancing, to the Bradford family all around laughing and teasing. The music alternates between fiery dance tracks and country hits, but it all comes winding down when the clock strikes eleven.

“You’re glowing.” Hendrix holds my hand as we exit the dance floor again. I’ve lost track of how many times he’s dragged me out to sway in his arms tonight. “You seem really happy.”

“It’s like the family I never had.” I look around the room wistfully. “I’m happy for Haddy.”

A gentle pull of my hand has me snug at his side. “I’m pretty sure they think of you as family, too.”

Chewing my bottom lip, I think about his words and wish…

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