Page 137 of Trust Me Always

“Warm me up, big bear man.”

Chuckling, I spin in her arms, hauling her up and holding her to me, being sure to keep her “dress” under her ass, and she knows not to wrap her legs around me this time. “Ready to get out of here? I’m starving and you know my mom’s got something good waiting.”

“Oh! I hope it’s her baked mac and cheese!”

This time, it’s me who kisses her cheek. “Of course you do.”

She wiggles to be let down, but I’m not ready to let go yet, so I carry her, even in the awkward pencil-like position her outfit demands of her, and deposit her in the passenger seat this time. I jog around the truck and hop in, driving us back to my house.

As soon as we pull back onto the main road, the rains starts coming down, just as my dad said it would. Cameron tucks her feet under her, leaning over until her elbow is brushing mine on the console as she searches for something to listen to on the satellite radio. Facing the road, I cut a quick side glance her way, noting the little frown of concentration as she skips station after station, trying to find the perfect one to match her mood. She has no clue she’s touching me, but it was the first thing that registered in my mind.

She settles on hip-hop, bouncing all around as she sings along, pointing my way and doing her damnedest to get me to join in.

I’m shit with lyrics, so I help out with the chorus here and there, and just as we’re rolling up to the stop sign before our street, the track changes, and Drake’s “In My Feelings” comes on, and her head snaps my way, her slow grin only growing wider and wider.

“Brady.”

“No.”

“Braaaaa-dyyyyyy,” she says, dragging my name out.

“No, woman, it’s fuckin’ raining!” I laugh, but she’s already cranked the radio up to deafening decibels and is throwing the door open. She squeals and starts running around the back of the car.

“Damn it,” I laugh, throwing my seat belt off and doing the same, dipping my head like it’ll help repel the rain. We high five as we pass the back of the truck and then meet in the middle of the front end. The chorus hits and we sing like lunatics, doing the damn dance she and Ari forced us to learn when this went viral and our parents made us promise not to follow how it’s supposed to go but to dance around a parked car rather than a moving one.

She throws her head back and laughs, her arms coming around me just as I reach out to grip her by the waist.

We’re sopping fucking wet, standing in the middle of the dark street, headlights beaming around us.

Her smile is wide. Addicting. The kind of smile that has the power to make time stop.

And that’s exactly what happens.

The world around me slows, the humor slipping off my face as I stare into her big, baby blues. They hold this mischievous glow, flirting with the idea of teasing me, but unintentionally enough for her to make me wonder if I’m only seeing what I want to see.

She’s clueless about where my mind is, head tipped back and mouth open, catching raindrops on her tongue as throaty giggles bubble their way out of her.

My fingers tighten against her, my feet shuffling forward, and her chin lowers, the smile on her face sending a literal thump through my chest.

I can’t take it anymore.

Don’t fucking want to.

“Brady?”

I let out a long breath, my eyes on hers.

I let her go, taking a step back, gaze traveling over her, dripping wet and drowning in my hoodie.

I clench my eyes closed, and I sense her coming closer. A soft hand finds mine, and my eyes snap open, connecting with hers.

“Fuck it.”

I take her face in my palms and crush my mouth to hers.

And my fucking god, does she respond.

Her mouth opens for me instantly, and my tongue eagerly accepts the offer, sweeping over her silkiness and demanding more. I force my fingers into her hair, driving her back until I’m crushing her against the truck.