Page 117 of A Little Crush
“Probably?” A yawn escapes me. “Why?”
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“Okay?” I repeat. I prop my head on my hand, blown away that the man manages to look even more attractive with unkempt hair and no shirt than when he’s bossing the Lions around on the ice, and that’s saying something.
“Today,” he clarifies, oblivious to being checked out. “I want to take you somewhere today.”
“Okay?” I repeat for what feels like the hundredth time.
“Gonna need you to pack your bag.”
Pack my bag? What is this man talking about? Usually, we travel so much for the Lions that we barely leave his place during any downtime. The idea of him planning an impromptu vacation feels…I don’t know, it feels like there’s a weight to it. A reason, maybe. Or maybe I’m overthinking things.
Sitting up fully, I let the sheets pool around me. “For how long?”
“It’s a short trip. We need to be at the airport in an hour, then we fly home tomorrow night.”
An hour? He wants me to be packed and at the airport inan hour? This man is highly overestimating my abilities right now.
“Don’t panic. You’ll be fine,” he says, as if reading my mind.
“Where are we going?”
“Well,” he brushes my hair behind my ear. “I was thinking about our run-in with my parents at the golf course, and how you said that it’s hard to date and pretend like everything’s normal between us when you’re a terrible liar.”
With a mock gasp, I smack his chest. “I never said?—”
“You did, but it’s okay.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “It’s one of my favorite things about you.”
“That I’m a terrible liar?” I challenge.
“Considering who I was married to, yeah.” His head dips in a subtle nod. “Yeah, Beautiful. It’s one of my favorite things about you.”
I can’t decide if I should be offended or preen like a peacock at his little admission. I never thought of it that way. Being a terrible liar has only ever been a bad thing, but maybe it has its perks after all, like quieting an overthinker’s thoughts. “Well, when you put it that way.” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling like a lovesick lunatic, and he leans in, kissing my forehead. Seriously. What is it with forehead kisses? I’m not sure, but I’m definitely a fan. Basking in his affection, I try to stay on topic and ask, “So, what does my excellent candor have to do with our impromptu trip?”
“Figured it might be nice to go somewhere you don’t have to lie.” He kisses me again. “You should’ve seen your face after we hooked up on the flight. I thought for sure my brother was gonna call us out for it.”
My brows pull. “What are you saying?”
“Wanna show me around Harden Heights?”
My pulse leaps. “You mean…Harden Heights, as intheHarden Heights? Where Tatum and Paxton and?—”
“Dodger?” His nose wrinkles as if he’s tasted something rancid. “You said he already knows you have a thing for me, which is why he offered to fake date you.”
“How did you know he offered?—”
His smile stretches. “Told you I know you.” As if he can’t help himself, he leans in for yet another kiss. “And you already told me Tatum knows about us, too, so what do you say? Will you show me around your college town? Maybe soft launch our relationship? See how it feels?”
Excitement bubbles inside of me as I consider holding his hand and walking down the road. Without fear of being seen or photographed or…anything. Just me and him. In the open. Add in the possibility of hanging out with Tatum and Paxton, and I’m pretty sure I could break out in a happy dance right here, right now.
“Yes,” I announce. “Yes, that sounds like an amazing way to end the week.”
“Perfect.” He kisses me again. “You’d better get dressed and pack, or else we’ll miss our flight.”
He’s right, and sixty minutes to pack and drive to the airport isn’t going to be an easy feat. I’m so blown away by his thoughtful gift, I can’t help but ask, “How long have you been planning this?”
“Since about an hour before you woke up.”
