Page 33 of A Little Crush
If I had feminine wiles, I wouldn’t be a virgin. I wouldn’t be a crazy dog lady. And I sure as hell wouldn’t be hung up on my childhood crush even after all these years. But instead of arguing with him, knowing it’ll get me nowhere, I tear my attention from the top button on Dodger’s dress shirt and let him lead me across the dance floor.
He’s a good dancer. Confident. Sexy.
“Speaking of wiles,” I murmur. “You never told me your reason for leaving Lockwood Heights.”
His brow quirks. “Didn’t I?”
“Nope.”
“Then it looks like I wanna keep it that way,” he quips, spinning me around once more.
I could fight him. I could pick. But I won’t. Besides, we all have our secrets. Or at least most of us do. And if someone’s lucky enough to keep theirs hidden from the world, who am I to reveal it out of jealousy?
Swaying to the slow, seductive beat, I peek at Jax, finding his gaze on me as he cradles a sleeping Poppy to his chest.
And it’s strange. How a simple look has the power to knock me on my ass, and if Dodger’s arms weren’t wrapped around me, I might very well end up on the floor.
“Yeah, he’s definitely jealous,” Dodger muses.
My attention snaps back to my dance partner. “And I think you’re too buzzed to make such an assumption.”
“Never too buzzed to make an assumption. Especially a bad one.” He winks. “But I’m not that buzzed, Rore, and this isn’t a bad assumption. Even drunk Dodger can see the way he looks at you.” His smirk widens. “Like he wants a taste.”
“But only subconsciously.”
“Don’t knock our masculine urges, Rore. They’re a powerful beast.”
“And so is the alcohol coursing through your system,” I argue.
Bending closer, he brushes his lips against the shell of my ear. “And so is the want coursing through your boy’s over there.”
I lean away from him, giving him the side-eye. “Careful, or you’ll make our parents believe you’re actually interested in me.”
“Isn’t that the point?” he asks. “I’m your plus-one and fake boyfriend until you decide to pull the plug on this.”
The reminder doesn’t exactly leave me with any warm fuzzies. I’m not a liar. Not usually. The thought alone is nearly enough to cause me to break out in hives—add it to the list-—but the thought of Jaxon assuming I’ve never moved past him, even if it is true, is enough to make my cheeks rival the color of a damn lobster.
But so is the possibility that Dodger’s assumptions aren’t completely off-base, and I don’t know how I feel about it.
13
RORY
With a clink of her glass, Tatum stands tall at the table closest to the bar, waiting for everyone to quiet down. After a few seconds, everyone catches on and settles into their seats. “I’ve been instructed it’s my job to start the toasts,” she announces. “Ophelia,” she turns to her sister, “You look hot as hell.” Everyone laughs. “Maverick, you look pretty good, too.” Another rumble of amusement echoes throughout the room. “As I was writing my speech or whatever, I thought about how many different directions I could take this toast. I could tell an embarrassing story, like the time Lia bled through her swimsuit when we were kids, and I called her sharkbait for the rest of the summer.” I cover my mouth to keep from laughing. “Or I could go the sentimental route, and talk about how we’ve always had our struggles, but Lia's way too stubborn to give up on the people she cares about.” She points at Mav. “Although, don’t think I won’t neuter you if you decide you have a free pass to treat my sister like shit.” Her mouth lifts in a smirk. “But what I really think is the most important thing to tell all of you is that it was always Mav and Ophelia.Always.” A soft smile replaces her snarky one as she holds her flute of champagne to her chest. “And honestly, I think that’s the most beautiful thing of all. Through thick and thin, it’s always Mav and Lia, and I couldn’t be happier for both of you to continue this life together. For better or worse. In sickness and in health.” A slight quiver graces her bottom lip before she sucks it into her mouth. “You two are stuck together, and I think I can speak for most of the people in this room when I say, we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Raising her glass a few more inches into the air, she says, “To Ophelia and Mav.”
“To Ophelia and Mav!” everyone repeats, each of us taking a sip of our drinks as Reeves clamors to his feet.
After clearing his throat, the crowd quiets and Reeves dives right in. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to follow such an epic toast, but I’ll do my best.” He tugs at the collar on his dress-shirt. “Maverick is my best friend. Has been since we were at LAU. I still remember seeing the way he looked at you, Lia, and I couldn’t help but poke the bear.” My brother chuckles at his table. “Now, the story I’m about to tell happened before I ever met my Pickles, but, uh, I still remember the summer Ophelia moved in next door. We were at a fundraiser, and the bride was manning the kissing booth to help raise some money for the women’s hockey team. Not gonna lie. I was a little bored and had a thing for getting under my buddy’s skin, and what better way to get under his skin than to pay for a ticket and get in line to have his girl give me a kiss.” His smirk widens. “I’ve never seen Mav move so fast as when I stood in front of Lia, waiting for the kiss I’d paid for.”
The crowd laughs again, and I join in, imagining exactly how pissed Mav must’ve been. To see the love of his life lean in to kiss his best friend until he had no choice but to intervene.
Shifting closer, Ophelia kisses Maverick’s cheek. He grins back at her with nothing but love and adoration in his navy blue eyes. It’s so beautiful and sweet I can’t help but feel a little jealous.
I’ve never had someone look at me like that. Like I’m their world. Their everything. My gaze drifts to Jaxon, and my heart pangs. I wonder if he’s happy. If he misses his wife. If he mourned the life he was supposed to have with her the same way I would if I was in his shoes.
“So, here’s to many more kisses and glimpses of the overprotective Maverick we all know and love. You two have always been endgame, and we’re glad you finally got your shit together and made it official.” He smirks. “To Opie and Maverick!”
Lia calls out, “Only my husband is allowed to call me Opie!”
