Page 23 of You're The One
“So, what am I supposed to do at the ceremony tonight?”
I lift my chin. “I guess you’ll have to make your decision without knowing whether I’m going to help you or not.”
He studies me for a second, like he’s trying to figure out if I’m bluffing.
“You’re really gonna leave me hanging?”
“Pretty sure that’s what you signed up for.” I nod toward the door. “Drama. Uncertainty. Emotional chaos. All the good stuff.”
The real question is, do I want to stick around for it?
I came here looking for an escape, but I didn’t realize the price might be higher than the reward. Then again, throwing Dominic off his game? Worth the trip out here, whether I’m leaving tonight or not.
He lets out a low laugh. “You’re trouble, you know that?”
“Only when necessary.”
He shakes his head. Then we hear footsteps. Dominic brings a finger to his lips in a barely audible “shh.”
Two sets of footsteps pause outside the door.
Bodhi’s voice comes through, muffled. “Hey, Summer, have you seen Dominic? The ceremony’s about to start.”
“Nope, but I’m heading that way now. I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks. Maybe I missed him outside. Let me come with you. Did I mention how beautiful you look tonight…”
Summer’s laugh carries. “You’re way too much, my friend,” she echoes what I’m thinking. I’ve known Bodhi less than a week, and I’ve already pegged him as a shameless flirt. I wonder if he’s ever auditioned to be the one in Dominic’s shoes? He’d fit the part.
Their voices fade as the footsteps retreat.
“Let’s get out of here.” I pull open the door, and this time, Dominic lets me. Light spills in, momentarily blinding me. “I’ll see you out there.”
I’m already halfway down the hall when Dominic calls after me, “But are you gonna say yes, if I give you aflowertonight?”
I glance over my shoulder, meeting his eyes. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?”
He chuckles and mutters something that sounds a lot like “brat.”
NINE
I’ve offeredroses to twelve of the eighteen women staying, purposefully skipping Mia’s name.She picks at her dress, standing on the second row of the platform between Summer and Emma. Both already have roses in hand.
If she wants to play games, so can I.
Mia shouldn’t stand out among the others in their more elaborate and colorful dresses, but somehow, she does. She’s in a black dress that defies gravity… We already know my thoughts on the back, but the front dips nearly as low. With her modest chest, it’s sexy but not over the top?—
Why the hell am I checking her out again? Fuck.
My gaze darts to her face, and what started as disinterest, then transformed into annoyance, now holds hints of uncertainty.
I’ve made her sweat enough.Lucky number #13.My jersey number.
“Mia,” I call.
She steps down, careful to lift the hem of her floor-length gown so she doesn’t trip. The other women part for her as she makes her way toward me, hands clasped in front of her.
I clear my throat. “Mia, will you be one of my eighteen? Will you continue this journey with me?”
