Page 44 of Cross Check Christmas
"I didn't—" He stops, exhaling sharply. "Look, I genuinely thought you knew Gran and Aunt Goldie sent that text. They're always pulling stuff like this."
"Then why did you go along with it?"
"Because—" He stops, frustrated. "I don't know. I wanted to spend time with you. And maybe because for once you weren't glaring at me like I'd kicked your puppy?"
"Oh please." I cross my arms.
“Contrary to what you might think, I'm not actually trying to make your life miserable." His voice softens. "I was worried sick! I texted Emily at midnight to make sure you were okay.”
"Wait, you have Emily's number?" I scold myself for this jealous feeling that pops up.
"She's married to my teammate." He raises an eyebrow. "We occasionally communicate."
I blink. “Yeah. I knew that.”
“Do you know what it's like, wondering if something happened to you? If you got home okay after running out of there like that? And before you ask – yes, I drove all the way back to Brookking just to clear this up."
I feel my cheeks flush. "Well, how did you even get back here? Your truck's still in the driveway."
He smirks, pulling out a set of keys. "You do realize I own more than one vehicle, right? I drove my Mercedes back."
"Of course you did." I roll my eyes. "Because one overpriced car isn't enough."
“Well, if you decide to abandon me again, I’ll have to take an Uber to track you down.”
"You're just mad I ruined your little scheme."
"What scheme? Finally getting to go out with my high school crush?" Hoping for, I dunno, maybe a kiss at the end of the night?”
I gape at him incredulously. “High school crush?”
He steps closer, and I catch a whiff of his cologne mixed with winter air. "You know what? Fine. You want to talk about schemes? Let's talk about that dance."
My stomach drops. "Don't."
"Senior year… You wore that blue dress," he says, his eyes distant with memory. "The one with the sparkly things on the shoulders."
"Sequins." I correct automatically, then mentally kick myself. "And it doesn't matter."
"You were standing by the punch bowl, talking to Sarah Miller about Mr. Darcy or whatever." His lips quirk up. "—when I finally worked up the nerve to ask you to dance."
"I only said yes because I was too shocked to say no." I wrap my arms around myself. But even as I say it, I remember how my heart had stuttered when he'd held out his hand.
"It took me three songs to build up the courage." His eyes lock with mine. "And when you finally took my hand... You fit perfectly in my arms. Best three minutes of my life. Gawd, Colette, I was terrified I'd step on your feet or do something stupid."
"Like kiss me?"
"That kiss wasn't stupid." He steps closer. "It was perfect. Until you kneed me and ran away."
Heat floods my face. "Because it was obviously a joke! The whole school saw you and Tucker high-fiving afterward."
"What? No—that was because I finally kissed you! I'd been wanting to do that all year."
"Right." I scoff. "That's why you spent the rest of senior year mocking me, calling me Professor?—"
"I was trying to get your attention!"
"Well, you got it. Happy now?" My voice cracks. "And now you?—"
