Page 56 of The Silent Count
“I think you’re forgetting the part where I already came to Friday night dinner once. It was a couple of weeks back. I wore the white button-down shirt you like, and you were in that short black dress I couldn’t take my eyes off.” Fortune twists around and cups my face with both his hands. “I liked that dress.” He presses his lips to mine and I melt like putty in his hands. “I enjoyed taking it off you even more, though.”
There hasn’t been a Friday night dinner since the last one. With the tension high during the last few games of the season, adding one more event to everyone’s plate was daunting. When Mae offered the idea for us to hit pause, and only have them during the off season instead, there wasn’t a single hesitation.
I haven’t been able to sit still all afternoon. This will be our first time going anywhere as an official couple—one that’s officially been vetted by HR and is publicly allowed to date. Granted, we’re only going to our friend’s house, but it seems like a moment worth celebrating, regardless.
“You think you’re sooo funny, huh?” I swat a hand playfully at his chest, which earns me a slap on the ass, followed by a kiss that makes my knees weak. “I’m being serious. This time, it’s different. You’re officially becoming a part of the group, as opposed to being a guest last time.”
“Should I be concerned about initiation rituals? Hazing? Mocking?” He’s so unserious, smirking against my lips as he glides his hands over my ass cheeks. “I want to be prepared. Make sure I know what I’m getting myself into.”
“The only thing you have to worry about is Mae and October’s shameless flirting at the dinner table. Fair warning, sometimes their idea of flirting involves biting each other’s heads off. I swear, it’s some weird version of foreplay for the two of them.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
I rise onto my tiptoes and plant a swift peck on the corner of his lips. “I’m excited you’re coming. Now I won’t have to sit there pounding down glasses of wine to cope with the jealousy of watching my best friends being in love.”
Fortune leans in and claims my mouth as his, only this time it isn’t a playful kiss like the others. This one holds heat. And lots of it. He molds his body against mine as he deepens our kiss. I’m not surprised when he takes a step forward and slowly starts walking me back into my bedroom.
I need to pad in some extra time to my getting ready routine or the two of us are going to be late everywhere. How we made it to work on time the last few weeks of the season is still a mystery.
The backs of my knees hit the edge of the bed and I tumble backward, bringing Fortune with me.
Being with him is easy. When I give, he takes. I never expected that our relationship would have panned out the way it had, yet I couldn’t be more glad with the outcome.
My dad didn’t take it easy on Fortune during practices for the rest of the season, but I caught the two of them chalking it up in the hallways a handful of times. There was no shortage of conversation late in the afternoons when the two of them came to sit in my office. Talking about everything and nothing to bide time until the day ends for Dad and me. If anything, I’m surprised at how little I’m involved in their discussions. I find it endearing that Fortune has opened up more and broken out of that quiet, reserved shell he lived in for so long. My friends love him, my dad is learning to love him, and having him become an official Friday night dinner attendee feels like the last puzzle piece is being put into place.
“How mad will Scarlett be if we’re late?” He tries breaking apart from me, but I pull him back down and seal our mouths together. Electricity sparks across my skin as his hands skate up my sides until they’re cupping my breasts. My core clenches as he urges our kiss deeper, and I’m fully lost in the moment.
“I’m sure she’ll get over it.”
It’s not like she really has a choice. The overwhelming need to have Fortune inside me burns hot, erasing any reason I should deny myself of the pleasure he’s going to give me.
“Good.” He smiles against my lips, and I can’t help but to follow suit, letting a playful grin crawl over my mouth. “Take off your panties. I’m starving.”
* * *
“The two ofyou were fucking, weren’t you?” Mae shouts the moment Fortune opens the back door for me, and I take the first step into Scarlett and Abel’s backyard.
“Oh, my god,” I mumble to myself.
It’s typical Mae fashion to throw out a goading comment, so I should’ve known she’d call me out for something like this.
When I glance up at Fortune, he’s already looking down at me. His mouth quirks with humor as he wipes a hand down his face. My mouth drops open at his betraying facial expression giving us away. So much for my idea to stop by the liquor store really quick and grab some drinks to cover for us being late. No amount of wine is going to help soften the blow of everyone finding out the real reason we weren’t on time. Sure, there’s a chance we could’ve been on time had Fortune not talked me into going for a second round, but that was a secret I was hoping to keep to myself.
“Don’t act like you and Toby boy weren’t doing the same thing a few weeks back. If I remember correctly, the two of you were all but dry humping at dinner after too,” I snark. Mae tips her glass at me with a wink that all but saystouché. “We did, however, bring gifts as an apology for being late.” I hold up the two bottles of red wine that are in my hands and eyes light up around the table.
Fortune pulls out my seat for me before settling into his, and then we let the food and good conversation flow around the table for hours. The night air is crisp, and getting colder as the hours pass. Every time a chill runs down my spine, Fortune snakes his hand around my waist or places his arm over my shoulders to pull me in closer to give me warmth.
I never thought I’d be the one to experience comfort by simply being in another person’s presence. A few months ago, I convinced myself that I’d be lonely at these Friday night dinners for years to come. Having to watch from the sidelines as my friends fell in love and moved in with their significant others. Now I’m sitting here with a swarm of butterflies erupting in my chest because my best friend, my longtime pen pal, has become a permanent fixture in my life.
Isn’t it funny how life has a way of throwing you a curveball whenever you least expect it?
“Thanks for coming,” I whisper to Fortune.
Those piercing green eyes of his find mine, and my heart skips a beat. It’s easy to get lost in the way he looks at me. Even more so when he pulls my chair closer and wraps a hand around my waist, then tugs me against his side in one swift motion. My skin lights up whenever I lean into him, and a shiver rolls down my spine.
Fortune nuzzles his head into my neck after peppering kisses over my shoulder. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
My heart clinches, and everything about this moment feels right. I drift my gaze across the table to my two best friends, watching them in their own little worlds as they talk with their boyfriends.
