Page 69 of Because I Liked A Boy
“Don’t you dare cry,” she said softly, dabbing under my eyes. “Not when I just fixed that makeup.”
I laughed, shaky but real.
“I should warn you,” I added after a moment. “Theo’s driving tonight. I didn’t want you night stand.”
Her mouth tightened, but she nodded. “I’ll be gone before then. I’m not ready for him.”
“I get it.”
Ruby straightened, sharp again. “So focus on you. Tonight’s yours. And Hunter Hayes? He’s already halfway gone.”
Emotion hit me hard, sharp in my chest. “Thank you. For everything.”
She squeezed my hand once before letting go. “Shoes. Heels. And for the love of God, no cardigans.”
By the time she left, perfume lingered in the air, the dress clung warm to my skin, and the clock was ticking closer to eight.
Less than an hour, and Hunter Hayes would be at my door.
I’d checked the clock three times in the last minute. 7:58 p.m. Two minutes.
My stomach was a riot, nerves and adrenaline tangling until I couldn’t tell the difference between excitement and dread. Ruby had left me glowing and polished like a doll, but now that I was alone the doubt crept back in. The dress suddenly felt too tight, the gloss on my lips too much.
I caught sight of myself in the mirror and groaned. “What are you doing, Isabella?”
The reflection staring back didn’t look like me. It looked like someone braver, someone who didn’t second-guess every choice. But that was the thing this time, it was my choice. Not my father’s. Not anyone else’s. Mine.
And that terrified me almost as much as it thrilled me.
A knock at the door cut through the silence. Three sharp raps, steady.
I froze.
He was here.
The handle was cold beneath my palm as I opened the door. And there he was.
Hunter Hayes. Not in overalls, not grease-streaked from the garage. Tonight he was something else entirely.
Tight black jeans clung indecently to his thighs. A fitted dark-green shirt stretched across his chest, sleeves rolled just enough to bare the tattoos inked over his forearms. Polished boots instead of steel-toes. His damp hair was pushed back but still messy, like he’d dragged his hands through it one too many times.
And God, the way he looked at me like he wanted to tear this dress off me right there in the doorway.
“Jesus Christ, princess,” he muttered, a slow grin curling across his mouth. His green eyes dragged down me, deliberate and hungry, then back up. “You’re trying to kill me before we even get out the door.”
Heat burned up my neck, but I lifted my chin. “You’re not looking so bad yourself.”
He chuckled low, leaning one hand against the frame, pulling me into his space. “Not bad? I put on my best shirt for you, and all I get is not bad?” His gaze dipped to the lace across my chest, his smirk darkening. “Good thing I don’t mind working for my compliments.”
My pulse skittered. He was eye-fucking me, plain and simple, and we both knew it.
“You ready, princess?” His voice dropped, wrecked. “Because if you’re not, I’ll happily cancel tonight and just keep you here.”
The look in his eyes left no doubt what keep meant.
He didn’t give me time to answer. Just smirked, pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, and slid an arm around my waist as he led me down the steps.
Theo’s car idled at the curb, headlights bright against the dark street. He sat behind the wheel, posture stiff, face unreadable in the glow of the dash.
