Page 96 of Wild Love
I’m staringdown at the text my dad sent an hour ago, trying to figure out how the fuck to feel about him showing up tonight for the gala. On the one hand, he paid the ridiculous plate fee and supported the cause, which, tonight, is underprivileged youth. Still, it doesn’t escape me that his travel plans include rolling in an hour before the gala and leaving first thing tomorrow morning.
Distracted and annoyed, I’ve nearly forgotten that I’ve been dying to see which dress Dakota picked out for tonight until she steps out into the living room. The fucking world stops. At least my heart does.
Her red hair is curled, and her makeup is heavier than normal. Bright red lipstick that I’m definitely hoping to have all over me tonight coats her lips and contrasts with the black dress.
“I was hoping you’d pick this one,” I say, walking slowly toward her.
“You were?” She runs a hand along the fluffy skirt. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever worn before.”
“It has the same straps as that little black dress you wore to the Frozen Four party.”
She smiles. “I wondered if that’s why you chose this one.”
“You’d have looked killer in anything.”
“What about you?” She rests a hand on the lapel of my maroon jacket. “This suit is… well, it’s something. You clean up nice.”
“Don’t worry, baby. Still the same dirty boy underneath. Respectable on the outside, little less so on the inside.”
“I like you the same either way,” she says, and it means more than she could know. I never feel like I have to be anything but myself around her. Sure, she might roll her eyes or whatever, but the next second she’s smiling and staying despite whatever dumb shit I said or did.
“Should we go?”
“In a minute.” I take her hand and force her to do a spin for me. “Damn. I feel like the luckiest guy alive showing up with you and getting to come home with you. Maybe even sneaking into a closet somewhere during dinner.” I bring her body against mine and let my hands wander.
“Three feet of distance,” she warns. That’s her new rule any time we’re at the arena together or out with friends. We can be close, like friends, but not so close we can touch. I may have been the one that needed that rule. I can’t help it. When she’s standing next to me, I want to touch her.
“Maybe we should just walk in hand in hand and march right up to Blythe and tell her we’re together.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Her blue eyes widen, and she studies my face to gauge my seriousness.
I shrug a shoulder. “Summer is almost over, and you said they were cool about the whole Jack thing.”
“Because I swore I wasn’t dating him.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Johnny, I get it. I would love to be able to hold your hand all night, but we cannot tell them. Two more weeks. That’s all I have left.” I don’t know if she means with the job or me.
“Okay. If that’s what you want, but the second we get home tonight.” I wrap one of her red curls around my finger. “You’re all mine.”
* * *
Maverick: Sorry, boys, I snagged the hottest date.
Payne: Looking sharp, buddy.
Scott: Thumbs up emoji.
Rauthruss: You’re definitely dating up.
Maverick: Oh, like you’re one to talk, Rauthruss.
Rauthruss: Noted. Don’t care.
Rauthruss: Also, we’re coming up next weekend before Dakota heads back. Dinner? Somewhere nice.
Maverick: Sounds good. I know a place. Send me your travel deets. You can stay at my place and crash in my room. I’ll bunk up with Kota for a night or two. It’s arealinconvenience. ??
