Page 109 of Wild About You
“I thought a lot about it. Everly and I didn’t have people we could count on growing up. It isn’t easy for either of us to ask for help or even accept it when it’s freely given. I don’t want to take her away from that.”
A small smile tilts up one side of his mouth. “Admit it, you don’t want to give up the free homework help.”
I laugh. It feels good.
The drinks come and Jack pushes one toward me. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you and damn glad to have you as a friend and teammate. And the house will be waiting for you.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Shut up and drink your drink, Rookie. The house will be waiting for you. You decide you want a different one, then I’ll sell it, but until then, consider it yours in theory.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
He smiles as he tosses back the liquor.
An hour later, we head to the school to watch the Park Academy theater performance.
Piper waves from where she’s saving our seats. I go in first to sit next to her. We get more than a few looks from parents and students as we take up nearly an entire row.
“Hey,” she says with a shy smile on her lips. She hesitates and then leans forward and kisses me. She’s nervous and I don’t know if it’s for Everly or because after this she’ll have no more excuses to avoid talking to me.
I pull her closer and deepen the kiss.
She pulls back as the lights flicker. “It’s just about to start.”
I gotta admit, I don’t spend a lot of time watching what’s happening on stage. I’ve got a diamond ring in my pocket, and the love of my life sitting next to me. I’m a little bit distracted.
Besides, Everly isn’t actually on stage except between scenes where she helps move props and backdrops. I reach over about halfway through and take Piper’s hand, intertwining my fingers through hers. She seems to relax a little more after that.
As far as high school plays go, this one isn’t bad. At the end, when the stage crew finally comes out to take their bows, Piper and I stand and clap for Everly. All the guys join in, yelling and whooping. Making a damn scene, but I love that she has all these people ready to cheer her on.
Everly’s face turns red, and she gives a little eye roll, but she’s smiling.
As the applause dies down, Ash leans over. “Tell me why we came to see a play that our girl wasn’t actually in?”
“Because that’s what family does,” Jack says, eyes still on the stage. “They show up.”
The guys and I head back to the house with Everly in tow. Piper drove separately, and when I tried to get her to leave her car for the night, she gave me some bullshit excuse about needing to do something in her class.
The closer it comes to proposing, the more nervous I am that she isn’t actually afraid that I’m going to break up with her, and instead is about to break up with me. Maybe she wanted to wait until after Everly’s big night.
“I’m so proud of you,” I say to Everly when we get to the house.
She smiles. “I know, I know. Can I go celebrate with my friends now?”
“You’re not going to stay and celebrate with us?” Ash holds a hand to his chest and pretends to be shocked.
“Yeah, of course,” I say. “Do you need a ride?”
She bites her lip. “I was hoping I could take your car.”
Ash barks out a laugh next to me. “And so it begins.”
I hold up keys from my pocket.
“You’re really gonna let me take your car?” Her eyes go big with excitement.
“No way, but I thought you could take your car.”
