Page 86 of In Your Wildest Dreams
Some of her earlier hesitation seems to be gone. Thank fuck.
And I’m feeling more at ease than I have in weeks. I played my ass off the past few games. The team is still struggling a little, but we’ve found ways to win.
“It’s almost time,” Scarlett says as Declan wins another hand of rummy.
Leo checks the time. “She’s right. Five minutes. We should head in.”
“Why are we heading in?” Bridget asks me as the others stand.
“Jack makes a big toast right before the new year. It’s a whole thing. The man loves being the center of attention.”
I get both Bridget and me a fresh drink and then find a wall to lean against as Jack takes his spot in the middle of the living room. Kennedy and Meredith are nearby. Somehow, we’ve managed not to bump into them all night. Maybe they just got here. I haven’t been looking anywhere but at the girl next to me.
“Hey, Ash.” Meredith waves and she and Kennedy come closer. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too.” I nod to Kennedy. “Hey. How’ve you been?”
“Pretty good.” She steps forward and hugs me. “I was hoping I’d run into you tonight.”
Bridget stiffens beside me and tries to take a step away. I take her hand as Kennedy pulls back.
“Have you met Bridget?” I ask her. “Bridget, this is Kennedy and Meredith.”
Kennedy’s gaze finally slides to the woman next to me and understanding dawns.
“Hi,” she and Meredith both say politely, then Kennedy glances at me with a somewhat disappointed smile.
“Hi.” Bridget’s smile is small as she replies. She looks like she might be thinking about running off.
“Good to see you both,” I say, pulling Bridget with me away from them.
I don’t stop until we’re out of earshot. Bridget turns to face me with an amused smirk. “She’s pretty.”
“Probably.”
“Probably?”
“Yeah. I was too busy checking you out to notice.”
“Oh my god. That was bad even for you.”
“Even for me?”
“The things that come out of your mouth remind me of the boys in junior high.”
“Worked then and works now.”
“You wish.” She laughs again.
I tug her to me and drop my mouth over hers. It might not be midnight yet, but I’m too impatient to wait.
She giggles but melts into me, hooking her arms around my neck. When she pulls back, she glances around like she’s checking to see if anyone is watching us.
“Come on.” Holding her hand in mine, I weave to the back of the room where we’re less likely to be spotted.
“I want to thank everyone for coming tonight,” Jack says.
I wrap my arms around Bridget’s waist and pull her back against me as I listen to my buddy give his annual toast. He does what any good man and team captain would do—he lets the people in his life know he appreciates them, shares a few favorite memories from the last year, and fills us with hope for everything that’s coming in the next.
