Page 108 of That Moment
“You ever think about why we never tried it before?” he asks without looking up.
“Dinner?” I bump his shoulder.
“This.” He finally meets my eyes. “You and me.”
“All the time,” I admit. “I think we were cowards. Or stubborn. Or both.”
He shakes his head, mouth slanting. “I always figured you were too good for me. Still do actually”
I let out a sigh. “Scotty.”
“I’m not fishing,” he says. “Just look at you. The degrees, the company, the… everything. And me? I barely graduated high school, and I don’t even own my own garage; I’m just the head mechanic.”
I shift my bucket closer until our knees fully brush. “I’m not going to give you the big, you’re more than your job or your bank account speech, I don’t think there’s a point. I know you know those things, but just so you can hear it, from me, none of that shit matters, Scotty. I can give you a list of men’s names that have all those things I have and more and they aren’t half the man you are.”
His eyes go a little wide in shock, and it makes me smile. “Um, damn.”
“Wow, I made Scotty speechless.”
“Seriously, thank you. You’re an amazing woman.” His hand cups my face. “I’ve always been enamored by you and intimidated by you at the same time, and I won’t lie, it’s fucking terrifying.”
“Good,” I smile at him, reaching up to mirror his hand on my face. I lean in, kissing him gently before biting his bottom lip, “I like you a little bit scared of me.” Then, I sit back and smile sweetly before reaching for the plates. “On that note, I should head out so you can finish up and go home.”
“Thank you for dinner,” he says, voice rough. “And for coming. It was an amazing surprise.”
“You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed my company and the food.”
“Actually,” he says as I’m reaching for the plates, “why not just follow me home? We can at least have the night together. Unless you have an early morning again, I don’t mean to?—
“Yes, I’d love that,” I say, suddenly feeling giddy and nervous. He smiles back at me, the same energy radiating from him.
“Good. I’ll be ready to leave here in like ten minutes.”
I help him double-check that everything is locked up and where it should be before we walk out to our cars.
“By the way, are we going to Tyler and Amelia's party thing tomorrow night?”
“We?” I look over at him, expecting him to correct himself or tell me not to read into it, but he just repeats himself.
“Yes, we, as in you and I.”
“Oh, didn’t realize we were going places together as a we…I thought this was still a hush-hush thing.”
He rolls his eyes and grabs my hoodie, tugging me closer. “Yeah, we’re a fucking we. I have to go somewhere first, run an errand, so I’ll be there later, but you’re going to the party as the other part of us. Got it?”
“Got it.” I smile against his lips as he kisses me, swatting my ass before we separate, and I follow him home.
Chapter 20
Scotty
Ipull into Tyler and Amelia’s long drive just as the sun starts to drop behind the hills. Music drifts out from the backyard, accompanied by laughter. It’s the sounds of the easy chaos of a Slade party. Half the damn town must be here.
I kill the engine and sit there for a second, thumb brushing over the smooth silver chain sitting heavy in my pocket. The locket’s clean and fixed, the clasp repaired, polished so it catches the light. Nate Palmer handed it to me this afternoon, letting me know it’s better than new.
I climb out of the truck, grab a beer from the cooler by the porch, and scan the crowd, looking for Adrienne. She’s standing near the outdoor kitchen, the last remaining rays of sunlight catching the gold in her hair.
I’m staring, but I don’t give a shit. She looks damn adorable in that denim skirt, boots, and a white tank that dips low enough to make me lose my train of thought. Feels good just to look. Feels better knowing she’s mine, even if no one else knows it yet.
