I climb out of Lily’s car with a groan. “Why do you have to own such a small car?”
She runs her hand over the yellow paint lovingly. “Because she’s cute.”
It’s such a Lily response, I just shake my head.
“Careful, Jude, you’re almost smiling.”
I look down at her as she threads her hand in mine. She’s been a lot more relaxed with giving and receiving affection with me. It hit me yesterday that I had expected her to be far more bold and forward based on what I’d heard from my brothers about her being a massive flirt when it comes to men. But she’s been the opposite with me. It makes me wonder who her true self is. The quieter version I’m seeing, or the bold, flirtatious version. Either way, she’s loosened up lately. And my traitor of a dick notices every time she initiates touching me.
“One of these days, I’ll show you a smile, and you’ll run in fear.”
Lily comes to a stop. “Don’t tease.”
I tug on her hand to keep us moving. “C’mon. Let’s find everyone else.”
The ceremony is thankfully short since it’s only the nursing program graduating today. I’m extra grateful for this, since the rows of seating don’t allow me to extend my knee very far, and the ache that is my constant companion is growing worse.
I can tell Lily notices me shifting around, trying to get comfortable, but when she gives me a questioning glance, I answer with a shake of my head. There’s nothing I can do, and I don’t want my family feeling bad for me. Today is about Kat.
After the ceremony, Mom and Dad insist on taking us all out for dinner. On the drive over, Lily wordlessly hands me a bottle of anti-inflammatories from her purse, and I swallow two.
“Thanks.”
“Just tell me you’ll let me know if it gets to be too much.”
I make a noncommittal sound, but thankfully, she doesn’t push. The medicine does its job and we enjoy dinner. Then Hunter and Kat tell everyone to meet back at Hastings for another drink. My sister’s tipsy, and I don’t blame her for wanting to celebrate. But it’s the last damn thing I want to do. Max, Heidi, Leo, and Serena all bow out, but the twins agree.
And when Lily turns to me with her big beautiful smile, I know I’ll suffer through an hour or two at the bar if it keeps her happy.
The bar is packed, which makes sense for a Saturday night. For a while, there’s nowhere to sit and I’m forced to stand.
“I’m sorry. We can go,” Lily says for the second time, her hands wringing in front of her. “You’re already in pain and now this.”
“Lily, it’s fine. I’ll get Dean to find me a chair if I have to.”Like hell I will.The only thing worse than being injured is the looks of pity I get sometimes.
“Let’s dance!” Kat cries out, grabbing Lily’s hands. With one final worried glance over her shoulder at me, Lily lets herself be dragged out onto the dance floor. I watch the two of them — well, Lily, mostly. I can tell the second she lets go and loses herself in the music. Her body starts to sway and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Mostly because I can tell she isn’t even trying to be seductive. She’s just Lily.
“Goddamn.” Hunter whistles, passing me a beer. His eyes are glued on Kat the way they should be, but I can’t resist a dig.
“Careful, Callaghan, that’s my baby sister you’re drooling over.”
He just turns to me with a big dopey smile. “Yeah.”
“Guys, a table just opened up.”
I turn at Beckett’s words, grateful as fuck to follow him over to where Sawyer’s already setting out glasses and a pitcher. I sit down, stifling my groan of discomfort. Instead of joining Hunter and the twins’ conversation, I find myself searching out Lily again. She and Kat are still dancing, and she’s still stirring up all kinds of needs and wants in me.
The song ends and the girls make their way over to us. Kat sinks down in Hunter’s lap, since there’s only four chairs. Even though she’ll feel the result of me watching her dance, I pat my good leg and pull Lily down to sit.
She does so gingerly until I wrap my arms around her middle and tug her more firmly onto me. The second her ass brushes my dick, she gasps, her hair brushing across my face as she whips her head around.
“I can’t help what you do to me,” I whisper. “But if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll find another chair for you.”
Her mouth falls open ever so slightly as she slowly shakes her head. Our gazes are locked on each other and the rest of the bar fades away. I lift my beer and take a sip before inclining the glass in her direction. She takes it and drinks, and I swear I feel my dick leak in my pants just from her lips landing where mine had just been.
Something clicks inside my head at that moment. Someday, I may look back and wonder why the simple act of sharing a drink tipped me over the edge, but right now, I don’t give a fuck. All I know is I need to have her. All of her.
She brings out a long-buried want in me. A want for a life here in Dogwood Cove, surrounded by my family and friends. A life where there’s more than just hockey consuming my mind and body.
