I pull out my phone, sending her a quick text.
Me
Is your brother there?
The three dots appear immediately, and my grin widens.
Angel
No, he’s home with Gracie before dropping her off at Emma’s dad’s.
Angel
Why?
I don’t bother replying. Instead, I grab the bouquet of flowers, step out of my Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and head down the driveway and across the street. I ring Burkley’s doorbell and amimmediately shot with nerves, and when the door opens and I’m greeted by Clay, they skyrocket.
“Coach,” he says, then looks down at the flowers in my hand with a frown. “I take it those are not for me?”
I’m about to answer when Morgan shows up at his side. “Oh, this is too adorable.” She places a hand over her heart and looks over her shoulder. “Aubrey! It’s for you.”
Clay widens the door as they step aside. Seconds later, my beautiful girl comes into view with a confused look on her face. But when she sees me, her eyes light up, and that blush I love makes itself known just as a smile graces her lips.
“Shane,” is all she says as she walks over to me.
She doesn’t ask why I’m here early because she knows. I think my girl missed me just as much as I’ve missed her and has been counting down the minutes until we get to see each other again.
When she’s within reach, all those nerves disappear, and the world vanishes around us. All I want to do is grab her and kiss her, and that’s exactly what I do. With one arm, I pull her in by the waist and dip my head to claim her lips.
She lets out a small gasp, freezing with surprise that I’d kiss her like this in public, in front of all her friends. But then she melts, and her hands come to my chest, pulling me closer as she sighs into my mouth.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait until tonight. I missed you too much, Angel,” I tell her, pulling away and resting my forehead against hers.
“I’m happy you’re here,” she whispers, and I can hear the blissful joy in her voice.
“Oh God, he calls her Angel? I swear, if I weren’t already knocked up, I’d get pregnant just by watching them.” Emma’s voice draws our attention.
Aubrey gasps as she turns a deep red and buries her face in my chest. “I forgot they were there,” she admits with a soft giggle. I’m glad to hear I have the same effect on her as she has on me.
Clay clears his thought, an unreadable expression on his face. He doesn’t look mad, but he also doesn’t look entirely pleased by this situation. “How about we give them some privacy?” he tells everyone who has apparently gathered around while my lips were glued to Aubrey’s.
“There’s no need, I’ll let you all get back to your things. I simply wanted to say hi”—Aubrey looks up from my chest—“and give you these.” I bring the flowers into view.
She takes them from my hand and smells them. “You got me flowers?” she asks as her cheeks warm with pink.
“I know it’s cheesy and doesn’t have much thought put into it. I just really wanted to get you flowers.” I feel my own blush creep in as I cup the back of my nape.
“I love them, thank you.” She holds them closer to her chest, and I take the time to admire her. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun with blonde strands falling out all over, while she wears gray leggings that cling to her legs and a baggy pink sweater that falls off one shoulder.
“You look beautiful,” I say, kissing her cheek when she isn’t expecting it.
She flushes and looks down at her clothes, then touches her head, and her eyes go comically wide. “Oh God, I can’t believe you’re seeing me like this, I look horrible.”
I chuckle and frown. “Didn’t I just say you look beautiful?”
Gabriel laughs behind us. “Welcome to the club. We tell them one thing, and they hear something completely different.”
His fiancée smacks him in the chest. “No, we don’t. We just know when you guys are lying.”
