“I’ve never been happier,” I say truthfully.
He bites his lip and nods, then the hand stops kneading his neck and cups my face, his thumb brushing over the apple of my cheek. “That smile.”
“You like?”
“Uh-huh.” It’s a satisfied grunt of a noise. “Very much. So beautiful.”
My world tilts, and I’m lifting my heels, ready to step forward and kiss him when chaos crashes through the door of Petals & Peaks.
Tessa leads the way, skin golden from all the time outside at the South Hemisphere Cup, and laughing like a maniac. Her feet stop, and like in an old slapstick movie, the other girls bump into her back.
My already wide smile spreads until it feels almost too much.
“You’re home!” I squeal.
“Got in late last night.”
“And you look like that.” I wave a hand towards her. She looks effortlessly beautiful as always.
“Pfff. Jetlag? Never heard of him.” Her attention shifts to the man now at my side. “I’m Tessa, the neighbor and friend.” Her bright blue eyes sweep over him. “And you must be Emmett. I’ve heard a lot about you. ”
He nods his confirmation, taking her extended hand. He shakes it—polite but brief—before shoving his hand in his pocket and putting on the fake smile he tries on for everyone else. “Glad to know I’ve accomplished my lifelong dream of becoming small-town famous,” he drones—monotone in a way that could come off as dick-ish if I didn’t know him as well as I do. “Nice to meet you.”
Tessa tilts her head back, cackling and fluent in grumpy boy. “Don’t let the fame go to your head.”
“While this exchange is everything . . .” I emphasize, faking annoyance. “Can a girl get a hug?” I cap it off with a stomp of my foot.
“Awe, feeling left out?” She shifts from Emmett and turns to me, leaning in to hug me. “I like him,” she whispers, but Emmett’s grunt tells me it wasn’t as discreet as she thought.
Me too, friend. Me too.
“Excellent. He needs more friends.” I don’t even try to keep it between us.
“This was fun,” he says flatly.
“Was it really?” Harlowe teases him.
“Could have been worse.” He shrugs. “But I think I’m going to go grab these sandwiches and let you two catch up.”
“Go,” I say. “And can you grab me gummy worms and trail mix? I’ll meet you in there."
Tessa hooks her arm through mine and drags me onto the bench beside her.
“I’m so glad you’re home.” I sigh.
“FaceTime has nothing on this.” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “We have so much to catch up on.”
Then her eyes narrow knowingly. “So, you’re kind of obsessed with him, huh?”
I cover my face. “God, am I that transparent?”
“Well, for starters, you’re glowing like he’s given you the good dick.”
Heat crawls into my cheeks, but there’s no stopping the smile pulling at my mouth.
Tessa gasps dramatically. “Oh my God. The hotshot ruined you.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Maybe a little.”
