Page 70 of Fall Over You

“You’re gorgeous, Reba. You’re always gorgeous.”

Then I plant a kiss under her ear.

Goosebumps dot her skin where I still hold her shoulder in one hand and I wish I could pull her somewhere we could be alone. I want to test which kisses make her shiver, make her sigh, make her get all hot and bothered and needy for me.

If she could be needy for me. Who knows how much she’s putting on a show now?

“Easy, this is a family establishment,” Ronnie says as they come to a stop next to us.

Becca giggles and curls tighter into me. “Isn’t he something?”

“So, wait, how long has this been going on?” Dustin says. “It’s incredible, but it almost feels like a prank. How’d you two keep it quiet?” He ruffles Becca’s hair. “Her, of all people.”

Becca sticks her tongue out at him but he tugs her into a hug. “Happy for you, sissy.”

“Thanks,” she says.

Dusty goes for me next, wrapping me in a tight bear hug.

“I’d tell you to be good to her, but I know you will,” he says while we hug.

He grips my biceps while he holds me back and my smile is real but my heart hurts.

All I want is to be good to her.

“I’ll do my best.”

He points in my face and a camera flashes while his mom takes a picture. “You will. I’m counting on you.”

“Let’s see this thing,” Ronnie says, pulling at Becca’s left hand. My breath suspends. Is everyone going to know it’s fake? “Oh, wow, Ty. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Didn’t he do good?” Becca preens. “Come on, let’s go show off to everybody else.”

Inside, we’re subject to several toasts and congratulations, and it’s clear how loved Becca is. I feel a pang of jealousy. The only friendship I’ve maintained in the last few years is with Dusty, and he’s especially forgiving of my random disappearances and refusal to go out. My dad shows up and begs the question everyone keeps murmuring.

“When did this start? Last I checked, you were being rude to her at the garage.”

I’ve been standing behind or beside Becca with an arm wrapped around her waist all this time, and she leans out. “You know giving shit is a love language from Tyler, Mr. Davis.”

Miss Kristen has materialized from somewhere, and for once, I’m grateful. “I knew when she came to school dropoff wearing his shirt that something was going on,” she says with a hint of mischief. “But Ellie didn’t know Becca when we went for the field trip.”

We’re trying to prove us as a couple. Couples sleep together. Hinting about sex helps sell the story. I fight a blush.

“She usually came over after Ellie went to bed,” I say. “We didn’t want Ellie to know until we were sure.”

A mix of “aww” and “oooh!” comes from our gathered court. Heat prickles my neck and I fight the urge to pull at my collar.

Of course I want sexy things with Becca, but it’s been so long, I’m afraid all the systems have gone haywire. After I kissed her a few nights ago, I had to race to my room to drop my pants. Her light grinding and the sheer fact that I was kissing her was enough to have me blowing my load, almost in my pants. If I get worked up like that here, I could be in for some very embarrassing trouble—and trouble that would make sense to no one else. If I’m marrying Becca, you could safely assume we’re going at it fairly regularly, and thus I’d be able to handle myself and not boner out at every stiff breeze.

I look around for Jake and Darcy, wanting some break from this intense grilling session, but they’ve been missing for a minute. They weren’t really participating in the discussion anyway, just sipping Coke and whispering to each other. Becca slips out of my grip with a “be right back.”

Great. I’m stuck. She beat me to the punch on bailing on this conversation.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” comes a dry voice behind me. I turn to find Becca’s ex, Stone, summoning me from behind the bar.

Not sure this conversation is going to be much better, but here we go.

“Good luck with that,” he says while he polishes a glass with a bar towel.