Page 62 of Risky Play

She waved me off and went back to the counter where she and Noah were preparing dinner. “I barely use it. Go for it. Have fun.”

“Yeah, man, take D’s car. We have mine. And remember, we have morning skate tomorrow,” Noah said.

“Okay, thanks.”

“Use protection!” Dinah called after me as I walked out the door. I heard Noah chastise her, but I shook my head. I was used to her ridiculousness by now.

I went into the garage and got into her car. Before driving off, I shot a text to Maddie.

ME: D lent me her car, so I’m picking you up.

SWEET PEA: Okay! See you soon.

I drove over to Franklin and somehow found a free spot in front of her dorm. I sent her a text that I was waiting for her, and within minutes, she sprinted out of the building. She wore a black dress with thigh-high boots, and her dark hair looked so pretty in those loose waves she put them in. I couldn’t help the smile spreading across my face when I saw her. She moved faster when she saw me.

I got out of the car and caught her in my arms as she wrapped her long legs around my waist.

“Oof. Hey, sweet pea.”

She slanted her lips on mine, and I gripped her ass as I kissed her again for the first time in an entire week. God, that was such a long road trip. I had missed her every single day. That should alarm me, but it didn’t.

We only pulled away at the sound of douchey frat bros yelling obscenities at us. She tipped back her head and laughed.

“Hey, baby,” she greeted with that cheeky smile of hers.

I put her down and walked her over to the car. I watched for cars and then opened the passenger door for her. She jumped in, and I shut the door behind her before getting in on the driver’s side.

I pulled out of the parking spot and sped off.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“That Italian place D loves.”

“That place is great, and I trust the Italian girl’s opinion on that.”

I laughed. “Me too.”

On the ride over, I asked her about her day, and she lamented her worries about a pop quiz she had in her math class. I found a garage to park in, and we walked over to the restaurant together.

It was a quaint little place with dim lights and an open-concept kitchen. There was a brief wait for a table, but we didn’t mind. Maddie told me more about her week as we waited. I could watch her get excited about anything.

After we were seated, we ordered wine and perused the menu.

“Did D ask who you were going out with?” she asked.

“Nope.”

“Okay, good.”

I scowled.

She frowned. “I want time for us to figure this out before…I need to warm Noah up to the idea of us.”

“Or we can be adults and tell him,” I grumbled under my breath.

“Matt…can you just trust me on this?”

I nodded, but it didn’t dislodge the guilt that sat like an ulcer in my stomach. Our server came back with the wine, and we put our orders in. Maddie got gnocchi while I ordered the bolognese.