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Or the way we stood when we were around each other . . . closer.
Everything between us was simply . . . intensified.
There was more affection, more touching, more intimacy in every interaction. We gave our own selves away without even trying.
I was falling in love with him, even though I wasn’t sure that I should. My mind cautioned me to slow down whenever Nick came near, but my heart sped up at the sight of him. My mind flashed warning signals with his touch, but my heart grew wings and flapped like a wild bird begging for more. My mind sounded alarms anytime it thought I might be falling too fast, but my heart tumbled over the edge without question.
That was the thing about falling in love—it couldn’t really be helped or stopped. It wasn’t like my mind could talk itself out of the things that my heart decided to beat for. And it had definitely started beating for Nick Fisher.
I liked the way it felt. If my heart wanted to fall in love with him, I was going to let it, my mind be damned.
The only formal affair I’d ever attended was my senior prom, and even though Rachel had filled me in, I still had no idea what to expect when it came to a fraternity formal. Thank God she was going to be there with Trevor; at least I’d know someone other than Nick at this event.
Nick told me that most of the guys brought girls from sororities as their dates, so there wouldn’t be a lot of non-Greeks there. Remembering what Rachel had said, I hoped that the night wouldn’t be awkward or uncomfortable. It was hard enough being Nick’s girlfriend sometimes; I didn’t need the extra crap from girls I didn’t know at my first formal event on Nick’s arm.
First? Wishful thinking, Jess.
We arrived at the hotel and checked into our room. Nick had booked a suite for a group of us, so it was party central in our place. I didn’t mind, but I had thought that we’d get some alone time together. Now I wasn’t sure that was even a possibility with the current state of the place.
“This place is awesome!” Rachel shouted from the full-sized bar in the corner of the room as she poured some shots.
“So does everyone get ready in here?” I asked as I surveyed the number of people in our room.
Nick leaned toward me, his lips close to my ear. “Yes, Miss Michaelson, but we have our own bathroom. You won’t have to share with anyone unless you want to.”
I smiled at the way he seemed to think of the small details before I had even considered them. Nick’s thoughtfulness was something that made me feel special.
“Except for me. You have to share with me.” He winked before wrapping a strong arm around me. “And after we get changed, we’ll take pictures and head out.”
“Take pictures?” I asked, getting lost momentarily in the depths of his blue eyes.
“Hell yeah. If you think I’m not documenting this evening, you’re crazy,” he said before planting a kiss on my forehead. “Go get ready.” He smacked my ass and sent me in the direction of our room.
“Rachel, come get ready with me,” I yelled over the music that was now blaring from someone’s travel speaker.
“Be there in a minute,” she shouted back, then downed another shot.
Rachel and I took over the bedroom and hogged the bathroom, forcing Nick to change in another bedroom with Trevor. Rachel helped curl my hair into beach-like waves that fell loose over my shoulders, but her normally wavy long dark hair had been straightened.
I had to smile at the sight of us in the bathroom mirror. Each of us had done the opposite of our normal styles. “Thanks so much for your help.”
“Of course. Your hair looks pretty like this.” She reached for a few strands and ran her fingers through them, making the waves even looser.
“My dress is in my room with Trevor. I’ll just change in there,” she said, and gave me a hug before walking away.
Outside my room, I heard her tell Nick that he couldn’t go inside, that I wasn’t done yet and would come out when I was ready. I laughed to myself as I put the finishing touches on my makeup.
The smoky eyeshadow made the blue in my eyes stand out even more, and the contouring I’d done on my face pronounced my usually undefined cheekbones. I finished the look with a practically nude lip and smiled at my reflection.
Reaching for my dress hanging in the small closet, I pulled it off the hangar and stepped into the black-and-white fabric. The top was fitted, hugging every one of my curves until it reached my hips and flared out slightly, stopping short well above my knees.
After one last spritz of hairspray, I headed toward the closed bedroom door and pulled it open. Nick happened to be standing right outside of it, and when he turned to face me, his jaw immediately fell open.
“Jess.” He scanned me from head to toe. “You look beautiful.”
My cheeks burned as I gave him a once-over, approving of his black-and-gray suit. “Thank you. You look gorgeous.” When my gaze settled on his dark hair, I said with a wink, “But I miss the hat.”
