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He helped me out of my seat, but I stumbled into him. His big hands steadied my shoulders, and I gazed up at him, lost in his slate-gray eyes.
“Lily, I—”
“Holy crap, Lil.” Ashleigh’s voice cut through air. “That was amazing.”
Our friends surrounded us, the girls vying for my attention. It was strange to be the center of their world for once.
“I can’t believe you did it,” Poppy said, pride radiating from her smile.
“Are you okay?” Peyton added.
“I’m fine.” I chuckled, stepping back to give myself some breathing room. My eyes flicked up at Kaiden and he gave me a shy smile.
I wanted to thank him, to tell him what a gift he’d given me. But Bryan and Gav dragged him off to see Bryan’s high score on the NFL game, and the girls tugged me in the direction of the concession stand.
“He likes you,” Ashleigh said, burrowing into my side.
He did.
I felt it every time he looked at me.
I just wasn’t sure it was enough.
* * *
“Hey, baby,”Mom said. “How was Riverside?”
“It was fun. I rode the coaster simulator.”
“You did?” Her eyes widened.
“I did, and I didn’t freak out. Well, only a little.”
“Wow, I’m proud of you, Lil.”
“And she met a boy,” Ashleigh snickered.
“A boy you say? What boy?”
“Kai—”
“Shut up, Ash,” I ground out, and she poked out her tongue at me.
“I love you, baby.” Mom gripped my shoulders and leaned in to whisper. “But please don’t give your father a heart attack by mentioning Kaiden Thatcher today.”
“How did you know?”
She rounded the breakfast counter and gave me a knowing smile. “Because you’re my daughter and you have a gentle soul and a kind heart. Of course the bad boy from across the river would catch your eye.”
“It isn’t like that, Mom.” Blood rushed into my cheeks. “Kaiden is—”
“Trouble, baby. He’s trouble. I never want to clip your wings, but it’s a big year for you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Hurt? Why do you think Kaiden will hurt me?”
“Because he’s an eighteen-year-old guy with raging hormones and football in his blood.”
“But so was Dad and he didn’t hurt you.”
