AllFreeNovel
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He closed the album. “I have a show tomorrow. You want to come? I can make sure a table is set aside for you. You can see if Junie’s going.”
“I can’t tomorrow.” I wished I could. I wondered if he would regret our agreement to be exclusive. “Are you still okay with our agreement?”
“What agreement?”
I huffed out a sigh. “To be exclusive. I imagine these are the nights when you’d date?”
He laughed. “Are you jealous?” I felt my face close up and his smile faded. He touched his finger to my cheek. “First of all, I didn’t date. Second of all, I’m only interested in you.”
“But these would be the nights,” I pushed.
“Yes.” He sighed and his lips tightened. “I don’t blame your girls for giving you the heads-up they did, but they really poisoned your opinion of me. I never found anyone I wanted to date. Never met anyone I wanted around Brayleigh. I’m not going to screw up what we have.”
He spoke like we had something bigger than what we did. His words stole mine and I stood silently before him. Dipping his head to meet my eyes, he implored, “I’m not going to hurt you, baby. I’m just not.” He stood and held out his hand. “We’re going to miss the movie if we don’t leave. You can tell me what big plans you have that you’re leaving me lonely on a Saturday night on our way.”
Summer nights smell better than any other fragrance on the planet. Better than Christmas, better than freshly fallen snow, better than chocolate, yes, better than chocolate.
I inhaled happily as Lucky pulled out of the lot to take us to the movies.
“It’s Bookstagram night with Amber and Ruby, but speaking of Amber, I actually have things to tell you! Amber has two solid leads. Both are willing to help us out and they have already contacted the board. We’ve made it clear that we’re starting with your high school, and I need to fill in some paperwork. What school is it?”
Lucky told me the school and my mouth dropped open. “How many high schools are in Milltown?”
“Twenty? Twenty-five? More than twenty between the Catholic system and public system for sure.”
“Do you have a student named George Vitalis?”
“Yes,” he answered, surprised. “How do you know George?”
“George is Ruby’s stepson. He’s my honorary nephew. I pick him up several times a week!” I stopped, realizing. “Oh my gosh! It’s your music class we’ve been talking about getting instruments for!”
“Well, yeah, it’s my class I’ve been thinking of doing the fundraiser for…”
“Yes, oh my gosh, this is so funny!” I clasped my hands under my chin. “The girl. The girl you were upset about the other day. She takes music?”
“Yes,” he looked at me oddly.
“What instrument does she play?”
“Usually, the recorder like everybody else but she wants a guitar.”
“Okay, okay, hear me out.” I splayed my hands out in front of me. I expected a fight, but I wasn’t sure why. “I make a donation every year to something that means something to me. My nephew, George, was telling me about his awesome music teacher and the lack of instruments. I’d already decided to donate instruments to your school before I even met you! Remember that night I quizzed you on what would be good for a class set? That’s why!”
Lucky’s jaw tightened and he flicked on the indicator.
“Lucky? What’s wrong?”
He slanted a look at me sideways. “Not going to make it to the movies tonight, baby.”
“What? Why? Are you mad?” I reached out and lay a hand on his arm.
“Don’t touch me right now, Minty, or we won’t even make it home.”
I stared at him, the truth slowly dawning on me. “Are you turned on?”
He gripped the steering wheel.
I dropped my voice. “Does all my talk of musical instruments do something to you?”
