Chapter 34
SLADE
“So, that’s her, huh?” Alex bumps my elbow.
I haven’t been able to take my eyes off Sarah, knowing she’s in the same room as Macavoy’s kid.
What’s worse is that I saw the man himself enter a bit ago.
I’d really like to pull her out of there and away from all of them.
Not only because she’s in that dress—the kind of dress that makes a man think crazy things—but because I want her to be here. With me.
“Seriously, man. If you stare over there any harder, the walls might crack.” Carson pulls a beer from the bucket.
“Slade likey Sarah,” Krissy says.
Wind snorts, and Krissy pulls the neck of her sweatshirt up over her mouth, trying to hide her joy at my suffering.
I scratch my nose with my middle finger, and she laughs.
Her head pops up like a prairie dog out of a hole. “What? I’m just happy someone finally cracked through the frigid, solidified layers surrounding you.”
My eyes roll to the ceiling, but she doesn’t even know the half of it. Sarah and those kids blasted a giant ass hole that’s leading straight to my heart.
“Kris, why the hell are you still here? I thought you were meeting that doctor for dinner.”
“Why isn’t he coming here?” Carson takes a long pull of his beer .
I want to smile, having unleashed these hounds to nip at her instead.
“Yeah, we want to meet him.” Trig rests his elbows on the table.
“Are you afraid we won’t like him?” Wind asks in complete offense.
I meet her eyes and lift the corners of my mouth. Take that, you little shit.
Her long eyelashes drop into a glare.
“Even more reason we need to meet him,” Carson says.
Krissy swirls her wine. “You guys are too much.”
“Hold on.” Trig stops from popping a cheese ball into his mouth. “Are you saying you’re scared to bring him here?”
I listen for her answer, but my eyes drift through the crowd to Sarah. If Krissy doesn’t want to bring him here, it’s either because he’s not good enough or she doesn’t see it going anywhere. I’m curious which it is.
“You guys are a lot,” Alex says, defending Krissy. “I don’t blame her for keeping him away.”
“Damn right, we are.” Wind scratches his beard. “If he’s going to date you, he needs to understand what’s up. It won’t just be Carson coming after him this time.”
Krissy goes perfectly still, her eyes shifting to Carson.
My eyes meet Wind’s, then flick between my best friend and my little sister. “What the hell is he talking about? Who did you go after?” I turn toward Carson.
No one moves except for Wind’s eyes, seeking refuge from anyone but me. Carson’s gaze tips to Krissy, who still isn’t moving.
“Someone better tell me exactly what happened and when?” I wonder how I didn’t know about this.
Krissy straightens, her shoulders falling back just like they used to as a teenager when I snagged her ass in a lie.
“It wasn’t a big deal. It was when I was hanging out with Colton.
He was being a jerk, and I’d had a few drinks.
” Her eyes flick to Carson. “Carson had a few words with him and then gave me a ride. ”
Carson’s gaze finally shifts from Krissy to me. “You were visiting Alex. He was an asshole, and I made sure he stayed far away from her.”
“That guy was a complete dick,” Alex confirms. “Ok, back to the pressing matter at hand.” She turns to me. “Are you gonna blow another chance or make your move?”
I roll my gaze to hers, but she only smiles. “You’ve been with Mark too long.”
“Nah. Forever won’t be long enough.” She grins, so obnoxiously in love with that guy, it’s sickening. “You know, he showed me it’s easier to be scared with someone than try to fight it alone.”
I’d like to clap back and tell her I’m not scared, but I am, and she knows it. “Calm down. She just wants to be friends.” I’m beginning to loathe that word.
Sarah made it perfectly clear that friendship is all she sees, but I’ve spent time thinking about it. I don’t know if that’s because she’s not interested in us being more or if it’s because I’m not giving her anything other than closed-off friend vibes.
I’m annoyed at not knowing which it is. But to find out, I have to take a big risk, and I have to decide if I’m ready for that.
I watch Sarah’s head fall back in laughter at something Katrina said. My gut squeezes tight. I want to be the one to make her laugh like that, but I stood tongue-tied like a teenage boy when the prettiest girl in school finally noticed me.
After she stopped at the shop this week, I unraveled the pile she left on my desk.
Written across the gold-trimmed ribbon were large letters that spelled out Miss USA.
Somehow, I wasn’t surprised. I can picture Sarah commanding a stage and being the most beautiful one up there, but not because of her amazing body.
She has tenacity but also a graceful grit that’s captivating.
You can’t look away. And it’s intimidating as hell.
Trig says something, and the table erupts.
“Come on. Just go talk to her, you big lug.” Alex bumps me with her shoulder .
“She tried to talk to him at the bar, but he was Stone Colding. Big time.” Krissy sips her wine. “She’s probably getting tired of his grumpy-standoffish shit. I know I would.”
“It’s the dress,” Trig says. “When a woman wears a dress like that . . .” He whistles, and I want to punch his lights out so he can never look at her again.
Carson takes a swig of his beer. “And then some douche tried to hit on her.”
“Did you all take a video, too?” I groan.
“Nooooo, but now that you mention it, we should have,” Krissy whines. “Then we could’ve had a lip reader translate it so we’d really know what was going on.”
“It did look kind of intense,” Wind says.
Alex leans on the table. “Intense in a good way?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I stand, and they laugh, having the time of their life. “I’m going to the bathroom, then heading home.”
“I gotta get going, too,” Alex says. “The girls need to get to bed if they’ll survive game day without meltdowns.”
“You could leave them with me,” Krissy says.
I leave them to sort out plans.
I think about Sarah telling Macavoy Junior she was hitting on me.
My heart grew three sizes. That didn’t feel like just being friendly, and I liked it—claiming her, if only pretending for those few minutes.
Just the fact that she came over to talk to me, even though I’d once again left her high and dry after she was vulnerable.
But Alex is right. I have to get my head out of my terrified ass if I want a chance at whatever could be with Sarah. And I’d really like to know what could be.
I tug open the bathroom door, and Sarah is tucked in the dim hallway, scrolling her phone.
“Hey.”
Her head pops up. “Hey.”
“What are you doing? ”
“I. . .uh.” She glances at her phone, and then her shoulders drop. “Ordering an Uber.” Her hands fall to her sides. “I rode with Kat, but she had a bad day and drank a little too much, so Seth took her home. I’m not asking anyone else—”
“I’m taking you home.” I step past her. This is an opportunity I will not screw up.
“No.” She grabs my arm. “You’re here with your friends. I have to get Ollie and Frankie in bed. You should stay.”
“Sarah, I’m ready to go. Alex has two little girls. She’s leaving, and I see the guys every damn day. I’ve had enough of them.”
Her brow scrunches. “Are you sure? I hate—”
“I have to get my coat.” I tip my head in the direction of the busy room. “Let’s go.”
The bar has only gotten louder and more crowded as the night has gone on, and I have to push through people to get back to the table.
I reach back to be sure Sarah sticks behind me, and I feel her hand slip into mine, gripping tight. This. This is what I’ve wanted all night. For a hell of a lot longer, if I’m honest.
“Sarah!” The guys erupt as I pull my coat from my stool.
“Looks like your mission was accomplished,” she says, gesturing to the empty beer bottles and baskets of food.
Alex hops off her stool. “I’m Alex.” She smiles at Sarah. “It’s really nice to meet you, but I have to go.” She extends her arms and hugs me. “Stop protecting yourself and take a risk,” she whispers, eyeing me as she pulls away.
She hugs everyone, and Carson walks her out.
“Sarah needs a ride home, so we’re leaving,” I announce, knowing the looks I’ll get, but I don’t give two shits. I glance at Sarah. “Where’s your coat?”
She smiles up at me, and it only spreads further when I roll my eyes. I drop my coat over her shoulders and grab her hand. I know she wasn’t expecting it. Hell, I wasn’t expecting it, but I made the mistake of letting her walk away earlier, and I’m not dumb enough to do it again.
I inhale long and slow. It’s time I quit protecting myself. If I want Sarah as a friend and maybe more, then I have to actually do something about it.
“Ready?”
She nods once. “See you guys later.”
“Seeeeee ya!” Krissy sings, but I know there is a fat grin attached to it.
I keep her close until I push out into the cold air, and it’s a shock to the nerves swirling inside me. Sarah is fearless, but I’ve been stuck holding onto the repercussions of something that was never meant to be. And I’m sick of it.
I keep a hold of her hand as we walk to my truck, only letting go to press it to the door to stop her from opening it. She twists, and I leave my hand right where it is, caging her in. I need her right here, so I won’t chicken out.
She blinks up at me. “Hi. What are you doing?” That hint of sassiness shoots sparks throughout my body, giving me courage.
I lean closer, wanting her to understand. “Trying.”
Her brows pull together, those magnificent eyes running over my face.
I exhale, and my breath billows in the cold air, mixing with hers. “I’m gonna need you to go easy on me.”
One eyebrow raises, and the corner of her mouth lifts with it. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
This woman has no idea the power she holds and the grip she has on me.
“I’m not good at being vulnerable or. . .sharing things. I’m working on that.”