Fifteen
The next morning, I pressed my fingers against my lips for the umpteenth time, like I needed to reassure myself that the kiss—the most amazing, mind-blowing thing ever—had actually happened. With one touch to my lips, my mind swirled at the memory, leaving me feeling weightless and warm all at once.
That did happen, right?
I’d stared at every offering in my luggage, debating on what I should wear to breakfast, but nothing looked pretty enough. Surely I could find something better than jeans to wear when I sat face-to-face with Tuck to talk about the monumental shift in our relationship. The dress I brought for race day wasn’t a garment I wanted to wear twice. Which left me with an offering that included a couple of blouses and a black pencil skirt I’d thrown in at the last minute. If I chose the skirt, wouldn’t it be glaringly obvious I was trying to impress my best friend?
Ugh. This is Tuck. Does it really matter what you wear considering he’s seen you look your worst?
Like last night when salt tracks had covered my face from all the crying. All the while, I’d been encased in jeans and the shirt from my interview. Though said shirt would now earn top-shelf tier after being the one to earn me a kiss. Still, I wanted to look decent in case Tuck needed a reminder that I was all in for a romantic relationship. Knowing him, his mind had already urged him to take two steps back from one. Now that I knew he liked me as more than just a friend, I was ready to latch myself to him.
I clicked the power button on my cell to glance at the time. It wasn’t so early that I couldn’t text Nevaeh for outfit advice. Since we’d met in person last year, we’d become long-distance friends, just like the guys. Still, she could be sleeping, as she was on West Coast time.
Piper
I need to make an outfit that will impress Tuck.
Nevaeh
Morning to you too.
Piper
Sorry. Good morning. Help!
Nevaeh
Why are you trying to impress him? He obviously likes you. Just show up to wherever you guys are going.
Piper
We kissed last night.
I laughed out loud at the screaming GIF Nevaeh sent.
Nevaeh
Was it amazing? How did it happen? When will you do it again?
Piper
More than amazing. With our lips. Hopefully after he sees me in an outfit that makes me look desirable and not like I’m going to hang out in the stables.
Nevaeh
Let’s FaceTime.
My cell rang, and I clicked the video option.
“Hey, girl. Show me what you’ve got.”
I flipped the phone’s view around, pointing its camera to the bed where my clothes lay strewn about. “This is all I have.”
“Hmm. What kind of look are you going for?”
I flipped the view back to my face. “I want to look pretty but not like I tried too hard. Just, you know, better than my everyday look.”
“Got it. Let me see the clothes again.”
I did as asked.
“Is that cashmere?” Nevaeh squealed.
“Yes. You’re talking about the sweater, right?” I held up the sweater, flipping the view once more.
“Oh, Piper, that’s perfect. Pair that with the light-wash jeans. What kind of jewelry did you bring?”
I walked over to my travel bag and showed her the choices.
“Go with the blue beads. It’ll bring some color to your face and contrast with the top but give a nod to the jeans.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Put that on, and Tuck won’t know what hit him.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Nevaeh.”
“Anytime. And make sure you call me tonight and spill the tea.”
“Deal.”
We hung up, and I quickly put on the combination she’d recommended. By the time I rubbed on a rosy shade of lipstick—to match my eye shadow, obviously—a knock on my suite door sounded. Nerves gathered in my middle like when I’d ridden a horse for the first time. Granted, that had ended with me in the dirt, but Tuck had been the one to help me to my feet.
My lips curved at the memory.
This was going to be okay. I wasn’t sure what would happen when we talked, but I’d been praying God would give me the words and that Tuck wouldn’t retreat—his go-to maneuver. Lord, please be in the midst of us. Please let us get everything out in the open.
Because if Tuck had been interested in me as long as I’d been interested in him, I would need to keep my composure instead of lamenting the lost time.
When I twisted the knob and opened the door, my breath hitched at the sight of Tuck wearing his standard jeans and a blue button-down shirt. The shirt I told him made his eyes look sky blue. The way they practically smoldered now had my lips curving even wider.
“Good morning.” His deep voice broke the silence.
“Morning.” Ack! Why was my mouth suddenly so dry?
“You ready for breakfast?”
I was and I wasn’t. I wanted to hear what he had to say, but I also wanted his lips on mine again, which probably meant I needed to close the door behind me.
“Uh, sure.” I shut the door, letting out a low exhale. “Where are we going?”
“Found a breakfast place that’s all about the biscuit.”
I nudged Tuck with my elbow. “Was that pick on purpose?” He knew how much I loved biscuits.
“You know it.” He squeezed my elbow, then slid his warm hand down my arm until our fingers interlaced.
My heart picked up speed as tingles spread through my arm. I wanted to sigh and squeal all at once. We were holding hands. Holding hands!
I never thought Tuck was huge on affection, but this one move made my heart swoon and fall at my feet—or maybe his.
“You ready for today’s agenda?” I asked. Surely I could say the things I normally would to my BFF and not make a big deal about our hands being pressed together.
“Sure am. It’s only racing days that makes me want to hug the commode and pray to God my stomach stops hurtling toward my throat.”
Training was always better because you still had opportunity before you.
“You never look nervous.”
“That’s because I’m smart and get it all out of my system before we sit in the stands. It wouldn’t look very manly of me to lose my breakfast in front of you.”
My head slowly turned until I was staring at Tuck’s profile. “Being manly in front of me is often a concern of yours?”
“I can’t answer that with you staring at me so intently.” His lips twitched.
I faced forward. “How about now?”
“This is going to be awkward, isn’t it?” Tuck sighed and came to a stop in front of the elevators.
“We don’t have to let it be.” I certainly didn’t want it to be.
“Maybe not.”
Tuck cupped the side of my face and leaned closer, then placed his soft lips against mine in a move that was so tender I clutched his shirt.
“Tuck,” I whispered, “are you trying to undo me?”
“No,” he replied just as quietly. “Just saying a proper hello.”
“Well, hello to you too.” I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him back.
And kissing was what we did until we heard the chime of the elevator. When we parted, I smirked at the rose stain on his lips, then rubbed at them. “Sorry. Lipstick hazard.”
“No worries.” A crooked grin etched across his adorable face.
We held hands the entire elevator ride down and all the way to the parking lot, where he let go of my hand only to open the passenger door of his truck for me. Before I stood on the steps to get in, I placed my hand over his heart. “Can I expect more hand holding and door opening?”
“I’ve always held the door open for you.”
“The hand holding is new.”
“This is true. Then yes. You can expect more.”
Was it too early to cheer? I really expected a more reticent Tucker Hale than the cinnamon-roll man standing before me. “Are we still going to talk about ... things?” I asked hesitantly.
“At the diner. I’ll probably be too distracted trying to steal kisses and holding hands before then to do so.”
My heart lightened with his answer. “I’m glad to know I’m not the only one thinking of those things.”
“Should we make a bet on who can think about holding hands the longest?”
“No. It won’t be a competition you can win, Tucker Hale.” I twined my fingers through his. “Because this has long been a dream of mine.”
“Can’t be longer than mine, darlin’.”
My eyes unexpectedly smarted with tears. “Am I going to be darlin’ instead of Pipsqueak now?”
“Get in the truck,” he said, laughing. “Or else we’ll starve as you dissect everything that happens between us.”
I only sat down because he wasn’t wrong. Already my mind was trying to come up with reasons he switched to darlin’ from Pipsqueak. Then I wondered why darlin’ and not babe—ew, I didn’t like the sound of that, so maybe that’s why—or honey.
Wait, and you’ll get your answers.
Tuck would probably pull off the bandage achingly slow, but I truly was in no hurry. We weren’t due to hit the racetrack until noon, and that was a good three hours away.
My stomach rumbled the moment we stepped into the diner and the smells of biscuits, butter, and bacon hit my senses. I rubbed my middle while discreetly peeking at all the tables to get an idea of the menu offerings. Sometimes it wasn’t until I saw what a meal actually looked that I could choose what I wanted.
And boy, did this place have my mouth watering. One person was eating biscuits topped with white gravy and an egg over easy. Another person’s biscuit looked like a sandwich with a piece of fried chicken between the bread. I also saw waffles and hash browns.
“You’re gonna have to roll me on out of here, aren’t you?” I nudged Tuck, glad he’d picked up the hand holding as soon as we got out of the truck.
“Not if I don’t get rolled first.” He pointed to someone’s plate. “Do you see the size of that chicken over there? Makes the biscuit look like one of those cookies they serve with tea.”
I chuckled. “But that’s the one you’re getting, isn’t it?”
“We’ll see.”
The hostess sat us at a corner booth for two, then filled Tuck’s cup with coffee and mine with hot water for tea. After getting her recommendations, Tuck and I ordered.
I added creamer and two sugars to my black tea, then took a sip. Warmth filled me as I stared across the cup’s rim and into the gaze of my best friend. The man whose eyes had barely left my face since we sat.
“You know”—I set my cup down—“I’m surprised at you.”
Tuck arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I thought you’d pretend like nothing happened and this would be us trying to go back to friend-zone mode.”
“I thought about it.” He nodded slowly. “Still thinking about it, honestly.” He glanced out the window, then turned his eyes back to me. “But that kiss ... It keeps playing in my mind on repeat. As much as I want to go back in time and wait a little bit, even I can recognize how ridiculous that option is.”
I didn’t love that he had doubts, but I understood. “So what plan did you settle on?”
“Actually...” He smirked. “I’m just winging it.”
Tucker Hale winging it? “Who are you, and what did you do with my best friend?”