Chapter 38
Ari
Wade doesn’t stop walking.
He leads me through the edge of the gym, past students dancing and taking selfies.
My pulse pounds harder with every step.
I know exactly where this is headed, and I’m more than fine with it.
We reach the far side of the gym where the bleachers are pushed back against the wall. There is two feet of space under where the rafters are stacked together. The shadows are deeper there, hidden beneath the metal framework and wooden supports.
Private.
Not completely private.
But private enough where no one would see us.
Wade steps over the frame, leading me underneath. He walks over poles until we’re in the middle, where it’s the darkest.
The sounds of the dance continue around us. Music. Laughter. The occasional squeak of gym shoes.
But all of it feels far away.
His hand is still wrapped around mine.
Neither of us lets go.
Slowly, Wade tugs me, turning me so my back is pressed against the brick wall.
The look in his eyes sends a rush of heat down my body.
Not confident.
Not cocky.
Not playful.
Vulnerable.
Like this moment matters to him.
Like I matter.
His gaze drifts over my face. My eyes. My mouth. Then back again.
“Ari.” He takes a small step closer, placing his palm on the wall behind me. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since middle school.” He laughs to himself. “Probably earlier than that, if I’m being honest.”
“Me too.”
Something flickers across his face. The smallest amount of relief, as if he didn’t know I felt the same way.
His other hand lifts slowly, giving me every opportunity to stop him.
When his fingertips brush a loose curl beside my cheek, a chill runs down my spine.
His thumb trails lightly against my jaw, still waiting, like he’s letting me choose.
I think that’s what finally undoes me. Not the flirting, the charm, or the way he’s looked at me all week.
It’s the care.
The way he’s treating this moment like it’s important to him.
“Don't make me regret this,” I whisper, because even though I can see this isn’t a game to him, I’m still scared. The words aren’t really about the kiss. They’re about every fear I've carried for years. Every piece of my heart that’s still a little bruised from Andy.
Wade’s expression softens immediately. “I would never.”
His answer is enough.
My hand slides up his chest, curling into the fabric of his shirt.
The first brush of his lips against mine is soft. Tentative. Like neither of us quite believes it’s happening.
A breath passes between us.
Another.
Then I kiss him back.
And suddenly, all the years between us disappear.
High school.
Florida.
Andy.
The fake dating.
All of it gone.
Only this moment right now matters.
His hand shifts gently to the back of my neck. Mine finds his shoulder.
The kiss deepens.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just real.
Like we’re both quietly making up for lost time.
A soft sound escapes him, and something inside me completely unravels. Because this isn’t the football field, or the abandoned house, or another almost kiss.
It’s finally happening.
Wade’s hand slides from my cheek into my hair, careful at first, then firmer when I lean into him. His other hand roams my back, to my waist, to my hip, like he’s been wanting to touch me for weeks and is finally allowing himself to.
The realization sends another wave of heat through me.
I kiss him deeper, more passionately, letting go of all my fears.
And somehow, that kiss feels even more dangerous than at first.
Because now we both know exactly what we’re doing.
“Mr. Stevenson?” the amplified voice blasts through the gym speakers.
Neither of us stops.
“Mr. Stevenson, please report to center court for the homecoming king and queen presentation.”
I push him back, breaking our lips apart. “You need to go.”
“I don’t want to.” His mouth finds mine again.
“Mr. Stevenson?” The microphone crackles.
His forehead drops to my shoulder, and he groans. “This is terrible timing.”
“You’re just too important.”
His arms tighten around me one last time, as if he’s openly suffering.
I push lightly against his chest. “You need to go.”
“Fine.” He lifts his head, pulling back from me. “But don’t go too far. I’m not done with you, Miss Langford.”
His smile absolutely wrecks me almost as much as his kiss.
And for the first time all week, I stop wondering whether this is real.
Because nobody kisses someone like that for a bet.
Wade
THE REST OF the dance is torture.
Pure torture.
Not because anything goes wrong, but because I know what it feels like to kiss Ari Langford, and now I want more. After years of casual dating, and easy exits, and never letting anything get too serious, one kiss somehow rearranged my entire world.
How am I supposed to spend another hour pretending to care about homecoming royalty and punch bowls? And then another two hours cleaning up?
Yeah, right. My brain is occupied.
Every time I glance across the room, Ari is there. That wine-colored dress. That impossible smile. The memory of her pressed against the wall beneath the bleachers.
At one point, she catches me staring. Again.
Instead of looking away, she smiles like she can’t stop thinking about our stolen kiss either.
By the time the gym is finally clean and the school is locked up, Ari and I are the last ones left in the parking lot. She hugs her arms around herself against the cool night air.
“That was fun.” She reaches for her keys, but I grab her wrist, stopping her.
“Let’s go for a drive.”
“Okay.” Her smile says she doesn’t believe this is just a drive. Neither do I.
A few minutes later, we’re winding through town when I say, “I guess this means I’m your plus-one for the wedding.”
She laughs. “I think the fake-dating scheme always had you as my plus-one.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Would’ve been awkward showing up if you were with another guy.”
“Don’t expect much from me, Stevenson. As maid of honor, I’ll be busy all next week. Probably a lousy date too.”
My heart immediately dislikes that information. “Does this mean, outside of school, I won’t see you until the rehearsal dinner?”
“Probably.”
Probably. A terrible word.
Without thinking, I make a turn.
Ari immediately starts laughing. “Makeout Ridge? Seriously?”
“What?”
“You know exactly what.”
I grin. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Wade.”
The road climbs higher. Trees thin out. The overlook comes into view.
“It’s nostalgic. Doesn’t tonight make you feel like you’re sixteen again?”
“Yes, but we’re not sixteen.” She laughs, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you’re taking me here.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the principal. I’m a teacher. It’s bad optics.”
“It’s late. I’m sure everyone has gone home by now for curfew.”
I pull into the empty overlook. No cars. No headlights. Nobody.
Just darkness and distant town lights below.
“See?” I kill the headlights but leave the truck running. Soft music hums through the speakers. “All the kids are gone.”
She rolls her eyes.
I rest my arm along the back of the bench seat and slowly slide closer. This is when bench seats come in handy.
Ari watches the entire process. Amused. “You think you’re smooth, don’t you?”
“A little.” The distance between us lessens to nothing as I move into her space.
My hand skims over her shoulder, awakening the desire I felt hours ago.
“If you’re busy next week…” Her eyes close briefly when I press a kiss against her temple. “...I need to stock up…” My lips brush across her cheek. “...on your kisses.” Then the corner of her jaw.
“Very busy.” She sighs as her head tips slightly, giving me room to leave a trail of kisses from her ear down her neck.
I get distracted by the soft skin at her collarbone and shoulder, deciding to abandon conversation altogether. By the time my mouth brushes hers, she’s smiling softly.
Her hand slides into my hair. Mine stops at her waist, and suddenly, she turns, capturing my mouth like she can’t stand the suspense any longer.
The kiss is slow at first.
And then not quite as slow.
The truck grows quiet except for music and breathing and the occasional bump against the seat when one of us shifts closer.
The windows fog over.
The rest of the world can wait until tomorrow.