“We just started dating. That’s a pretty strong thing to say to someone you’ve only gone to bed with once.”
He reached up and stroked her cheek. “But I’ve known you most of my life. And I’ve liked you more than just a friend way before this summer. Maybe we just agreed to a label, but my heart has been yours for a long time. Last night only deepened the feelings I already had for you.”
Her lips parted. “Wow. I’m not sure what to say. I want to ask you to stay with me tonight, but I know you can’t.”
“Sam will be home in a couple hours,” Jack agreed. “But I can stay awhile, and I want to hold you.” And never let go. He didn’t tell her that last part. He also didn’t go into detail about the feelings he had for her. They went well beyond like or lust and bordered on something he’d never felt for any woman.
She was the one who’d gotten away. She was the one who’d kept him firmly in his bachelorhood all this time. She was the one, the only one, he wanted.
He pushed back from the table, stood, and reached for her hand. “I’m here for whatever you need from me tonight.” It’d been an emotional afternoon for her. If all she wanted was to be held, that’s all he’d do.
When she stood and met his eyes, however, the desire was obvious, darkening her brown-green eyes. Then, confirming his suspicion, she reached for him. “I want to feel your arms wrapped around me tonight.”
* * *
Two hours later, Jack arrived home. Sam was already there and in bed. Good. Jack was exhausted and didn’t feel like waiting up or searching all over town for his nephew.
He went straight back to his bedroom and changed clothes before plopping onto his bed and closing his eyes. It didn’t even take five seconds before he was dreaming of a younger version of himself, dressed in a tux for the first time.
“You look like money,” his roommate Danny said, walking into the room of their little apartment in college. “You must like this girl.” He shoved a beer into Jack’s hand and popped the top of his own.
Jack looked down at the can. Felt the coolness against his fingers. He was more nervous than he’d been even on his first day of college. Taking Emma to her prom tonight might open a lot of proverbial cans that he maybe wasn’t prepared for. “I’ve known Emma forever,” he told Danny, lifting the beer to his mouth and taking a sip. Something about the taste soothed those nerves.
“I’ve heard you talk about her,” Danny pointed out. “Are you guys going to ditch the prom and do something more afterward?”
Jack felt his whole body tense.
“Hey, just saying. On my junior prom night, my date and I had fun in the back seat of my Corolla. For senior prom, I booked a motel room.”
“So romantic,” Jack said sarcastically. “Emma isn’t like that.”
“Like what?”
“She’s special. I don’t want to mess things up with her.”
“Now you’re sounding romantic,” Danny pointed out.
Jack took another sip, realizing the can was half-empty. How had that happened? He really was nervous about tonight. This was a date, and being away at college had only served to make him miss Emma more.
Suddenly the beer can was empty, and he was drinking another. He couldn’t seem to stop himself. His body and mind were relaxing, drifting off to some distant place.
“You no longer look like money,” Danny said with a laugh that seemed to reverberate in Jack’s head. “You look like sh—”
Jack held up a hand. “Stop right there. You’re just jealous. I’m going to prom with a beautiful woman, and you’re sulking over being dumped by your girlfriend.”
Danny frowned. “Wrong. I’m going to sit here and finish off the rest of the beers. I passed sulking after the third one.”
Jack looked at his watch. “I have to go. It’s an hour’s drive to get to Emma.” The world shifted on its axis as Jack stood. How many drinks had he had? He couldn’t remember. But he’d been drinking awhile, spacing them out. At least he’d thought he had.
Once his world had righted, he reached for his keys. Some small voice inside his head told him he should put them right back down. A larger voice, his roommate’s, called behind him, “Go get that girl and make her fall in love with you tonight.”