“You have one-on-one time with your girl every night. It’s me you need to feel sorry for.” Kye pouted. “You both have regular pussy now and what do I have? Nothing. I have nothing.”
“Maybe stop sleeping your way through the girls at school and one of them might actually give you a chance.”
“Nah, I’m good.” He grinned. “I need to get in some more practice before I meet my forever girl.” Kye slapped me on the back before following Nix into the sleek black car.
I glanced up at the sky, breathing in deeply, letting the frigid air fill my lungs. Growing up, I’d never let myself believe in happy endings because I’d been convinced my story wouldn’t have one. But maybe it was time to rewrite the narrative? Maybe with Celeste by my side, I could finally believe what Grams had been trying to tell me.
That I deserved something good in life.
I flopped into the leather bench seat beside Celeste and slipped my arm around her shoulder. “What do you think?”
“It’s… I don’t know what to say.”
“I wanted to give you one perfect night.”
“And it is.” She gazed up at me.
“What you did for me Celeste, no one has ever…” I couldn’t find the words to explain to her what it meant to me and Grams that she’d wanted to help.
That she’d chosen us.
“It’s okay.” She smiled, the emotion glittering in her eyes punching me dead in the chest. “I want to help, in anyway I can. I care about you. Both of you, Zane.”
“You are incredible.” And I still couldn’t fucking believe that I got to call her mine.
Music poured out of a hidden speaker, giving us enough privacy to talk freely. Kye shoved a beer into my hand and a glass of champagne into Celeste’s. “Enjoy.” He winked before moving back to the other bench.
“What are you thinking?” I asked her as she took a small sip of her drink, uncertainty shining in her eyes.
“I need you to know that I don’t need all of this, Zane. I only need you.”
“I know that.” Cupping her face, I brushed my thumb along her jaw. “But maybe I want to be able to walk in your world sometimes.”
“There isn’t any ‘my world’ and ‘your world’ here. You know, I realized something lately, we get to make our own rules. Our own world.” She grinned at me.
“What about your old man?” I touched my head to hers. “He won’t approve—”
Her mother definitely wouldn’t. But I’d heard that Sabrina had moved out, so maybe I wouldn’t have to deal with her scrutiny yet.
“Let me worry about my father,” she said, full of blistering conviction. “I choose you, Zane Washington.” She scraped her fingers against my jaw, kissing me. “I. Choose. You.”
Celeste
I was floatingon cloud nine. Our friends’ laughter rose above the music as the limo drove us to a surprise location. Surprise, because no matter how many kisses I pressed against his lips, Zane refused to tell me where we were going.
“You’re not playing fair.” I flashed him puppy dog eyes.
“Me?” His brow went up. “I think you decided to play unfair the second you put this dress on.” His fingers trailed up the inside of my knee, sending shivers skittering through me.
“Maybe I wanted you to suffer. Just a little bit.” A smirk tugged at my mouth. He leaned in to kiss me, but I stayed out of reach, chuckling at his adorable frown. “Will you tell me where we’re going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“Everyone likes surprises.”
God, I liked this version of Zane. Playful and flirty. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me all night. Not when I’d danced with Harleigh and Chloe, and especially not when I’d danced with him.