“Wouldn’t change anything. This is somethingIchose. Who am I to judge what others choose to do, right?”
She nodded. “I’m not a virgin.”
“Right. Okay.” I wasn’t really sure what to say after that. I was glad I knew, but really, I’d never had this kind of discussion with a girl.
Her eyes met mine. “Are you sureyou’reokay with that?”
“Absolutely.”
“It’s good that we talked about it, and now that we know where we both stand, we can get back to this.” She pulled me in for a whopper of a kiss, and it pretty much scrambled my brains.
“Okay, it’s my turn to confess,” Grace said, pulling back. “I’ve never really had a boyfriend. You know…like arealboyfriend. The one time I had, um, sex, it was with a friend. And it…well, it didn’t end up working out.”
“I’m up for the job, you know.”
“Job?” Her eyebrows crinkled together.
“Being yourrealboyfriend.” I cupped the side of her face and brushed my thumb below her eye. “I know we didn’t get off to the best start in the world…”
“I’d say.” Her eyes darkened, and she glanced around the dark car.
I felt like such a lovesick puppy almost, but it was also really invigorating, getting to know her. Hanging with her. Kissing her.
“You really want to be my boyfriend?” Her voice cracked.
I nodded.
She let out a breath. I saw happiness in her eyes, too, but also fear. Like…I wasn’t sure I could pinpoint it, but happiness was what I clung to.
“I guess that sounds kinda nice,” she said.
“How nice?” I asked, hoping she’d say yes. Despite everything going on with my parents, my unknown future when it came to school, this felt right.
Grace felt right.
She wrapped her arms around me. “Nice enough to say yes.”
“Seriously?” I hugged her tight, then leaned back.
“Yeah, I want to give this a try, Preach. I mean, I don’t really know what I’m doing at it, but yeah, I like you. So, let’s do it.”
I kissed her lips and savored the moment. She was incredible. My girl was incredible.
“I’m in. Let’s celebrate with a triple scoop. I want to buy my girlfriend a treat!”
She chuckled, and we filed out of the car. My cheeks ached from grinning so much as I strode into the bright ice cream shop and up to the front counter.
Brodie and Willow were already in the far booth, chomping on their cones. I nodded to them, and Brodie threw me a knowing smile. I guess I understood him and Willow more, how they hid their relationship from the team. I would do something like that for Grace. Too bad I’d been a big dick to him about it.
Once again, something he forgave me for.
Man, I was—no, I wasn’t going down that road again. I smiled at Grace. “You getting that new flavor?”
She twisted her lips and looked at the big tubs of ice cream behind the glass. “There are so many options!”
“Yo, Preach!” Todd Miller from Twin River yelled my name from the drive-thru area. He was wearing a headset along with the standard-issue uniform. “Where’s your sidekick, Pax?”
I cringed.Crap, he and I had come in here one night on one of our benders. Dang it.