Wherever It Leads(68)

“We’re ridiculous,” I say.

“It’s only natural considering.”

“No, it’s probably a mistake,” I wince, considering his possible answers and knowing I might have to walk away.

“Hey,” Presley says, a gleam in her eye. “I never make the same mistake twice unless he’s super hot. And Fenton’s beyond that.”

“What am I gonna do with you, Pres?”

She winks. “I know I told you to go be a badass and force him to answer you, but if you forget because you’re wound around him like tinsel, I’ll forgive you. I mean, f*ck.”

I want to laugh, to play along, but her words sparked the flame of uncertainty that’s been smoldering all day. It builds, growing hotter and hotter, and I say a little prayer that I can keep myself together.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Pres says.

“No, you’re fine.” I start down the hallway, my friend at my side.

“I just start talking when I get nervous.”

“I know you do.”

“Brynnie,” she says, touching my shoulder so I stop a few feet away from the corner. I turn, taking in her newly sobered expression. “Don’t let that sexy bastard dazzle you. I know he was your reset button, but I haven’t seen you this lively in a long time and I like it. But I only like it if he’s the real deal.”

“That’s yet to be seen.”

“Exactly. So if he’s not, you just say ‘Fuck you very much,’ call me, and I’ll come get you. Because there are more fish in the sea. Maybe they won’t be that good looking because, I mean, you know . . .” she laughs. “But they’ll be great.”

“Shut up, Pres.” I return her laugh and we round the corner.

He’s standing in the entranceway.

Just as Presley said, he’s wearing a black suit and a silver tie. He draws his gaze over every curve of my body unabashedly. The heaviness of his inspection burns my skin as he rolls over every inch.

Presley clears her throat, and Fenton and I both look at her. “I hope you guys have a good night.”

“Thank you. We intend to,” Fenton says politely.

She looks at me and grins mischievously before turning back to him. “Cashmere, I’m going to be honest with you.”

Fenton looks at me and quirks a brow and I just shrug, stifling a laugh.

“I think you and Brynne would make beautiful children.”

“Presley! What are you doing?” I exclaim.

“Hush, Brynnie. Let me get this out so you can go be dazzled,” she laughs. “You are dazzling,” she tells him. “But so is she. She’s the smartest, kindest, sweetest person in the entire world and she deserves the best. So behind that dapper exterior, if you have anything but the best intentions, just walk away and don’t hurt her. Because whether you have a magic cock or not, I will remove it from your body.”

She tosses him a smile, blows me a kiss, and leaves us standing in the foyer.

“I’m sorry,” I groan, taking his hand. “She’s crazy.”

“I think I like her,” he grins. “She said I’m dazzling and I have a magic cock, even if she did threaten to chop it off.”

He leans forward and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. “Damn, baby.”

I roll my eyes to distract him from the heating of my cheeks. “What kind of a greeting is that?”

“One from a man that can’t form words because of the beauty standing in front of him.”

My face aches from grinning. He steps to me and presses a lingering kiss to my cheek. “You ready?” he breathes into my ear.

“Yes.”

His hand locking around mine, he ushers me out of the house and to his car. He opens the door and waits as I get settled and then closes it behind me. He’s around to the driver’s side in a flash.

The sky is warm with a wash of colors—oranges, pinks, and purples as the sun begins to set in the evening sky. Fenton climbs in and maneuvers the car onto the road, clicking off the radio and resting his hand on my leg. Without thinking, my body sinks to my left and towards him. It’s an instinct, an automatic response to his touch that I couldn’t fight if I wanted to. And I don’t. I love feeling the way he makes me feel, and I’m going to eat it up as long as I can.

“Where are we going?” I finally ask, breaking the comfortable silence.

“You want to talk first right?”

“Talk before f*ck. Yes.”

He shakes his head. “Your language, Brynne.”

“I’ve been around Presley too long,” I laugh.

He removes his hand and I want to pick it back up and place it back on my thigh. I miss the warmth, the weight, the feeling of being irresistible right away.

“I don’t really want to bring this up, but I have to ask . . . how are you? How are your parents?” He glances at me through the corner of his eye.

I shrug. “Bad. My mom is heavily medicated, my father is trying not to break down, I think. My aunt is there helping them. I just . . . I feel like I should be too.”

“Why aren’t you?”

“What good would it do? We don’t know when this will end,” I gulp. “I have to work, go to school. I know a lot of people would just stop everything and hole up together, but that’s just going to make it worse, you know? Besides,” I sigh, “Brady would want things to go on as normally as possible.”