Alcohol You Later (53)

“You look perfect.” I pull a bouquet of flowers from behind my back—pink and white roses, yellow lilies, and baby’s breath.

Her lips curve into a girlish smile. “You didn’t have to get me flowers.”

“Wanted to,” I say, as she lifts them to her nose and inhales deep. “I’ve loved you in secret for a long time. Got a lot of making up to do.”

She’s trying hard not to react to my words, but her rosy cheeks and shifty feet are a dead giveaway that she’s not immune to my charm. “Thank you.”

“I’ll put those in some water,” Korie says, giving her best friend a pair of warning eyes that she doesn’t even try to hide from me.

She’s angry, or at the very least disappointed that Raven’s not giving me the cold shoulder. I can’t be upset, because I don’t blame her for feeling the way she does. Ray’s lucky to have a friend who cares for her so much. I can say it until I’m blue in the face, that I’ve changed and that I’m serious about us. But until my actions align with my words—until time proves this isn’t just a game or a phase—nothing will convince her of my honorable intentions.

As close as these girls are, Korie has never witnessed the true depth of our connection, because my vulnerability was reserved for behind closed doors—the bedroom, to be exact. It’s the only place the mask came down, and not by choice. The chemistry between us was simply too powerful to fight. After a while, I gave up even trying. And little by little, that spark grew into a burning need I was too stupid or stubborn to realize was love.

It’s hard to recognize an emotion you’ve never experienced. I knew right away she was special, that I enjoyed her company above anyone else’s. And that I’d do everything in my power to protect her, which included keeping her safe from me.

I thought I was being noble, but I now realize that in remaining closed off and expecting her to find love with someone else, I was subjecting her to a life of the same lonely existence I put upon myself. What we have is special—a once in a lifetime connection. I hate more than anything that it took breaking her for me to grasp that. But I’m going in this time with eyes wide open. Raven Winters won’t know what hit her.

“You ready?” I ask, eager to escape the tense vibe my cousin is giving off.

“Yep.” She grabs a tiny purse from the table before lacing her fingers with mine. “Let’s go.”

“Hey, Kor?” I call back. “Thanks for helping Lyle with the kids. I owe ya.”

“Not doing it for you,” she snips, causing me to laugh to myself.

I lead Raven out to the rental car I had dropped off for our date, a vibrant blue BMW M8 with a convertible top.

Her eyes bug out when I press the button on the key fob and the roof folds back into the trunk. “Wait,” she says, looking around. “Is this what we’re going in?”

I nod, smiling at her excitement.

“What about security?”

“I’m taking you some place private. No security needed.”

She stares at me in stunned disbelief. The only time we’ve ever been alone is on the bus, at our houses between tours, or when we stop off in hotels.

“I’m driving,” she finally says, holding her hand out for the key, which I’m all too happy to hand over.

“Where to?” she asks once we’ve taken our respective seats and buckled in.

“A friend of mine has a cabin way out on Cypress Lake.” I plug the address into the GPS and don a backward cap and Ray-Bans, tightening the strings on my hooded sweatshirt to keep all identifiable ink hidden for the ride over.

“Should I go back and grab a bathing suit?”

I take her hand from the gear shift, pressing my lips to her fingers. “All taken care of.” I hook a thumb toward the bag on the back seat.

Ray quirks a brow.

“Your lack of faith wounds me.” I clutch a fist to my chest. “I have great taste in women’s clothing.”

Her eyes narrow to slits. “Who packed the bag?”

“Anika.”

She sags into her seat with relief. “Well, all right, then. Hold on to your hat,” she teases, revving the engine and spinning the tires.

The smell of burnt rubber stings my nose as she hauls ass out of the lot and onto the highway, whipping in and out of traffic like a seasoned race car driver.

“You trying to get us killed?” I shout over the wind, laughing at her giddy expression.

“Sorry,” she says, easing her foot off the accelerator. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“I’m supposed to be the wild one—” A siren whoops, cutting me short. Red and blue lights reflect in the mirrors, zapping the excitement from my girl’s face.

“Shit.” Raven pulls the car over on the shoulder, her hand noticeably trembling when she moves the shift into park. “Let me handle this.” She looks at me out of the corner of her eye briefly before staring into the rearview mirror.

“No problem,” I say, biting back a laugh, because she’s so damned nervous I don’t know how she thinks she’ll be able to handle anything.

“Hello, officer.” She greets the man while twisting the end of one of her braids between her fingers.

I cross my arms over my chest, zip my lips, and lean back and observe as she attempts to work her feminine wiles on the middle-aged man.