Emerge (Evolve Series #1)(77)

“Um, okay, sounds good.” I prop up on one elbow and kiss his cheek. “Sounds wonderful, actually. Why are you so good to me?”

He really is. He’s barely gotten past first base and has no real commitment from me, Evan calls every day and he knows it and yet

he continues to pamper me every chance he gets. What do I possibly give back to him to deserve all this?

“Laney, I’ve told you a dozen times, making you happy, doing things for you...it makes me feel whole, like nothing ever has

before.”

I roll on my side and scoot as close to him as possible, burying my face in his chest. He smells so good. I found out a while ago

that he wears Fierce by A&F; I love it.

“You do make me happy,” I mumble into his chest. “Very happy.”

“Ditto, baby, now let’s go before I have to carry you out asleep.” He stands, putting his hand out to help me up.

“Let me pack some stuff real quick.” “No need.” He shrugs, smiling at me.

“Yes need, I haven’t showered and I’m not wearing this,” I motion to my sports tank and Sofe shorts, “tomorrow.”

“Okay, grab an outfit for tomorrow, but I’ve got your jammies and girly bathroom stuff covered.” He winks at me with a devilish

smirk.

“Oh, do tell.” I start to rummage through my clothes for something to wear. “This I’m dying to hear.”

“Toothbrush, check. Lady razors, check. New pajamas, check. Makeup, check. Your kind of shampoo, check. Did I forget anything?”

Every weirdo warning in my brain should be firing on all cylinders right about now, so why is my whole body flushed? “Okay...do I

want to know how you know all that stuff? Am I gonna look like a clown with non-conditioned hair?” I actually don’t care if I do;

his effort is undeniably adorable to me.

“If it’s all right, then I get the credit. If it’s all wrong then blame Helen and Bennett,” he laughs.

I continue grilling him on the way to his car, my arm looped through his. I can’t wait to see what he’s gathered...there’s no

way he had her get Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner, my fave. Through more interrogation, I discover Dane is quite the smooth

operator. He’s actually blushing as he admits to sending Helen to the stores with lists Bennett made him for the makeup and

toiletries...oh and a picture off the internet for the pajamas he’d picked. Good Lord.

We laugh the whole drive as he describes Helen’s fiasco of putting a clerk on the phone with him to list off all the scents of

bubble bath and candles since he hadn’t specified on those items. Bennett and I don’t burn candles in our room, so that’d been

all him. Adorable. It’s then and there that I decide one day soon I am devising a tampon run where Dane simply has to go in for

me; can’t wait to see what he does with that!

When things calm, he reaches for my hand, lacing our fingers. He lifts my hand to his mouth for a kiss. A pang of familiarity

shoots through me, but I give him a small smile. He sees it in my eyes, he clears his throat and lowers our hands, but leaves them

connected. “About your trip home this weekend...”

“Yeah?”

“I was thinking I’d take you.” He glances out of the corner of his eye at me. I’m not sure I’m ready for him to meet my dad,

or if Evan’s going home this weekend; we haven’t talked about that at all this past week.

“I’m going all weekend, Dane. How will I get back? You don’t want to stay that long, I’m sure. I’m not even sure my dad would

let you sleep there, quite honestly.” I bite my lip; I can’t imagine how Daddy would react. I can imagine exactly how Evan would

react, even scarier, but the thought of having Dane there with me is enticing.

“I’ll stay there all weekend, too, as long as you want. And whatever your dad wants, I can get a hotel for the nights. Please,

Laney, let me in.” His thumb traces quick circles into my palm and the longing for acceptance in his voice is palpable.

I don’t like ultimatums, I really don’t, but I also don’t like putting myself “out there” without feeling secure in

reciprocation, which is why I ask faintly, “Will you do the same?”

He exhales loudly. “I’m trying, Laney, I really am. I’m just not ready for you to leave and I’m afraid you might.” He looks

over at me, his chocolate eyes darker than usual. I decide to lighten things up a bit. Much like me, Dane likes little games of

give and take...

“Let’s make a deal.” I wiggle my eyebrows up and down at him. “For every fact I take from you, I’ll give you something.”

His hand tightens on the steering wheel, the other flexing its grip on mine. “Go on,” he rumbles deeply. We’ve pulled into the

garage now; he turns off the car and turns in his seat to me, awaiting my answer.

“When’s your birthday?” I’ll start slow with easy questions.

“February 6th.”

I lean over and kiss him chastely. Pulling back, I wait for his eyes, a twinkle in mine. “How old are you, Dane?”

“Twenty-one.”