Rush’s perennial grin slides off. “The scary thing is, you think you’re funny.”
Lawson lands his gaze back at Ava and her friends. “You get one. I get two. I like the math.”
Rush shakes his head. “Stay away from my little sister.” Rush has developed a genuine friendship with Lucky. It’s nice to see he’s actually capable of befriending a girl and not having his dick get in the way.
“That leaves Harper.” Lawson smacks his lips, either disappointed or he’s gearing up for a snack. I’m betting on the latter. He looks to Rush with that smart-ass grin peaking on his lips. “You know me, though”—he pins his gaze on Lucky—“always wanting what I can’t have.” Lawson takes off for the bar, leaving Rush and me wondering if he’s got a hard-on for Lucky. If Lawson’s track record is any indication, he has a hard-on for pretty much every girl at Whitney Briggs—and he’s bedded most of those already.
“How about you?” I butt my shoulder into Rush’s bloated arm. “Any girl in particular you’re zeroing in on? I’ve settled for one, and you always did like to follow in my footsteps.”
“No thank you. I like the ladies, in multiple. I’m too young, too good-looking, and too smart to settle down so soon.”
“I’m smarter than you.” It’s just a fact. Ava is perfect, and I’d be a fool to pass her by, so I can laud my own youth, my own vanities. “Go bang some chick, would you?” I head over to Ava and pull her into my arms.
“Can I have this dance?” I press a quick kiss to her temple.
“Of course, you can have this dance.” Her eyes light up and smile at me all on their own. “But not in here. It’s much better where I’m taking you.” Ava’s brow hitches as if proud of whatever it is she’s planning. She blows a kiss to both Lucky and Harper before pulling me under the mistletoe one last time this evening. Ava melts her mouth over mine with an oven-hot kiss that makes my tongue beg for her to keep it.
She leads us back out into the frigid night air and laughs us all the way to the parking lot.
Ava hops into the driver’s side of her new car and starts up the radio, blasting a slow song over the speaker.
“I’ll take that dance now, Mr. Jones,” she says as she bounces up beside me. Her breath stretches out in plumes as it crystalizes with my own.
“You’re right.” I nuzzle a warm kiss just under her ear. “It’s much better out here.” I love having Ava all to myself. I’m greedy that way.
Ava’s body molds to mine as we sway under a Hollow Brook starry night with our hearts thumping wild and in sync.
“Happy birthday, Ava.” I pull back. “Are you ready for your gift?”
Her eyes widen. Ava watches me from under her thick lashes and gives the slightest nod.
I reach into my pocket and fish out a token of my appreciation, placing it in the palm of her hand before kissing each of her knuckles.
“Take this. Keep it. Make it your own. It is my most prized possession.”
Ava opens her hand slowly, and her lips part as she chokes out a nonverbal response. “G-G-Grant,” she manages my name with great difficulty. “It’s s-s-o beautiful.” Ava rubs her fingers over the gold chain before laying it over her wrist. I help her with the clasp and lift it to the light, and the shiny chain winks like a star.
“I want you to have this. It belonged to Stephanie, and now it’s yours, forever.”
Her head bows with grief.
“I love you, Ava. Nothing would make me happier than for you to cherish this gift from me.”
Her watery eyes meet up with mine with moonlight trapped and dancing in each one. “I already do.” Ava hikes up on her tiptoes and brushes a feather soft kiss over my lips. “How about you and I head over to Hallowed Grounds and split a PB and J for old times’ sake?” Her teeth graze over her bottom lip. “You know, get our strength up for the other big gift you have for me back at Beta house.”
“I think we’re going to each need our own order for the things I have planned for us.” My finger twirls around a lock of her hair, and it feels like bliss. “You want to drive?”
“It’s across the street.” Her brows hike with amusement.
“We can always take a turn at the end of the block and—”
“Go out to the overlook and break in the backseat? You really are a forward thinker.”
“I can’t take credit for that stroke of genius. Maybe we should get those PB and Js to go.”
“Yet another stroke of genius.”
“You know what’s genius?” I hitch her hair back behind her ear and kiss her temple. “You and I. I think no matter how many scenarios the universe wanted to throw at us, we’d still end up together. It feels as though all my life I’ve been moving toward you.”
