Jack gaped at me. “That is the first compliment you’ve ever given me.”
“It is not. If I fill your head with praise, you’ll get soft. Doesn’t mean I’m not impressed.” I held in a laugh as Jack’s eyes grew wide.
“I’m bringing candy tomorrow morning for our morning session. Sugar seems to make you more amiable.” He smiled, and I resented the rogue butterfly that took off in my stomach. I took that as my cue to get out of there.
“I’ll try for the Peanut Butter M&Ms tomorrow. Goodnight, Jack.” Our eyes locked, and a tiny jolt ran through me. I was overtired and lonely and needed to step away from blurring professional boundaries. “I plan on tiring you out in the morning. I’d get back into your room and get some rest.”
“When don’t you tire me out?” He lifted a brow. “Get home safe, Dani.” The honeyed baritone of his voice and his softened expression speared me in place. It took a second for my legs to remember how to work and get one in front of the other.
I smiled and left the cafeteria. Kyle was insane. I couldn’t go for it with Jack or anyone else. If sharing a bag of candy with a man left me this flustered, I couldn’t imagine having the ability to do anything else.
10
PJ
DYLAN:I have a feast planned for us tonight.
PJ: A feast? You ordered large fries this time?
DYLAN: Nope. Dug out the Crock-pot mom bought me and cooking you dinner, sweet girl.
PJ: The Crock-pot she bought you two years ago and you never used?
DYLAN: How did you know that?
PJ: We were with her when she bought it.
DYLAN: Of course, you were. I have a recipe forropo vieja. Be here at 7.
PJ: Seriously? That’s the first meal you want to make?
DYLAN: Well, it won’t be as good as your dad’s, but how bad could meat and peppers be?
I cringed. Very bad, but I adored the effort he was putting in for me. I’d force down a plate if I had to.
PJ: I’m sure it’s awesome. Thank you for going to so much trouble.
DYLAN: Actually wasn’t that hard, unless I did something wrong. And I’d do anything for you.
Life was sweet. Dylan and I had been together for two weeks. We had the friendship back that I’d missed so badly, and I could kiss him whenever I wanted to, which was all the time.
The only one who knew about us was Riley—as I’d had to tell her I was with Dylan the night of my birthday to stop her from blowing up my phone. When I called her back after our amazing post-birthday lunch, she’d told me she was happy for me but hoped I knew what I was getting into. I’d assured her I did, even though I worried about the disastrous what ifs. Things were too good.Wewere too good. I couldn’t help but entertain fears of what could go wrong.
Having dinner with him at his house was a simple thing, but I couldn’t wait. Eating and spending the night cuddling with him on the couch, before and after some of our clothes came off, was my idea of pure heaven.
PJ: See you at 7 xoxo
“What’s the big smile for?” Dad’s booming voice behind me almost made me hiccup. I pressed my thumb so hard on the exit button on my phone I cracked my knuckle.
“Oh, Riley is just being dumb.” I shoved my phone in my jeans pocket. “I thought you had an extra shift again tonight.” I smiled extra wide as to not seem suspicious, but Dad’s leery gaze confirmed I was doing a shit job.
“I do, but I came home in between for a break. I haven’t seen my girls in a long time.” He roped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. My father was over six feet, and Mom and I barely cleared his chest. “Talk to me; what’s going on? Did you send the school forms in?”
“Nothing. And yes.” My abrupt reply made Dad’s head jerk back. “You and Mom don’t have to drop a small fortune to ship new bedding across the country. I’m sure you guys are happy.”
He sighed with a slow, skeptical nod. “We are. But we don’t understand why.”
I raised my shoulders in a nervous shrug. “I changed my mind. I still have a full scholarship and can stay home with my family and friends. It was the decision you pushed me toward for months.”
