As much as I want to convince myself that he’ll hurt me, I know I’m no longer able to. Nor can I ignore the fact that he hasn’t given up.
And everyone gives up on me.
I press my teeth into my bottom lip as I go back to stirring the limeade I added Tajín to for a little kick. It’s my favorite thing to serve at my recordings, and it’s always a hit.Tíacomes whirling into the kitchen like a mini Latin tornado and kisses me on the temple. “Ah,mija, so gorgeous.”
I preen at her since I did try to look nicer than I usually do. After my moment of craziness when I told Jayden Sinclair that I hoped he thought about what Dawson wanted, I wanted to impress him. I will not read into that, and neither will you. Instead, we will admire the fact that I am wearing a little bright-yellow skirt that has ruffles at the bottom. I paired it with a blackRowe Reporttee and left my hair down in very tight curls. I put on some makeup, but not much.
I just want to look good for them.
I want them to like me.
I want them to think I would look good beside Dawson.
Whoa. Did I just think that?
What. The. Hell. Am. I. Thinking?
The ladle clanks against the pitcher as I pull it out, throwing it into the sink.Tíacomes up behind me, hugging me into her chest. “What’s wrong? Are you nervous?”
I swallow around a lump in my throat as I nod. “A bit.”
“Why? You’ve been excited about this.”
“I just want them to like me.”
“They will,mija. I know they will. You are so smart, so gorgeous, so talented.”
I lean into her. “The last time they saw me, I flicked their son’s nose.”
She grins against my shoulder. “Yes, but now you’re sitting in the bleachers with him and cuddling.”
I furrow my brow. “We weren’t cuddling. We were just close.”
“You hold his hand?”
Shit. “Yes.”
“Your whole side touch his?”
I relent, rolling my eyes with a sigh. “Okay, we cuddled.”
“It’s okay. Get naked next.”
“Tía!” I squeal since I will not allow myself even to think of that.
Dawson naked?
Thighs.
Chest.
That thing he says is his cock but looked more like a baseball bat in his shorts.
His eyes devouring me.
Is it hot in here?
“What? Just saying,” she says, patting my hips as I pull in a deep lungful of air. “I like him. I like that he listened to you. Men don’t listen.”
