Jury wrapped his arms around me, and I hugged him back. “I want you happy.” He knocked his head against mine. “Give me the word and I’ll help you. We can figure out a good way to do it together.”
“Thanks, fuckface.”
“You’re welcome, asshat.”
Laughing he shoved me, but then stopped when I pointed at the suit. Jury frowned at me.
“What?”
“Don’t you need to get going?”
My heart picked up pace as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and groaned. It was after six. “Fuck, I do. Our reservation is in half an hour.”
Jury bit his lip and his eyes lit up. “Good luck. I know it means a lot to you, and I plan to keep picking on you, but I mean it. You deserve whatever guy you want.”
I nodded as nerves swamped me. Everything had to go well tonight.
Jury grabbed my shoulders. “I know he likes you. It’s fine.”
I nodded. “What’s not to like?”
He gave me a serious nod in return. “I’ll go distract everyone downstairs so you can get out the front door. Give me five minutes.”
“Thanks.”
With one final pat on my shoulder, he was off. I snuck out into the hallway and waited at the top of the stairs until I could hear a bunch of laughter coming from somewhere near the back of the house. Holding my breath, I crept down, rushed to the front door, and escaped into the night, feeling like I’d committed some sort of jail break. It was perfect outside, too. The air was cool but not cold, the stars were already popping bright in the sky, and the moon was beautiful. I sighed and swung the keys to the new Lexus that had been delivered late last night around on my finger. I liked this one because it was a deep green that reminded me of sunshine sparkling on wet spring leaves. Papa knew green was my favorite color. When I got inside the car, I put down all the windows and wasted no time finalizing my escape.
I already had the way to Flynn’s house memorized, and maybe that was... another stalkery thing I’d done. I just didn’t want to forget his address, so I’d sat down and studied the small part of New Gothenburg where he lived on my phone map app. It made me feel better to know I could find him without relying on anything except me to get there, and I was happy as I navigated solo to his neighborhood. Worry smacked me when I pulled up beside him waiting at the end of his driveway. How long had he been standing outside? Was he that eager to go on our date, or was he thatstressedabout something to do with me coming to his front door?
I mulled over all the possible things that could’ve motivated him to wait for me at the curb instead of inside, and in the end dismissed it. He would either tell me the problem or his body language would. Flynn wasn’t hard to read. I parked in the street next to him, not too worried because there wasn’t any traffic, and got out. I went around the front of the car and opened his door, and Flynn’s mouth fell open as he stared at me.
“Is this secret-agent cosplay? Because I was not informed that I should have dressed up to this degree. You look....” A blush tinged his face and I loved it. His silver hair glinted under the yellow streetlight that burned brightly nearby. His brown eyes gleamed, dark and mysterious, as he glanced down and his face fell.
“You look great. You always do. Let me try to impress you, okay?” I flashed him a smile.
Flynn laughed and glanced away. “You already have.”
My chest swelled with a stupid pride, but I felt good and rolled with it. “Get in the car.”
He nodded and did as I said. I went around and got in my side, but his lips were pursed and there was a deep furrow between his brows.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, reaching over to rest a hand on his muscled thigh. I shivered at the strength under my palm. I fucking loved touching him.
“Whose car is this?”
“Mine.”
He stared at me and laid his hand on my wrist. “What? I mean... how?”
“What do you mean? My papa talked to his car guy, and rather than waiting for repairs, we traded it in. This way I know there is nothing wrong with the car for a long time.”
Flynn nodded and ran his free hand over the dash, sucking in a breath. He laughed, but it didn’t seem amused, more pained. “I was worried about going halves on dinner, and you got a new car instead of fixing the old one.”
“It made more sense. I’ve got you, Rookie. I invited you out.”
His hand gripped my wrist tighter.
“I like taking care of you.”
