I adore my snarky little Amelia.
The announcer asks if I need time to pick the winner. I ought to say I do so that I don’t seem like an asshole to the other girls, but I’m too impatient to talk to my girl.
“I liked Amy’s story the best,” I say, and Natalie and Mia both exchange knowing looks.
It’s okay. They must know it’s nothing personal.
I’m too full of Amy to have room for anyone else.
Amy’s staring down at her lap when I walk over to her. “You could have at least made it seem like the game isn’t rigged,” she whispers, as if she read my thoughts from a moment ago.
I grin as I sit down next to her and lean in to whisper in her ear. “Can’t give them hope when I already have my winner.”
She rolls her eyes. “When it comes to writing, I’d rather be the true winner instead of the teacher’s pet.”
“Teacher’s pet,” I say, squeezing her thigh. “I like the sound of that. Maybe you should dress up like a schoolgirl, and I canpaddle your ass for writing me as the dumbass cornerback in your story.”
Amy’s cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink, but her stern expression doesn’t waver. It’s so cute how she never wants me to know when she’s flustered. “You deserve much worse than that. I should have made him a sadist, but you’d have probably liked that.”
“Oh, I would have. Especially if you had made him punish the little journalist.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I made the girl tall. Did you miss that?”
I lift my hand and tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ears. She looks beautiful with the new dark hair. I’m getting used to it, I guess. Still, I miss the purple. I must be a jealous lunatic, because I miss being one of the few who sees how adorable this woman is. Now, everyone sees it, and it makes me crazy.
But she’s going to be mine soon.
For a while, at least.
“Hey, I have a question for you,” I say.
She frowns. “What?”
I glance down at my lap, my heart pounding in my chest. Holy shit, am I nervous? I shouldn’t be. She owes me a “yes” after the agreement we made.
“My parents are coming into town tomorrow night, and they want to get dinner. I told them… They think we’re dating.”
“Because you’re…trying to make Harper jealous.”
“Yes.”
No. I did it because I’m trying to will it into reality. She will be mine by the end of this, goddamn it.
“Okay,” Amy says, a hint of hesitation in her voice. “I can do it. I’m not really good with parents though, just to warn you.”
I smile, relief making me a little lightheaded. “I know they’ll love you. My mom was an overachiever nerd in college too. She’ll probably ask you what in the hell you’re doing with me.”
Amy’s expression clouds over. Ah, the conversation we had on our hike… Is she upset on my behalf for my mom’s lack of loyalty? I hope so. Any sympathy for me is a good sign.
Later that night, I’m still half giddy over the thought of Amy meeting my parents. This is what real couples do. Fuck. I’m this close to getting her out of my system. Why am I still thinking like that sappy high schooler who thought he was in love with her?
That gnawing fear at the back of my mind is starting to grow a voice.
Maybe, just maybe, I won’t be able to let her go.
Maybe no amount of time with her will be enough.
Fuck.
