I lean in, kissing her cheek and opening the door behind her. “I know I’m picky. Trust me, I know, but I’ve never wanted anyone or anything the way I want you. Don’t overthink it. Just let me say it.”
She slides in, and I rush to my side. My phone is on the dash, where I accidentally left it. I check it quickly.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, I’m sure noticing my face.
I have ten missed calls, and my fire alarms have been going off. Fuck. “Natalie, I’m sorry, but I have to rush home real quick. It’s about ten minutes away, but I can take you home after.”
“Oh, of course.” There’s worry in her tone. “Is everything okay?”
“I think there’s a fire at my house.”
I make it home as fast as I safely can without being reckless, but Chili’s there.
The whole fire department seems like it’s parked by the curb. There’s no smoke coming from my house, nor a sense of urgency from any of the firefighters, though. All good signs.
I pull up, finding Liam right by my front door, locking it behind him.
“Is that Coach King?” Natalie asks.
“Yeah, he’s a firefighter. Um, could you give me a second?” The last thing I need is to put her in danger.
“Oh my gosh, of course. Go, go. I’ll call Allie and check on my girls.”
I squeeze her hand, leaving her in the car while I find out what the hell is going on.
38
PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY
Call Out My Name by The Weeknd
Natalie
“How’s it going?”I ask Allie, who answered on the second ring. Holden is talking to his friend by the front porch of his stunning modern house. There’s a giant lake behind it, and even though it’s dark, I can tell this place is what dreams are made of.
“It’s all good here. We still have maybe half an hour of game left, then the hour-and-a-half drive home. Jake and I were wondering if maybe you’d like the girls to stay with us tonight? I know we didn’t plan for this, so it’s totally okay if you don’t want to, but I figured it would be easier.”
“Um, I don’t know.” Yes, it would be easier, but without having theI have to go back homelooming over me, am I going to want to?
Do I actually want to?
Would it be a terrible idea to not want to? To ask Holden if we can spend the night together? Every time I felt his hands on me today ignited something I haven’t felt in a while. I realized a few minutes ago what it was: desire.
When his hand was on my thigh all the way to the restaurant, it took everything in me not to ask pull over and for him to take me right there and then. Not that I would ever, but the want was there. The need for it too.
But now, I don’t know.
Am I ready?
What if I chicken out like the other day in my kitchen?
“Nat?” Allie asks, snapping me from my thoughts. That’s been happening so much lately.
“I’m sorry. I, um, maybe? We’re actually at Holden’s house now. Something happened, and the fire department is here, but I’m not sure.”
“Oh my gosh, girl, yes, of course. Text me within the hour or so, but take your time.”
“Thanks, Allie.”
