My phone buzzes but I don't care who it is, the only thing I care about is right now, and for once in my life, I choose to be selfish and do something truly bold.
"Come to the game with me," I tell him. "Please."
Alec glides his thumb over my cheek. "What about your date?"
"He's late." I lean into his touch. "He lost his chance."
"Are you sure?"
I bring my hand up to press against his and savor the sensation as I weave my fingers around his and lock them together. "Let's go."
Alec grins and goes along with the embrace, even going so far as to take his other hand to cup underneath mine like he's afraid my hand might vanish from his. We take off together towards the entrance and I don't dare glance back to see if whatever his name is shows up. He's not who I wanted to be here with in the first place, so why would I ignore the glaringly better option presented to me?
Once our tickets are scanned and we're through the gates, I send June a quick text to let her know I'm on my way and to call the search party off.
Alec takes a breath in and says, "Simon is going to kill me."
12
ALEC
I'm not kidding. This may be the dumbest thing I've done in my entire life.
But with Cora's hand tucked between both of mine, I don't think there is anything in the world I would trade for this moment. Unless it was the chance to have many, many more. And when Simon, or Dominic, finds out, this short-lived slice of heaven will end as quick as it started.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, right?" Cora looks up at me and for the first time since we've met, there's something else there, like a spark of hope, maybe.
Cora is all bubbles and bright-eyed smiles on the outside, but I know she's hiding something. We all are. It's just a matter of how dark and deep it really is.
And damn do I want to find out.
So I can help her. Be there for her. Understand her.
"Doubtful, but I don't care." I slide one of my hands free to place it on the small of her back as I guide her through the crowd. I don't dare let go with the other, a sort of link that will keep me close to her.
God damn, I've waited for this moment for far too long and now I have to share it with Simon fucking Beckett.
Fingers crossed he doesn't actually shoot me in front of all those people in the stadium. I breathe a little easier knowing he had to go through security, but when has Simon ever upheld the law, let alone some pesky rules about no weapons. I wouldn't be surprised if June is packing, too. The both of them are a bit paranoid, but for damn good reason. They've gone through their fair share of close encounters, especially since June came into the guys’ lives. I haven't been around the whole time, but some of the stories I've heard, I'm baffled that June was able to overcome some of the shit thrown at her in this criminal world.
I like to turn a blind eye to the ways of their world and play dumb, but it would take a complete fool not to see how fucked up and dangerous their lifestyle is.
"Can we grab a drink first?" Cora points ahead to a concession stand.
"Yeah, for sure." I guide her the rest of the way and we stop to get behind the rest of the people in line.
"Thanks for doing this," she says while turning toward me.
"Getting you a drink?"
Cora rolls her beautiful blue eyes. "Coming to the game with me, silly."
"Oh, are you kidding? There's no place I'd rather be." I hold out my arms and drag her in, my body starving from the lack of her close to me. I've thought about that hug from the other day a million and one times, and I've been dying to do it again, just to make the memory of it stronger.
"I missed this," she mumbles against my chest.
I breathe her in and kiss the top of her head softly. "Me too."
Cora breaks away, her gaze darkening. "Can we talk later?"
