There goes that patient smile again. "My intentions to date you, Millie," he spells out plainly and slowly so I can understand.
The best that my brain can come up in response is, "Okay."
"Okay," he answers in turn, that handsome smile back on his face.
I reach for the door handle because it feels like my brain is going to explode from stimulation overload.
Right before I push the door open, he says, "Come to my game tomorrow night."
His soft command halts my movement. "Come again?"
"Tomorrow night's a home game. I'm sure Lily and Stella are coming, so you will have someone to sit with."
I feel so off-kilter from everything that's happened tonight, but there is a flicker of excitement that starts low in my belly, becoming stronger and stronger as the seconds tick by.
I really did love watching that game with him, and I bet it's even more exciting to watch him play. I try not to overthink my answer. "That sounds fun."
If I thought his smile was perfect before, the one covering his face right now tops it by a million. "Yeah?" he sounds like a kid that just got told he could buy whatever he wants in the candy shop.
"Yeah," I confirm, my own smile growing.
"Stay right there," he says excitedly as he hastily opens his door and jogs around the front of the truck to my side. He opens my door and reaches his hand in to help guide me out.
I laugh. The gesture feels kind of silly, but I kind of love it. "Thank you, sir."
He bows his head playfully. "It is my pleasure, ma'am."
He leans in like he's going to kiss me. Butterflies suddenly flare in my belly, coming to life at feverish speed. Just before he reaches my lips, his head turns to the side, connecting withmy cheek in the sweetest torture. I melt under his touch just the same.
I can't imagine what it would feel like for his lips to connect with mine. An image and feeling I've fantasized about more times than I care to admit to myself.
"Good night, Daredevil."
The way he says my nickname has my core turning into straight lava, all hot and gooey.
"Good night, Rowan."
He watches until I'm safely inside before slowly pulling away from the curb.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I watch his truck drive away until he's completely out of view.
Chapter Thirty
Millie
"Lucy! Come on, it will be fun!" Anna whines. She flops down on my bed, throwing her body back in a show of exasperation and annoyance.
"I'm not sneaking out to go to some stupid party." I say sternly, digging my heels in for real this time. I don't even want to think about the amount of trouble I would get into if my parents caught us. "It's not worth it," I add.
"You never want to do anything fun," she pouts, poking her bottom lip out for good measure.
"That's not true. Plus, it's not even going to be that much fun. They're all older than us, Anna. We barely know any of them."
She sits up from the bed suddenly. "You're just making my argument for me, Lucy! That's exactly why we should go!"
She stands up from the bed and comes to stand beside me. I'm sitting at my vanity, curling my long strands of blonde hair.
She leans down so that her mouth is close to my ear and says, "I think Derek has a crush on you."
