A firm hand lands on my hip. Warmth floods my side before his soft breath tickles my ear. “This dress is killing me.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not wearing it.” My words are soft as I smirk. Jett chuckles deeply, sending vibrations over my body.
“Would you two get a room?” Levi says as he steps into our circle.
“It’s like prom night all over again,” Heath adds.
“Funny,” Jett muses. “We were reminiscing about that.”
I dip my head to hide my blush.
“Speaking of prom night, where’s Davis?” I glance around the room for our other friend.
“Heard he’s working tonight,” Levi supplies.
“Such a buzzkill,” Heath says with a groan. “Does he not know the meaning of fun anymore?”
Greer shrugs. “I don’t think so. All he does is work and brood in his cabin.”
“Life has a way of changing your priorities,” Levi states, and my head whips in his direction, clearly missing something. A dark quiet falls over the group, but it’s short-lived.
“Who wants to get drunk, dance, and find a hot guy to flirt with?” Saylor blurts out, practically vibrating with excitement next to Levi. I don’t miss the way his nostrils flare and make a note to myself to harass Saylor about it later.
“Replace guy with girl and I’m in,” Heath says, and the two of them head off to the bar.
I slide into the chair at our table as the lights dim and the low hum of conversation settles. The room glows beneath the warm lights, plates clinking as caterers place them in front of guests. Someone laughs too loudly before they’re shushed. It all feels warm and alive, like the town pushed aside their differences to be here together.
Coach Pierce steps up to the mic, clearing his throat in a way that makes the room hush. He looks good tonight—proud and relaxed, a man who’s celebrating all he’s built in his short yearsas our head football coach. Jocelyn Reames stands off to his side as she fulfills her duty of athletic booster’s president. I’ll never understand why anyone would vote her into that position. I follow her gaze as she admires my date sitting next to me. She still can’t grasp the fact that Jett and I are destined to be together.
I lean close to Jett. “Did something happen between you two while I was gone?”
He sips his beer, rubbing his thumb over my bare shoulder. “Who?”
“Jocelyn. She won’t take her eyes off you, and every time she sees me, she glares daggers.”
“I haven’t been with anyone butyou,” Jett states firmly.
I swallow, relieved to hear he hasn’t been with anyone from our town. I’d rather know if I’ll be bumping into an ex while grabbing coffee at Shoreline Sips.
I’m not naive to think he’s only been with me. Ten years is a long time to be celibate and, honestly, I don’t care about his past relationships. But he keeps saying it’s only been me… Can that be true?
He must feel her eyes on him, too, because in the next moment, he’s stealing my breath as his mouth crushes mine.
I can’t contain the gasp escaping my lips as I clench my thighs together. Hooded eyes look down at me as I try to control my breathing.
“Welcome, everyone,” Jacob greets. “Before we get too far into the evening, I wanted to say thank you on behalf of the athletic boosters and Silo Bay athletics for showing up tonight, enjoying a delicious dinner and losing all your money to me at the blackjack tables.”
Polite laughter ripples through the crowd.
“This program,” he continues, voice steady, “is more than wins and losses. It’s rides home when parents are working late. It’s meals and tutors. It’s a place to belong when the world feels too big.”
I feel it in my chest, the quiet truth of it. Beside me, Jett’s knee nudges mine under the table.
Jacob gestures around the room. “Tonight exists because of volunteers who seek out local donations, order new uniforms and supplies, who showed up early and stayed late to make this space feel special.”
My stomach tightens at the realization of how important a night like this is for our local high school and the student-athletes.
“And because of donors, like yourselves,” he says, voice lifting, “who believe in our kids.”
