Page 60 of Worth the Shot

His body is carved , but not in a way that feels showy or gym-bro. It’s a more soft, lethal way with a modest four-pack, arms that look like they could carry me across a bed of nails and tattoos wrapping around his left arm including another I somehow never noticed on his right inner bicep. I’m going to die. Literally die. Take me out back and put me down before I climb this man like a goddamn tree.

“What—what are you doing?” I choke out.

He smirks, because he knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Well, I figured you might want to take this home,” he says, holding the sweatshirt. “It’s the least I can do, since I washed the blanket.”

“Ah. Yes. Right.” My brain has malfunctioned. I’m sweating. I need to touch grass immediately.

“Arms up,” he says, stepping closer.

I do as I’m told, because apparently I’m a good girl now. He slips the sweatshirt over me and the second the fabric hits my skin, I go still. It feels like he cast a spell on me only he can undo.

He pulls the hood down, brushes my hair from my face and tilts my chin up with two fingers. The smile on his face is suddenly the most hypnotizing thing I’ve ever seen and, yup, stick a fork in me because I’m done.

He looks at me like he means every single thing he’s about to do, and then he kisses me like he’s leaving for war and I might never see him again.

Passionate.

Intentional.

Devastating.

Heaven.

We linger there for a moment, neither of us wanting to say goodbye. Finally, he pulls back just enough to grab my hand, his thumb brushing over mine like he’s not quite ready to let go.

“So,” he says, a little quieter now, “the gala’s in a few weeks. Think you’d want to be my date?”

I tilt my head, pretending to think about it, even though the answer is very clearly yes.

“Depends,” I say. “Are you a good date?”

“For you?” His mouth curves. “ The best.”

I try not to smile. I fail, miserably.

“We’re away for games next week, but as soon as I get back, I want to see you,” he says, taking both of my hands in his. “Maybe we can go pick out a dress. And a few goodnight FaceTime calls in between wouldn’t hurt, either.” He smirks.

“I’ll see if I can fit you in,” I tease, rising onto my toes to kiss him once more. “Goodnight, Bren.”

The drive home is a blur because I’m currently existing somewhere between cloud nine and a low-orbit atmosphere. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way, and for once…it doesn’t just scare me. It also makes me feel electric, hopeful, and like I can conquer the world. Superhuman.

I call my mom, because even though it’s late, she’s definitely awake.

“Hi honey, everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Really good, actually. How are you, Mom?”

I can hear her smile when she answers. “You must have spent time with Brennan this evening.”

“You gathered that twelve seconds into our call? How?”

“Delaney, you light up whenever he’s around. I can hear it in your voice. I know you, sweetheart.”

I don’t say anything, because arguing would be pointless and delusional. For once, I’m speechless which is an extremely rare occurrence.

“Did you two have a good time?” she asks.