Page 15 of Going All In

I settle on a pair of bootcut jeans, pairing them with a fitted white top, plaid scarf, and a winter jacket that hides most of the outfit but is definitely necessary with the temperature dropping. I check myself out in the mirror, turning to either side.

Wait. No.

This isn’t a date.

I don’t care how I look, remember?

If anything, my goal is to make sure he knows we’re friends. Nothing more.

I turn away from the mirror and walk through the apartment to the front door. I grab my purse from its usual spot by the door and sling it over my shoulder. The clock on the wall says it’s 5:55.

“JJ, I’m leaving!” I call out. I’m hoping to be in the lobby and waiting when he gets there. For some reason, it seems like I’m more in control that way.

“Have fun! Wear a seatbelt and remember, you’re both consenting adults and can fuck whoever you want!” she yells back.

Yeah, that’s not helpful at all.

I tap my fingers against my hip as the elevator descends. I’m not nervous the way I usually am before dates, which makes sense because, as I keep pointing out, this isnota date.

The elevator slows to a halt with ading. As the door slides open, I look out into the small lobby, and my hope of being the one waiting evaporates.

He’s standing in the center of the room. Dammit, Maddox.

I stride over to him. “Ready?”

His appraising gaze runs slowly down my body, and I shiver despite myself. “Ready. Are you okay taking my car? I’m parked right across the street.” He brings his eyes to my face. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks. I hope I’m dressed okay. You didn’t tell me what we were doing or where we were going for dinner.” I give him a pointed look, trying to quell the butterflies that flurry in my stomach the moment our eyes met.

He winks. “That’s for me to know.”

I swear to God, I almost stomp my foot like a toddler. He’s so damn infuriating. “I just want to know if I need to change, Maddox.”

Maddox turns so he’s completely face-to-face with me. He places his hands on my shoulders and looks me square in the eye, the weight of them sending another jolt of electricity though me. “Holly. You look perfect.”

I can’t pull my gaze away from his dark eyes. There’s something so sincere in them that I can’t doubt anything he says. My breath hitches slightly.

He reaches out to take my hand. “Are you ready?”

6

MADDOX

When Holly steps off the elevator, I swear my heart skips a beat. She’s dressed in casual clothing—jeans, with a puffy jacket—and I’ve never seen her look more stunning. The casual attire is perfect for what I have planned, although now that I’m looking at her, I want to throw the entire plan out the window and just take her back home and get her naked.

She’s starting to stress. I can see it in her expression; her brow pinches together, slightly at first, then more and more until her eyebrows are almost touching. Her mouth tightens, and when she’s about to lose it, her nose twitches.

“Are you ready?” I ask, reaching my hand out for hers.

She ignores the gesture, but at least this breaks her stress spiral as we head toward the exit.

I chuckle under my breath. I love this side of her, feisty and standoffish. It’s such a contrast to who she is when you get past the wall that she’s put up between us.

I catch up to Holly, placing a hand on the small of her back to lead her through the lobby. When we reach the door, I pull it open and motion for her to walk through. “After you.”

She sets her mouth in a thin line.

Outside, I pull open the door of the car. It’s still warm inside, which is what we need tonight, what with the falling temperatures. I wait for her to buckle her seatbelt before I pull out into traffic.

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