Page 40 of Fighting Fate

"Why the truck fantasy?" Payson quiets some of the teammates with a gesture, her curiosity directed at Milli.

Milli shrugs, casual but thoughtful. "It's the thrill of the unexpected, the intimacy of being in close quarters, and the adrenaline from doing something bold."

Luke grimaces. "Milli, I don't need to hear this."

"Relax, Sutton. She's in college. Let her have her fantasies," Payson chides.

"And don't forget the thrill of possibly getting caught," one of my teammates adds, egging her on. But I'm barely paying attention to the banter. My focus is entirely on Milli, feeling her body pressed against mine. Luke's concerns about our closeness seem irrelevant right now. From where he's sitting, across the flames, he can't see everything.

"Alright, my turn," Brooke pipes up, leaning in to kiss Josh. His encouraging words, "Go for it, babe," barely registers with me. Just then, Milli leans in closer, her breath mingling with mine, her eyes a mesmerizing swirl of green and blue. "They didn't let me finish that fantasy," she murmurs, her voice a tantalizing whisper.

My eyebrow arches in surprise.

"Getting fucked in a Chevy CK," she confesses, her gaze intense and inviting. The bonfire's flicker in her eyes adds a layer of depth to her words.

Holy shit, she's serious. I'm momentarily speechless; my mind reeling from her bold admission.

Brooke's voice cuts through the tension. "I dare Miles to kiss Milli."

A new round of cheers erupts, but I barely have time to react before Luke intervenes. "That's enough. I'm not watching this."

"Lighten up, Sutton. It's just a game," Payson says.

"It's not just a game. It's your excuse for us to cross lines," Luke counters, his tone hardening.

Payson smirks. "Scared of a little dirty play, Sutton?"

Luke lets out a sigh, the air around him practically vibrating with frustration. The tension between them is palpable, hinting at an impending clash. Despite the distraction their disagreement provides, I can't help but mourn the interrupted moment with Milli.

"I'm not scared of playing dirty, Pennington," Luke retorts, his voice firm with challenge. The group's attention is now on their brewing standoff.

"Prove it," Payson challenges, her grin tinged with mischief.

I lean in toward Milli, whispering, "What do you think is about to go down?" Her fingers intertwine with mine on my thigh, a gentle reminder of the tension between us, a tension I'm struggling to keep in check.

She leans in to whisper, "Definitely something's up. Payson's got that gleam in her eye, the one that screams trouble's on the way."

As Luke moves closer to Payson, there's a shift in the atmosphere. The crowd around us starts chanting, echoing those teenage games of daring. Payson and Luke, caught in their own world, seem to forget everyone else.

"Do you even know what 'playing dirty' means?" Payson goads him.

Luke steps closer, towering just above her. Yet, despite her smaller frame, she remains unflinching. "Why don't you spell it out for me?" he retorts.

In a sudden move, they kiss—a fierce, passionate kiss that seems to stop time. It's intense and unapologetically bold, drawing gasps from some of my teammates.

Milli groans. "Okay, that's enough." As if on cue, they part, both looking slightly stunned by their own audacity.

The game continues, but the mood shifts back to a more casual tone. The crowd grows as more friends join, including Cam. His surprised look at seeing Milli in my lap barely registers with me. I'm too caught up in the moment—Milli curled against me, her head on my chest, enveloped in a blanket.

Being this close just feels natural, like a glimpse of what could be. Luke hasn't said anything about us being this intimate. To him, maybe it's just friendly comfort. But to me, it's more. It's the warmth of her against me, our entwined fingers, a tender touch that feels like coming home.

Milli has been my steadfast support, particularly through my ordeal with cancer. Her constant presence was a guiding light in those bleak periods. "We'll tackle it together," she consistently assured me.

Now, as she looks up to lock eyes with me, her soft, "Thank you, Miles," resonates with immense gratitude, highlighting the strength of our connection. In this instant, all else dims into the background.

As she lets go of my hands to encircle my waist with a comforting hug, I murmur gently, "What for, Mills?"

Her smile wraps around my heart like a warm hug, easing that unique tightness she alone can cause. "For everything, but especially for persuading me to be here tonight. After such a tough week, this...it's exactly what I needed."

---