Page 151 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

His brows crease. “You want to leave the dance?”

“Just for a bit. We can go to the park a few blocks away. If you, um, want to have some privacy.”

“I’d love to,” he says.

I take his hand and lead him toward the exit of the gym. I catch Rylee looking at me with a questioning expression, but I wink at her, letting her know everything is okay. I also catch Mia, who is talking to Lexi and the boys, watching us with a confused expression. Then her face brightens and she gives me a thumbs up.

Kade and I fetch our jackets and leave the school, heading toward the park. Even though the night is a little chilly, it feels perfect. Maybe because I have the most amazing guy walking beside me.

“Are you cold?” he asks, touching the hem of his jacket. “I can give you my jacket.”

“Thanks, but I’m okay. I don’t want you to be cold.”

“I’d sacrifice myself for you,” he says.

I stop walking and stare at him. “You would?”

He steps closer until there are only centimeters between us and whispers, “In a heartbeat.”

“I, um…gosh, Kade. I think I just melted.”

He laughs. “Good. I think?”

“I think so, too.”

We continue toward the park, but I’m having difficulty breathing. I’ve never felt so many emotions all at once. All the good ones like happiness and anticipation and elation and oh my gosh, am I actually in a dream??? But I also have nerves and fear and worry…

Can someone explode from so many emotions?

We reach the park and find an area that is an open space. Kade and I face one another, drinking each other in. As though we want to etch every single moment into our memories forever.

I throw my arms around him, pressing myself as closely to him as I humanly can. “Let’s continue the slow dance here.”

“We don’t have music,” he says as his arms secure around me.

“We don’t need it. We just need each other.”

“You’re right. This is perfect.”

“You’re perfect,” I say.

His chest rumbles with a laugh. “You’re the perfect one.”

“We can argue all night.”

“Is that really what you want to do in our privacy?”

I slowly look into his eyes, seeing them just as intense as they were before.

“No.” My voice is hoarse. I clear my throat. “I definitely would rather do other things than argue with you all night.”

He brings his hand to my cheek, then sweeps it along my face until his fingers tangle in my hair. “I’ve been thinking about it every night,” he murmurs.

I know exactly what he’s referring to. Our almost-kiss.

“It hasn’t left my mind either,” I tell him.

“It’s been driving me insane.”

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