I relaxed and enjoyed watching her have fun. We chatted and snacked on chips and dip. She told me about the charity event to raise money for the nursing home.

“The whole thing was a bust; however, your fat donation check saved the day. You didn’t have to give me any more money after paying for the medical services, but thank you. It was more than enough, and Mayor Greggs is planning to build another wing.”

“It was nothing.” I shrugged.

“It was huge, Julian.”

“It meant a lot to you. I was happy to do it.”

She held my gaze. “You’re really sweet.” Cheeks flushed, she lowered her lashes. “I told Margaret that you pretty much paid for the whole thing and she decided that she wasn’t going to bother to box your ears for being a hooligan in high school.”

I laughed. I hadn’t seen Margaret in years, but I knew the old lady. She was a pistol. “I’m relieved.”

We changed topics, moving on to hockey season. She admitted that she’d kept up with my team. Draping my arm over the back of her chair, I leaned closer to her. There was music playing in the background and disco lights swirling around the room. “Are you admitting that you’re a fan? My fan?”

She snorted. “Jeff is also on the team, and he’s a friend. I'm a fan of your team.”

“But you wouldn’t be if I wasn’t on it.”

“You’re sounding really cocky right now, Grayson.”

“You like my coc?”

She placed a finger over my lips. I smirked seeing her face redden. “You're such a troublemaker.”

“You like my brand of trouble.” I snagged her finger gently between my teeth and ran my tongue over it. April sucked in a breath and shuddered.

“Is this how you would have seduced me at prom ten years ago, Julian?”

“Hell yes. I would have definitely tried my luck.”

“Hm, maybe you would have succeeded.”

“Maybe? I really want to go back in time now,” I whispered, leaning in closer. I really wanted to kiss her.

“Who knows? If you play your cards right, you might get into my panties this prom night,” she purred, lips dangerously close to mine.

My cock was doing the electric slide in my pants. “Fuck, April, you tease.”

A wicked smile appeared on her lips, and she stood up just as I leaned in to kiss her. I growled my protest of being denied those sweet lips. Giggling, she took my hand. “You’re going to have to work to get into my panties prom date. Take me back to the dance floor.”

I laughed and followed her, growing hard-on and all. I’d follow her anywhere.

27

APRIL

The night was perfect. I’d never had anyone do something so romantic for me before. Of course, I had never put myself in the situation to be romanced. Julian said he was wooing me, and I wasn't sure if he was serious. He was such a jokester sometimes so it was hard to tell. There was something in his eyes, though, that hinted at him being serious. As he peered down at me, I caught a glimpse of that same look. A gleam of possessiveness. There was something else in his eyes too. He looked like he wanted to say something.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked, hoping to prompt him to tell me what was on his mind.

“Thinking about how perfect this moment is. How perfect you are.”

I couldn’t help grinning broadly. He always brought out my teasing side. “It’s either you're working overtime to get between my legs or you really are trying to woo me.”

“Maybe I’m trying to do both.” His eyes also gleamed with amusement.

“So that’s why you chose this song.” We slow danced to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. He selected it for our last dance. It was sweet. Julian was just so...not what I expected him to be. He was amazing but...there was always a but when uncertainty and insecurities reared their ugly heads in a relationship, a friendship. That was what I told him we had. We should just be friends, I’d told him. Yet, here he was carrying out this big romantic gesture, telling me I was perfect and pretty much implying that we should be together.