Page 46 of Everything I Desire

“Shut up all of you. Preston won’t let me have any. I can have one cup a day and I’ve been sneaking it from the diner,” she says slyly. “Don’t try to deflect!”

“Oh alright.” I give in. I tell them all about the night at his garage with Maura, Mom, and me showing up after Spring Fling.

“Does this mean we can have a triple date night this weekend?” Lacey asks.

“Really? You guys are going to triple date without me?” Willow feigns offense.

“Move home.” The three of us say in unison.

The rest of the morning is spent making breakfast and eating together.

Porter agrees to a triple date this weekend. He also takes no time in telling me that he is right about the photo and I deserve this early morning ambush from my sisters.

I don’t care what time they show up, I’m just happy that I can finally be with Porter again. I’d take a million early sister ambushes if it means I get Porter back.

Tonight we are all going to The Bar to hang out, even Lauren and Brad are coming.

I wish Lauren would just tell Brad how she feels. We all know they both feel the same way about each other and have since high school. They’re the only two who don’t want to admit it and still maintain they’re just best friends.

The owner of The Bar, Gunnar, has a local band coming tonight for live music and it’s just warm enough to be out on the patio with the heat lamps around.

The Bar always has live music in the summertime and the whole town comes to hang out on the patio and listen. He even started a teen night once a month with some of the kids’ bands playing. It’s been a hit at school and we always hear about how excited they are when the first one is announced.

Gunnar is a quiet guy, but he’s done some really amazing things for the kids in this town, he just keeps most of it anonymous and I’m the only one in our group who knows about his charity. I keep his secret, but I wish he would let people celebrate the good he does.

Porter and I are the first to get here.

“Hey guys! I saved you a table by the heaters.” Gunnar shakes Porter’s hand and hugs me before grabbing menus and bringing us outside.

“Thanks man. You going to be joining us later?” Porter asks.

He told me that he and Gunnar bonded in the first few days he was here when he was getting take-out daily.

“Yea, I’m definitely going to try. I heard rumors there might be some trouble later, so I want to stay close by for my staff.” He raises his eyebrows in Porter’s direction and both of us understand. The trouble he’s talking about is Maura’s crew.

“There’s the new couple!” Scarlett yells running over to us.

She hugs me, and then I’m bombarded by Lacey and Lauren also.

“Girl. I’m so happy for you. I knew my plan would work.” Lauren smacks a big kiss on my cheek for dramatic fashion.

“Oh your plan? Maybe I’ll have to come up with my own plan.” I nod in Brad’s direction.

“Oh yes! I love that idea!” Lacey and Scarlett agree.

Lauren’s cheeks blush a deep red and she tucks her head down taking the seat between me and Lacey. When Brad chooses the seat directly across from her, and eyes her the entire time he sits down, Lacey and I exchange a wink behind her back.

We know what we have to do.

The band starts to cover a Morgan Wallen song and all the girls pull me to the dance floor. After a few songs, I notice a group of guys inching closer to us. I get a bad vibe and am instantly uncomfortable. I glance back to our table and don’t see the guys. I start to panic until I feel large hands reach around my hips.

“These guys are assholes.” Porter whispers in my ear. I look around and notice all the guys have come to save us.

“Thank you.” I spin in his arms. Brad is dancing with Lauren, a scowl on his face in the direction of one guy in particular who was in Lauren's space.

“Yea. He was definitely the most pissed off. I told him he better claim his woman before it’s too late.” He laughs.

“If only.” I laugh.

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