Page 87 of The Playbook

When we reached the parking lot, I wheeled into my spot and cut the engine.

“Ready?”

She blew out a breath and fixed a shaky smile onto her face. “Yes.”

“That’s my girl.” I brought her hand to my lips quickly before getting out and walking to her side to help her out. The school’s front lawn was filled with students milling about before classes started. There wasn’t a soul who wouldn’t know our status within minutes.

I held my hand out to Grace. She slid her palm against mine, and I brought her out of the Jeep. She adjusted her off-the-shoulder blouse and jean skirt before she visibly swallowed and looked to me for guidance.

“Let’s make history, baby,” I said, winding my arm around her waist and leading her to the sidewalk.

We strolled side by side as students stopped and gawked. It was the teenage dream, and we were living it.

I tugged her to a stop in the center of the courtyard and turned to her.

“You’re everything to me,” I murmured before leaning in and placing a deep kiss on her lips.

The tension in her body melted away as she fell into the kiss, her fingers twisting in my shirt, my hands on her waist. Her tongue slid against mine, and I couldn’t shake all the dirty, delicious thoughts from my head.

She broke the kiss off moments later, leaving me breathless and desperate for more.

“God, you’re perfect,” I growled, going back in to nip her bottom lip.

She let out a soft laugh before taking my hand.

I’d completely zoned out everyone else when I’d kissed her, but now that we were back to reality, it was plain to see probably everyone saw our kiss.

Good.

A feeling of freedom rushed over me. No more hiding our relationship. Grace Matthews was mine.

“We did it. I told you it would be OK,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze and leading her into the school amid the stares.

* * *

I grinned at the latest person who clapped me on the shoulder and told me congrats on my new relationship with Grace. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like I was at the top of the world. I sauntered to the men’s room and went inside, taking care of business and breathing deeply to compose myself before I came out to wash my hands.

“Seems like you won,” Nikki said, strutting toward me, my phone in her hands, her hips swaying in her short skirt.

I stared her down, really not wanting to deal with her shit, but definitely needing to smooth things over with her so she wouldn’t fuck with Grace. I reached for my phone, which she apparently took from my bag and frowned at her.

“I’m happy, Nikki, so yeah, I guess I won.” I stuffed my phone into my pocket.

She let out a soft laugh and stopped in front of me. “I miss you.”

I held up my hand, discouraging her from coming any closer. “Let’s not do this—”

“I value you your friendship, Logan. I’m not here with any ill intentions. I just wanted to tell you that I get it and want your happiness too.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, confused.She’d stalked me in the bathroom and went through my shit because she cared about me?She was up to something. I just wasn’t sure what.

“You do?”

“Yes.” She beamed up at me. “You mean a lot to me. I don’t want our past to ruin what could still be a great friendship.”

“You want to be friends?”

She nodded. “I do. I’d rather have you as a friend than not have you at all. Can we still be friends?”

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