Page 6 of Finding Fate

“Are you ok?” she asked sincerely, catching his discomfort.

“Yeah,” he lied, “Never better.”

She glanced up, concerned green eyes meeting his confused brown, and gave him a disbelieving look at his comment. So to prove he meant it, he pulled her close and twirled her around the dance floor faster than before. She tilted her head back and laughed at the thrill, sending those confusing shivers down his spine again.

* * *

“Jet, we’ve been dancing for over an hour now,” Annie said, ready for a break. “You got me here in a dress, which you should consider yourself lucky about by the way, and you won’t tell me what you have planned for tonight. I didn’t complain about not knowing what was going on, but I’m going to lose it if you don’t tell me soon!”

“Who’s to say that I have anything planned? What if I just wanted to see how we looked when we were both dressed up? It is a first for us.”

Annie glared at him in annoyance. “For your sake, I hope you’re lying.”

He gave her a devilish grin. “Come on,” Jet took Annie’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers. He led her outside, the summer breeze refreshing against their skin after the crowded space. “You really do look beautiful tonight. I love the flip flops.” He pulled her close, leaning back against a tree in a more private space.

Annie’s expression calmed at his reassurance, but the suspense really was starting to get to her. She nibbled at her lower lip, and Jet caressed it with his thumb for her to stop, leaning in for a kiss. She sighed, melting into his embrace.

Once she was thoroughly relaxed, Jet pulled back, nerves beginning to batter away at his stomach as he reached in his pocket. His fingers traced the small piece of metal as he met her gaze.

“I love you.”

She smiled, “I love you, too.”

“I know we’ve talked before, but you know you’re it for me, right?” Jeez, he felt awkward, like he was screwing this up, but Annie nodded. Jet swallowed, pulling the ring from his pocket; he held it out to her. “I wanted to get you something special.”

“Jet,” Annie breathed, feeling speechless. She let him slide it on her finger, and she tilted her hand to admire the interwoven band of hearts, its stones glinting in the parking lot’s lights. Their birthstones, she recognized.

“What does this mean?” she asked, searching his expression.

He smiled reassuringly, catching her apprehension. “For now, it’s a promise. One day, when we’re ready, I’ll propose, but until then, this is my way of saying you’re my forever.”

“Oh, babe,” she pulled him down to meet her lips, her fingers threading in his hair. He groaned, shifting them against the tree, his hands grasping her hips as she deepened the kiss. He nibbled at her lips, and her back arched her front against his chest. He wanted more, his body craved it, but he knew he had to keep it in check. They hadn’t gone there yet. Soon, he hoped. They’d gotten really close once, and Annie was open to more and more, but definitely not here. His lips moved down to that sensitive spot on her neck, and she whimpered, her back arching again.

“Get a room!” The comment came like a douse of cold water. Jet glared at his friend, but Kyle just smirked back, following a snickering freshman girl inside.

His forehead pressed to Annie’s. “I’m sorry. It’s not very private.”

Annie shot him a crooked grin and tugged at his hand. “We can fix that.”

* * *

Tucker checked his watch, sweat dripping down his back, soaking the back of his T-shirt beneath the light button up he left open in front. It was close to ten o’clock, but not late enough to call it a night. He had been dancing for a few hours now and was ready to get out into the night air. Even though it was nearly a hundred degrees outside and the humidity was heavy, he would at least be able to feel a breeze.

He looked back up and saw Izzy coming out of the restrooms. He could see that she was just as hot as he was and couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked with her cheeks flushed and soft wisps of hair plastered to the sides of her face. “Since when was it cute for girls to sweat?”

Tucker was about to go see if she wanted to join him outside when Wesley reappeared, leaning in to tell her something that made her laugh. He led her back to the dance floor, his hands clasping her hips, for what had to be their fifteenth dance that night. “Not that I’m counting,” Tucker thought as something tore at his chest.

Not able to watch anymore, he stepped outside, but it didn’t matter. He couldn’t get her out of his head. “ARGH… what is wrong with me?” Desperate for a solution, he pulled out his phone.

* * *

Isabel sighed and rolled her eyes when Tucker strutted in with that redhead from the beach. “Of course,” she murmured, sitting on a bench to massage her sore feet.

“Of course, what?” Wesley asked, handing her a bottle of water.

She took a sip and pointed at her friend. “That. I warned him I wasn’t riding home like some kind of third wheel.” And she wasn’t bugging Annie and Jet for a ride tonight either. She hadn’t even seen them in a couple of hours anyway.

Wesley took a seat next to her, “Yeah, I saw y’all talking at the beach today, and I had to steal you back from him for a dance earlier. What’s the deal with you and him? Girls seem to go crazy when he’s around.”

“Friends,” she stressed, “Like since preschool. He lives across the street from me. And girls go crazy ‘cause he’s the school’s basketball star and you know, lifeguard.” “Looking like that doesn’t hurt him either,” she added in her head.

Wesley nodded and flashed her that charismatic smile again. “Good. I can ask you out on a proper date then.”

She beamed. “Yeah, I’d like that, but I’ll take a ride home first…”

He stood and held out his arm. “My pleasure.”

---