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Dad was back to his usual self, and whenever Riggs was around, I took a few steps back to let them talk about everything they usually talked about without me being in the room.

I mostly left with Riggs on nights like those, so it was all good.

Christmas was coming closer, snow was falling, and although it was getting colder outside, I didn’t bother putting on another layer of clothes underneath my uniform to keep me warm.

A coat was enough.

“I didn’t see your car in the parking lot this morning. Did Riggs drive you?” Kennedy asked as she stopped next to me by my locker.

“Yes, and he’s picking me up again. He’s taking me to a little spa retreat up in the mountains,” I told her with a bright smile.

I was excited to see him again, and since I’ve been to that spa once before with Della to have a girl’s night out when I was sixteen, I remembered how relaxing that place was.

“The one with the salt water pool?” Kennedy asked, her eyes wide. “Oh, man…I really wanna go there sometime.”

“Let Mason know. I’m sure he’ll take you. He’s been spoiling you since the start,” I said.

“I don’t wanna ask too much from him. I feel like I can’t keep up with him and give back.”

“Then you invite him to the spa. It’s not always men having to pay for everything,” I said with a shrug, placing my books into the locker and closing it.

“You’re right. I’ll invite him. Makes me feel powerful,” she replied, smiling brightly.

“That’s how you’re supposed to feel. Wanna walk outside with me?” I asked, taking a quick look at my phone to check the time.

It was almost five p.m. and we both had classes all day long, so since it was the end of November, the sun was already setting.

I loved this time of year, when the snow and moon were the only things lighting up the town.

“Of course. I don’t wanna miss out on a glance at your hunky man.”

I laughed, and together we walked outside to see Riggs already standing there, leaned against his car and his hands pushed deep into his coat’s pocket.

“You sure are lucky. Look at the way he’s looking at you.”

And I looked at him the same way. “I love him,” I told her, smiling like a fool at Riggs.

No matter how much had changed in our lives, behind closed doors Riggs and I were still the wildest and dirtiest people in this town.

Our way of expressing ourselves was through sex, but that wasn’t possible in public.

Well, it was possible, but I didn’t think we’d ever go as far as having sex in public.

“I’m so happy for you. Have a great time tonight. I’ll see you on Monday.”

I hugged her and said goodbye, then I walked straight to Riggs and let him pull me against him with one arm while I leaned into him and hugged him back.

“Hi,” I said, looking up at him and then kissing his jaw before he cupped my face with his other hand to pull me in closer and kiss me.

We’d been out in public before, and even after Della’s outburst, people didn’t seem to care about us dating, which was definitely how it should’ve been.

People minded their own business, and there was nothing standing in our way to be happy together.

“Ready?” he asked as he moved back to meet my eyes, and I nodded with excitement, ready to relax and have a great time at the spa.

“Can’t wait. I missed you today.”

“Getting cheesy again,” he grumbled, making me roll my eyes.

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