Page 46 of Ace

But dinner was uneventful. Everyone spoke of easy subjects and it went by quickly. Towards the end, Dex put an arm on the back of her chair. “We stay to dance, and then we’re out of here, agreed?”

“Agreed.”

He nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting for a moment, but otherwise his face was a mask.

Chapter 16

Dex toyed with his fork, more than ready to leave this crowd. When at last the dessert was finished and people were encouraged to go out in the foyer to check on their auction items, music started and a space was cleared. Dex stood and held out his hand. “I think that’s our cue.”

The eyes she lifted to meet his gaze sparkled with adventure. And he realized yet another thing he loved about Gianna. She was always game. Whatever it was, she was game. She’d jump in with everything she had and make the best of any situation.

As soon as they went out on the floor, he pulled her into his arms, where she fit like she was made to be embraced by him. They moved about the floor, no matter what song, in an easy, slow embrace.

“This is nice.” Gianna grinned.

“I agree. I kind of wish we were at my apartment in sweats watching a movie…”

They stopped and, without saying a word, made their way out of the room.

She laughed as he picked up the pace and they ran out onto the street, tossing his valet ticket to the man who waited at the curb.

Before long, she was in his car. “Let’s stop by my place to grab some things.”

“And leave a note.”

She snorted. “Oh right, and leave a note.” She laughed. “That will get an interesting reaction. Kind of glad I’ll miss it. Can you see it? Dear Mom, I’ll be at Dex’s for the next few weeks.”

His grin grew. “Oh, I love the sound of that.”

“Me too actually. So glad you got that two-bedroom.”

“And an office.”

“Ooh, who gets that?”

“Me.” He eyed her. “And you. We can share.”

“I’m just as happy on the couch with my laptop. Unless I have a video call or something.”

“We can run in the morning. Then get to work, catch lunch and dinner.”

After she ran into her house, wrote her note, and tossed her things in the back of Dex’s car, they were on their way again. Dex made a mental note to sneak back down to the tree fort and grab their time capsule. “I feel kind of like I’m sneaking out.”

“It’s like our junior high dreams come true.”

They’d always wished they could have sleepovers and couldn’t understand why their parents wouldn’t just let them. At the time, any thought of something besides friendship was gross to the both of them.

Dex wasn’t sure what her junior high dreams were about him, but he would have started dating her in seventh grade if she’d been at all interested. Which she hadn’t been. She’d only started to look at him in that way once they were in high school. He remembered trying really hard not to screw it up so she’d always look at him like the world started and ended with him.

And he was still doing the same. He knew he’d blown it. And their lives were headed in vastly different directions.

“But you know what? Our goals are the same. We both want to help the Pacific Oceanic Alliance. We both love the people on Panau. We’re the same if you think about it.”

“I agree with you. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Where did that even come from? We were talking about a sleepover at your house and then this leap. It’s like you were finishing up a long train of thought.”

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