Page 120 of Play Pretend

“He doesn’t sleep. So he can’t exactlyturn in early.”

“I think he just wants to take his girl home.” Brynne flashed me a knowing grin, and my face heated.

“Oh my god.” He tipped his head back, his eyes fluttering shut. On my thigh, he tapped his fingers over and over, and I slid my hand over his, stopping him. “Some of us have to work tomorrow.” He sent a pointed look to Trinity. “And some of us can’t be lateagain.”

“Work, work, work,” she muttered, using her hand to mime a mouth talking. “Do you do anything else with your life?”

He started tapping again, and I slipped my bottom lip between my teeth, a smile forming. “Oh, stop tormenting him.” Demi laughed, pressing her hand into his shoulder.

After our goodbyes, we made our way through the house, Demi following us to the front door. She leaned against it as we stepped onto the porch. The sun had long since set, and the wind was cool. It pricked my skin, and Ronan wrapped his arm around me, rubbing his hand over my chilled arm.

“Be careful driving home,” Demi said, resting her head against the door.

“We will, Mom.” We turned to leave, but her voice made us stop.

“You’re good together,” she murmured. I glanced over my shoulder at her, but her eyes were solely on her son. “I like seeing you so happy.” Then, slowly, they shifted to me. “And I like knowing my boy has someone like you by his side.” Emotion clogged my throat until I couldn’t breathe, until I couldn’t swallow or think or move. All I could focus on was the words—the way she’d said them. The warmth in her voice and in her eyes. “Take care of each other.”

With that, we left. We walked down the short sidewalk to Ronan’s truck. He opened my door but didn’t immediately shut it. Instead, he just stared at me. There was so much weight in his stare, so many unsaid words.

He leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. Heat soared through my veins, and I gripped my dress in my shaky fists. His tongue slid against the seam of my lips, always asking for permission, and I opened for him.

The kiss was hot and long, and he pressed me into the seat. There was no air left in my lungs when he pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.

“Thank you,” he rasped. “For coming tonight.”

“Thank you for bringing me.” He kissed me again, softer and quicker. But before he shut the door, he cupped my cheek. His eyes searched mine, and I felt my heart do a somersault in my chest.

“I don’t know what I did to get so fucking lucky.”

ronan

“Where are we going?” Willow giggled, but I just grinned. With the blindfold over her eyes, she couldn’t see me, but I couldn’t stop smiling.

“Big step up here,” I told her, gently guiding her up the rock. Her foot caught on the slick stone, and she yelped. I grabbed her waist, steadying her, smoothing my thumbs over her T-shirt. “I’ve got you, baby girl. Put your hands on my shoulders.”

Her fingers dug into my shoulders as I lifted her effortlessly off the rock and settled her on the ground at my side. We were almost to the overlook, just a few more minutes and she could take that blindfold off.

I knew she was antsy about what was happening, where we were going. And that made it all the more fun.

“Can I guess where we are?” she asked, and I laughed.

“Or you could just enjoy the journey.”

“How can I when I can’t see anything?”

I squeezed her hand as we walked up the steep hill to the top of the peak. There was a rickety old fence that kept people away from the edge. If you put any weight on it, you’d topple over. But it was worth it—the Atlantic Ocean stretched out, far and wide. Itfelt like standing on the edge of the world, like you were the last person alive.

Pine and cedar trees surrounded the area, giving us enough shade to stay cool, but still allowing sunlight to peek through the leaves. But if we walked a little past the peak and down a secret trail, we’d find the real gem. A hidden cave full of crystals and shells—it smelled like seaweed and sand, but the secluded beach was well worth the stench.

We made it to the peak, and I pulled Willow to a stop at my side. Finally, I tugged the blindfold off her eyes, and she blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust. I knew the second they did, because her mouth dropped open on a gasp.

“Oh my god,” she breathed, pressing her hand into her chest. “Oh mygod, Ronan.”

She stared out at the ocean, at her lighthouse way in the distance. It was so small from this far away, this high up, but it was there, tall and proud. Her fingers trembled as she placed them over her lips.

“This is…gorgeous,” she said softly, like she was scared to speak too loudly. I looked around with her, taking it all in. “How did you find this place?”

“My dad used to bring us here,” I muttered. She turned her back to the ocean, taking in the trees behind us.

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