Page 168 of Finding Hope

She snickers and closes her door.

My heart gallops, because that wasn’t a fake giggle! That was her,finally. I’ve missed that sound.

Running to the driver’s side, I slide in and start the engine before I swing into the street. Looking back, I ignore her big, bad brother standing on the front porch with his hand on his hip and murder in his eyes.

“Did you have a good day at school?”

Smiling, Britt fixes the hem of her dress to cover her knees. “Yeah. Same, same. Evie almost got detention today; she was being sassy.”

“Yeah?” I grin. “Sassy to who? Another kid?”

“Nah, to me.”

“Really?”That’s not her. I mean, she’s sassy, but she’s respectful.“What happened?”

Britt simply shrugs. “Dunno. Guess she was having a bad day.”

“I can talk to her–”

“Oh, no,” she cuts me off. “This is my job. Kids are sassy all the time. They’re pre-teens, they’re hormonal, they have bad days. It’s normal.”

Taking her hand, I bring it to my thigh. I want to touch her. Ineedto feel her. It’s been too fucking long.

“Alright, well, let me know if she gets to be too much. I know she can be… pigheaded. She was born to push boundaries. Just let me know and I’ll fix it.”

“It’s fine. You look good, Jack. Ready for next week?”

“Ready as I’m gonna be.”

“When do you weigh in?” Her beautiful eyes narrow. “Can you even eat tonight? What about your pure protein diet or whatever?”

“I weigh in a week from today. And yeah, I’ll be eating. Nothing’s stopping me from taking you out tonight.”

I release her hand so I can downshift and pull into the parking lot, and as soon as the engine is silent, I rush around to her door and help her out. Walking toward the entrance with her arm in mine, I study her long legs eating up the pavement.

“You look so beautiful tonight, Britt.”

She squeezes my arm. “Thanks. There’s no media here… I guess I expected this place to be swamped.”

“I made the reservation under a fake name. They’ll probably come later, but we’ll at least get in and get started before they do.”

“Don’t you get sick of them invading your privacy like that?”

“All the fucking time,” I laugh. Stopping at the hostess desk, with as little as two words spoken, we’re led through the restaurant, past candlelit tables, and all the way to the back to a dark booth in the corner.

Icouldwalk to the other side of the booth. Icouldsit opposite, so I can look at her, but I don’t. I slide in as soon as she’s in, and I almost sitonher in an attempt to be close.

As soon as the hostess leaves, a waitress takes her place. “Can I get you guys a drink?”

“I’ll just take a water, thanks.” I turn to Britt. “You want soda or something, Bambie?”

“I’ll take a beer, please.”

Like she just punched me in the fucking heart with a literal jackhammer, the breath whooshes from my lungs, and my eyes itch – from craving, from heartbreak, from the pain of her strike.

Avoiding my gaze, she watches the waitress take our order and walk away. As soon as the woman is gone, Britt’s eyes go to the flower arrangement in the middle of the table and her hand goes to fuss with her bracelet.

At least she’s still wearing it.

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