Page 51 of Make Your Save

Gray just nearly missed his finger, but caught the side of it and sliced off a layer of skin.

“Rowan, are you okay?”

I’m pulled immediately from the memory and my cock isn’t hard anymore as my expression relaxes and I give Hadley a confused look. She’s staring back at me with concern. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You looked like you were in pain or like you were going to get sick.” Her face is filled with concern. “We don’t have to get dinner, we can always do it another time.”

“What? No,” I say in a rush, shaking my head at her in assurance. “I promise, I’m fine. I was just thinking about something else.”

She doesn’t look like she’s buying it and I hear Lincoln stifle a laugh as he lifts his eyebrows at Nova. “Okay, if you’re sure,” Hadley eventually says, stepping closer to me.

“I’m positive.” I glance back at Lincoln and Nova. “Thanks, guys. We’ll try not to be too late.”

“You kids just be safe and have a good time,” Nova calls out to us, her gaze linking with mine as Hadley gives her a wave and starts to walk ahead.

“Don’t forget to wear a?—”

Lincoln’s words are cut off as Nova quickly shoves her hand against his mouth. I cut my eyes at him, not sure if Hadley heard him or not as she’s already walking out the front door. Lifting my hand, I give Lincoln the middle finger, muttering a string of curses at him before I break out into a jog to catch up with Hadley.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she questions me once more as we get into the car.

I turn to look at her, meeting her look of concern. “Yes.” I pause, a cheeky smile forming on my lips as I tilt my head to the side. “Are you trying to get out of going to dinner with me?”

“No.” She bites back a grin, shaking her head as I see that darkness washing over her gaze again. “I didn’t know if you were having second thoughts of possibly being seen in public with me.”

“Why the fuck would I have second thoughts?”

She shrugs as if it’s nothing. “I don’t know. It just seems like it would be easier to explain us no longer being together if no one actually sees us.”

There it is again. That stupid goddamn reminder that this is all going to end sooner than I want it to.

“I told you, I’ll worry about that when the time comes,” I tell her, swallowing back the dread that surrounds that thought. “Until then, I want the entire world to know you’re mine.”

Something unreadable dances in her eyes. “Even if it’s fake?”

I’m beginning to hate that word and the concept behind it.

Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I tilt my head in agreement, blinking once before allowing myself the opportunity to fully drink her in. She’s fucking breathtaking.

“Even if it’s fake.”

I can’t keep my eyes off of her the entire night and I find myself doing and saying whatever I can just to hear the sound of her laughter snaking itself around my heart.

Dinner didn’t last nearly as long as I wanted it to and as we find ourselves coming down to the end of the night, I can’t bring myself to walk her back to my car. I know we have to go pick Lucy up and get home, but I need just a little bit longer...just one more fleeting moment with her.

“Are you ready to go?” I ask as we walk out therestaurant, immediately wanting to kick myself for even asking.

Hadley lifts her head to look at me, her eyes resting on me. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, raking them over her flesh as she shakes her head. “Are you?”

My eyes scan her face and I swallow roughly as I take a chance and extend my arm, holding my hand out for her. “Come with me?”

Her lips part, her eyes shimmering beneath the moonlight as she wordlessly slips her palm against my own, weaving our fingers together. There’s a park nearby that has a pond in the center with a walkway around the perimeter. It’s the first place I can think of to take her and she falls in step beside me as we head in that direction.

As we reach the park, the sound of a violin and an acoustic guitar dances around us, the gentle breeze carrying the melody from the gazebo on the other side of the pond. I glance at Hadley from the corner of my eye, watching a wistful smile drifting across her face.

Ignoring the path around the pond, I let her lead me directly to the water, reveling in the way her hand fits perfectly in mine. She stares out at the ripples caused from the fountain in the center, the same wonderment in her expression as she tilts her head back to look up at the stars.

“There’re so many stars tonight,” she says quietly, her eyes scanning the constellations. I tip my chin, looking up as I find the ones that look similar to thefreckles across the tops of her cheeks. “We’re so small in the grand scheme of things.”

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