Page 74 of Second Down Darling

“Just relax and have fun. I have a plan,” Jake tells me when he stands behind me and places his hands on mywaist.

Have fun. Yeah. I can dothat.

Except now I’m nervous. After a few shots, the guy shouts, “Honey, you’reblinking.”

Jake holds up a hand. “I got this. Do itagain.”

And then he dips me dramatically. I’m laughing as the flash goes off. Giggling as Jake presses his lips to my neck. Cackling when he tickles my ribs. Gasping for breath when he pulls me in for a kiss so hot, his teammates start hooting and holleringagain.

Wow. I could get used tothis.

When we’re done taking photos, Jake laces his fingers through mine and heads for the dance floor. The music is fast, and we’re hopping around like fools, but I’m having so much fun that I’m not thinking about how I might look. Billy laughs as he does “the sprinkler” around some girl while Cam does the robot on the other side. Roxy is ignoring Ezra and dancing with Diesel Smith, one of the hugelinemen.

I’m out of breath by the time the lights dim a bit and a slow songstarts.

Jake pulls me to him, and I drape my arms over his broad shoulders. I tilt my head back to look at him. “You’re quite dashing in thissuit.”

“You’re quite breathtaking in thatdress.”

I give him a shy smile. “Thanks for inviting me to homecoming. I’m having ablast.”

He rubs his nose against mine. “It’s to make up for the one I didn’t take you to in high school.” My eyes suddenly sting, and I blink them back and look away. “Aww, cupcake. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was hoping to make tonightspecial.”

Sniffling, I nod. “It is special. It’sjust…”

I wanted to go to homecoming with Jake so badly senior year. I almost asked him to go with me, but then his parents got into a huge fight, and he decided he wasn’t attending thedance.

Instead, he went to a party, got rip-roaring drunk, and hooked up withKota.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Charlotte,” he says quietly. “I’m sorry for all the ways I’ve hurt you. I plan to make it up toyou.”

I debate the words I’ve been mulling over since he kissed me in the field last night. I can barely spit it out. “What happens when Kota finds out?” Because she will eventually, and I’m afraid she’ll want to light me and Jake on fire when shedoes.

He sighs. “I guess I’m hoping she doesn’t care. She’s moved on, right? Theoretically, she’s off living her best life on that reality show and living her dream. Why should she give a shit what wedo?”

I give him a look, and he laughs. “Jake, comeon.”

“I’m serious. She and I broke up a long time ago.” He looks into my eyes for a moment. “And for the record, nothing I had with her is like what you and I have. You’re everything,Charlie.”

Smiling, I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him. I know he’s not just feeding me lines. When Kota wasn’t bragging about his sexual prowess, she’d complain that Jake never did anything romantic with her. Never held her hand. Was never into public displays of affection. Never included her on his social media. Was too obsessed withfootball.

And yet with me, he’s been nothing but sweet and thoughtful. As important as this season is to his career, I don’t feel like an afterthought tohim.

He runs his thumb against my jaw. “Here’s what we’renotdoing. We’re not gonna hide this. I hope Dakota has grown up and is too busy with her own shit to care about us, but in the event I’m wrong, then too fucking bad. She can suck it up. Plus, we’re in Texas and she’s in California. How’s she gonna know? What’s she gonna do? She’s sequestered at her posh LA mansion right now anyway. You and I can’t live the rest of our lives based on what-ifs.”

He’sright.

I nod, hoping this doesn’t backfire, but I’m tired of living in my sister’s shadow. Tired of catering to her every whim. It’s time I do what Iwant.

Jake kisses me, and all thoughts of my crazy sister meltaway.

Speaking of doing what Iwant…

28

JAKE

“Is this even legal?”I ask out loud as I park about ten feet from a sheer drop. The guys wanted to hang out at the quarry, and I was about to bail and take Charlotte home because I’d much rather chill with her, but her eyes lit up in that adorable way that makes her nosewrinkle.

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