Page 62 of Second Down Darling

He makes me hand over the camera to Roxy before he drags me over to the group. “Hangtight.”

That’s the only warning he gives me before he lifts me onto his shoulder. Like, I’m literally sitting on his leftshoulder.

“Jake!” I laugh as I wobble, but then he reaches up a hand, and I cling to him for dearlife.

He yells, “’Kay, Roxy. Go for it.” He looks up at me and grins. “Smile for the camera,cupcake.”

She takes several shots. I’m smiling so hard, my cheeks hurt, and I forget to worry about whether or not I’mblinking.

When we’re done and he slides me down to the ground, I’m out of breath. I almost feel like Jake is claiming me somehow, but that’s crazy, right? He wanted to be in the photo, and I’m his good friend, so he had me joinhim.

Roxy returns the camera and leans into me to whisper, “What was that about? Are you two doing thedeed?”

“No. We’re just friends.” God, I feel like a brokenrecord.

Her eyebrow lifts. “Because the looks he’s giving youtonight…”

Jake’s giving melooks?

I turn to find him talking to Cam, but his eyes are glued on me. Every molecule in my bodyheats.

“Holy hot sexual tension, Batman.” Roxy bumps me with her hip. “I want all the deetstomorrow!”

“There won’t be any deets.” Will there bedeets?

When Jake stalks toward me with that look in his eyes, I want to melt into a puddle at hisfeet.

He turns to Roxy. “Thanks for thepic.”

“Anytime,Ramirez.”

The crowd’s getting wild as the fire starts to wane. “Want to get out of here? Since it’s still early, I was thinking we could pick up some snacks and gostargazing.”

My heart stutters in my chest. “O-okay.”

I swallow, thinking back to our freshman year in high school and the last time we did this. Only back then, we were with a bunch of his friends. I was so nervous, I didn’t know what to do with myself, and I think I gave off some serial killer vibes that night because he never asked me to do thatagain.

As covertly as possible, I shove up the sleeves of his jacket to wipe my sweaty palms on my shorts. I’m so anxious, my body can’t decide if I’m hot orcold.

I keep waiting for him to mention whatever teammates we’re meeting up with, but he’s quiet as we make our way to his car. A wild group of guys start a spontaneous mosh pit around us, and I almost get trampled, but Jake shoves someone out of the way, takes my hand in his, and leads me out of thecrowd.

As we walk, I laugh at how the tips of my fingers barely stick out of his jacket. It’s huge onme.

“What’s so funny?” heasks.

“Your jacket isenormous.”

He tugs me closer and whispers, “I like you wearing myletterman.”

Oh my God.What does thismean?

We hopin his car and stop off at the mini-mart by our apartment. The whole time, I’m buzzing with excitement and trying to calmdown.

“You know thedrill.”

Smiling, I feel like Jake’s talking in code, and I’m the only person who understands. Dakota always ditched us to party with her friends, and Jake and I would watch Asher. Once he went to sleep, we’d veg out with snacks and watchmovies.

I hunt up and down the aisles for our favorites—Doritos, Twinkies, Ding Dongs, beef jerky, and Extra-Spicy ChexMix.

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