Page 55 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
“Well, that was entertaining, but I’d like to go watch my baby get her last college gold medal now,” my mom says as she grabs my dad’s hand and starts leading him away.
Theo keeps his hold on me as we follow. When the short ceremony is over, I hold up my gold medal, and Lily holds up her bronze. We placed second as a team, and although I wanted to be first, I know we still did something extraordinary.
It might be my last time running for Shoreline and with these teammates, ending one hell of a season and my college career, but it feels like something new is just starting.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Theo
The road trip back from the meet is long and a little awkward, with Bash refusing to talk about what happened with Lily. After he punches Ezra in the arm for asking about it, nobody pushes him to explain. Sunny must know something, though; her eyes are full of mischief every time she looks over at me from the passenger seat.
After thanking them all for their help, I drop everyone off at their apartments before heading over to Shoreline to wait for Henley. She warned me she planned on taking a long shower in the locker room and could just ride home with Lily, but I want to hold her tonight.
Sending her a text letting her know I’m here and to take her time, I watch the door like a stalker until she walks out of it. After hugging her roommate, which leads to them both squealing, celebrating together one more time, they part ways.
I hop out of the Jeep to open her door, glancing back to make sure Lily makes it to her car safely. Henley gives me a quick kiss on the lips before climbing into the passenger seat and hooking up her phone.
A song I’ve heard from her playlist filters through the speakers, the melody a little sad but the lyrics still beautiful.That song fades into another and another until we’re pulling into my driveway.
When I look over, Henley’s eyes are closed, leaning back against the headrest. I take the moment to just stare at her. Her wavy brown hair is still a little wet from her shower, her face completely relaxed.
“We’re home, sweetheart,” I say softly.
“I know.” Her lips pull up in a grin as she looks over at me. “I was just wondering how long you were going to stare at me before saying something.”
I chuckle, not even embarrassed at being caught, knowing I could watch her just exist for hours and be grateful I’m in the same timeline as her.
Throwing open the door, I walk over to hers, opening it too. Then, I stand with my back facing her, gesturing for her to hop on.
Henley doesn’t hesitate, letting me carry her into the house this way, holding her own weight on me when I have to unlock the door. I’ll grab her bag from the car in the morning. Tonight, I’d rather just see her in one of my shirts.
I gently drop her down onto the couch and head to the kitchen. She scrolls on her phone while I put together a couple of sandwiches for us to eat.
Grabbing us both an electrolyte drink from the fridge, I juggle those and our plates over to join her. We eat in silence, but it’s a comfortable atmosphere. When we’re done, she follows me to the kitchen to clean up, but I shake my head.
“Not a chance. Go throw on one of my shirts and get ready for me to cuddle the shit out of you.”
Her smile is devious before she turns and walks to my room. I hear her in the bathroom, but then it’s just quiet, only the sound of the sink as I wash the dishes filling the air.
She probably fell asleep, considering how eventful her day was—which just means I can change and climb in right beside her, getting another chance to stare at her for a bit.
Except, when I walk into my room, Henley is definitelynotasleep.
She’s sprawled out on my bed wearing a pair of pink lace panties and one of my old jerseys she must have grabbed from the closet. It’s unbuttoned, barely covering her perfect tits.
“Fuck.” I almost choke on the word.
“That’s the plan,” she says, wearing that same smile from the kitchen.
Oh.
Oh, fuck.
“We don’t have to, sweetheart. I don’t expect anything just because you’re staying over. I really was planning to cuddle you while you got some rest,” I say honestly.
My hand runs through my hair at the same time she drags her own hand down her chest.
“Or,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows, “we could fuck.”
