Page 44 of Lovetown, USA
I guess I was good luck after all.
After, I make my way down the bleachers and over to the sideline.
“Congratulations!” I shout to him over the din of the crowd, trying not to sound proud of him, even though I kind of am.
“I have you to thank,” he says with a grin that should be illegal.
“That was all you,” I insist.
“We should celebrate.”
I hesitate, mentally measuring my better judgment against my desire for…whatever this is. My better judgment loses. “Fine. Let’s celebrate.”
“Be ready in an hour.” He walks off before I can ask for details.
As I turn, I look up and into the eyes of Mayor Daphne who’s watching intently. As soon as our eyes lock, she waves and performs a smile—that’s the best way I can describe it. It’s creepy, but I wave back anyway, all the more resolved to expose her and whatever she’s doing that’s making this town feel like Valentine’s Day on meth.
14
Trey
Lane is outside waitingwhen I pull up. She’s changed into a blue sundress, and her hair is pulled up high in a ponytail or something. She looks adorable. You could almost forget how no nonsense she is.
I hop out and walk around to open her door. Her perfume hits me as she passes, and I almost close my eyes and moan a little. She always smells so sweet. And edible.
But that’s not why I’m here. I lay it on thick, even making sure I secure her seatbelt before I make my way back around to the driver’s side.
On the ride, I crank up some R&B, letting it play softly so I can talk to her.
“You look beautiful,” I say. And, okay, I really mean that shit. She does. She always does. But I’m on a mission here, so I keep going.
“And you smell amazing.”
“Thank you,” she purrs.
“I’m glad you let me come scoop you tonight.”
“Well, you were in luck. I was bored.”
I chuckle at that. “I’m the luckiest man in this city.”
She side-eyes me. “Where are you taking me, Lucky?”
“You’ll see.”
I ease down the main road, passing familiar storefronts lit up for the evening. Florists, the diner, the hardware store, the barbershop. Lane’s gaze lingers on everything, her curious eyes taking in every detail.
“I still can’t get over this,” she says softly. “This whole town feels like a movie set. Like if I knocked on one of the doors too hard, the wall would tip over and reveal an empty soundstage behind it.”
“Or,” I counter, “maybe you don’t trust what you see, so you project onto everything.”
That earns me a sharp look, but she doesn’t argue. She just folds her arms, tapping her nails against her skin, pretending she’s not annoyed.
I need to step it up. Get her in a good mood.
I make the last two turns and pull up in front of City Hall just as the sun dips below the horizon. It’s officially nighttime, and I’m officially on the clock with this little deal I made.
Five minutes later, we’re walking up the grand staircase and my eyes are glued to her ass in that sundress.
