Page 127 of One Night Only
“Ew!” Tess shrieks, dropping the box onto the hardwood floor with a loud thud.
“What?” I scoff, moving to the box and seeing it does indeed sayDildos & Vibratorson the top. Rolling my eyes, I lift the flap to reveal my handbags carefully packed inside and, shaking my head, I can’t help but laugh. “Oh my god, Dallas!”
Dallas comes jogging out of his bedroom—ourbedroom—looking every bit the delicious off-duty athlete in his team hoodie, athletic shorts, socks and slides, and a baseball cap turned backwards on his head.
“What’s up, roomie?” He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close and pressing his lips to my sweat-beaded forehead.
“Ew, I’m all gross!” I try to shove him off, giggling when he leans in and licks my cheek.
“I’ll lick every inch of your perfect body when they leave,” he murmurs, licking me again.
“Um, hi,” Tess says loudly. “We’re literally standing right here.”
“I know,” Dallas retorts with a casual shrug.
Changing the topic of conversation, I point to the box, to his terrible handwriting right there. “Did you write this?”
“Pfft, no!” He snorts as if my question is ridiculous, but the devious grin curling his lips gives him away.
“Boys,” Tess mutters, shaking her head. “Anyway, that’s the last of it. We’re gonna go so you can… lick each other’s sweat.” She steps around the offending box and wraps her arms around me. “I’m going to miss you.”
“No, you’re not.” I laugh, hugging her back.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She pulls back, smiling innocently as she says, “But I love you.”
I roll my eyes indulgently. “I love you, too.”
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers for my ears only, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Bye, sis.” Bron comes in for a hug.
“Thank you, guys, for all your help,” I say, hugging Bron. “And… for everything.”
Tess starts to cry because she’s dramatic like that. Bron wraps an arm around her to comfort her. They know what I’m thanking them for. They literally saved my life when I was at rock bottom and at risk of losing the will to fight. I owe them so much. More than I can probably ever repay them.
We say our goodbyes to Bron and Tess, and it’s just Dallas and me left. In our apartment. And it feels perfect.
He pulls me closer, holding me flush against him as he looks down at me with a soft smile. “You’re beautiful.”
I flush from his words, although I know I look like a mess and not even a hot one. Dressed in a pair of leggings and a tanktop, with one of Dallas’s flannel shirts draped over my shoulders and left unbuttoned, my hair is a mess and the aforementioned sweat is real, but I’ve been moving all day. Dad rented a U-Haul and brought over all the things I’d had in storage in their basement, and Tess and Bron piled up their SUV with my belongings from the apartment. I don’t have a lot, but what I do have is meaningful to me, and it’s been scattered between my parents’ and where I’ve been living with my sisters for three years, so everyone pitched in to help. Now, I’m exhausted.
Leaning in, Dallas’s lips graze the skin just below my ear. “You’re finally home, baby.”
I shudder, my skin erupting in goosebumps, and I melt into him despite my less than pleasant state of dishevelment, lifting my chin to kiss him. His hands find my hips, holding me close, and it doesn’t take long for the kiss to turn into something more, his tongue stroking mine, sliding into my mouth with soft licks that make me moan.
My phone vibrates from where it’s been tucked into the waistband of my leggings, and it causes us both to startle.
“Oof, for a second there I thought it was your box of dildos and vibrators,” Dallas teases.
I shove him in his chest, rolling my eyes, but as I pull my phone out, reading the caller ID, my heart lurches up into the back of my throat as my stomach drops deep into the pit of my ass.
Dr. Chai
“Oh, my God…” I gasp.
“Answer it, babe,” Dallas encourages. “I’m right here.”
I had my latest scans yesterday, and my follow up appointment to discuss the results are booked in for next Tuesday. A phone call so soon after is never a good sign.
