Page 116 of Playing for Keeps
My chest tightens, the truth in her voice hitting me hard. I pull her a little closer.
“God, Ivy… I love that I make you feel that way. You have no idea how much I want you right now.”
“Probably about as much as I want you,” she whispers back. “Will you stay at my place tonight?”
I hold her gaze and nod. “I don’t ever want to sleep without you.”
She smiles, but something in her expression falters.
“What is it?” I ask, brushing her hair behind her ear.
She shakes her head, eyes dropping from mine. “Nothing. I’m just being stupid.”
“No, you’re not.” I lift her chin with my fingers so she’s forced to meet my eyes. “Just because I want you doesn’t mean there’s any pressure. We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. I’ll wait however long it takes, Ivy. I mean that.”
She gives a small shake of her head. “It’s not that,” she says. “I’m ready, Wyatt. I want to be with you.”
Emotion coils in my chest at her words. “You are?” She nods. “Then what is it?”
She sighs, pressing her forehead to my chest. “I’m going to miss you so much when the season starts. I know we haven’t been together long, and I shouldn’t be feeling this way, this fast, but I can’t imagine not seeing you every day.”
Her words come out in a rush, like she’s been holding them in, and I feel her exhale against me.
“Hey. Look at me.”
She lifts her head, and I make sure she sees the truth in my eyes.
“It’s not too fast. I feel the same way. I’ve been thinking about it too, but we’ll figure it out. We have to, because there’s no way I’m letting this go. I’m going to miss you like hell, but I’ll come home as much as I can, and you can visit me in Phoenix. We’ll make it work.”
“Thank you for being amazing.”
Then she pulls me down and kisses me like I’m the only thing keeping her grounded. I’m not expecting anything from her tonight, whether she’s ready or not. I’ll wait, but just the thought of being with her makes my pulse race and my thoughts blur. She’s everything. And I hope she’s starting to realize how much she means to me.
Before I can say anything else, the music cuts out, and a voice calls across the garden.
“All right. Gather round, ladies. Time for the bride to toss the bouquet!”
I smile against her lips. “I think you’re needed.”
“Oh God,” she groans. “Do I have to?”
I laugh. “You’re one of the bridesmaids. I think it’s part of the contract.”
“Urghhh.”
She steps out of my arms, and I watch as she crosses the lawn to where a crowd of women is forming. There’s laughing and pushing, some clearly eager to catch the bouquet.
Paisley stands in front of them, her bouquet in her hand and a wide smile on her face. Turning around, she starts a countdown.
“Three, two, one.”
She tosses the bouquet high into the air, and time seems to slow for a second. Ivy’s standing a little off to the side, not really trying to catch it, her arms barely raised, and somehow it goes straight toward her. It hits her square in the chest.
The group erupts with laughter and cheers as Ivy catches it awkwardly, her eyes wide. She holds it up, then laughs and hides her face in the flowers as the teasing starts.
I’m already on my feet, moving toward her with a smirk.
“Didn’t even try and still caught it,” I tease as I reach her.
