Page 83 of Lavender Lake
“Then let’s get out of here,” he said.
“Declan drove,” I reminded him.
“Fuck.”
I flicked the brim of his cowboy hat. “Patience bull rider. You will ride me soon enough and all will be well.”
With a laugh, he released me.
My expression sobered.
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t want them to know.” I gestured with my chin to the bar.
“You mean, you don’t want them to know that you just rode my leg like a bronco?”
“I think keeping this just between us is for the best,” I said.
He rubbed his jaw, and then eventually nodded. “Yeah.”
My heart dropped into my stomach like a stone. Part of me had hoped he’d demand we walk in there holding hands.
But rationality won. It would get too complicated if we took whatever this was public.
“It’s just easier, you know?” I asked. “It’s not because I’m ashamed of you.”
“Ashamed of me? Good to know.” He flashed a grin. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be your dirty little secret. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Other women have?—”
“High school. I was good enough to sneak out windows, not good enough to be introduced to the parents.”
Though his tone was light, his words saddened me. But now was not the time to talk about it.
The bar crowd had thinned ever so slightly, and we made it back to the table.
“Where have you guys been?” Declan demanded.
“Relax,” I stated. “I had to get some air. He came with me.”
“You guys were tearing up the dance floor,” Gracie said.
Cas slid into the booth and I took the spot next to him. “Yeah. I can’t believe I remembered all the steps.”
“It’s like useless trivia,” Cole said. “Some things just stick.”
“You missed Amber’s entrance,” Hadley said, reaching for her mocktail.
“She say anything to you?” I asked.
“Congratulations,”Hadley said.
“That bitch,” I muttered.
“What am I missing?” Cas asked. “Isn’t congratulations nice?”
“Amber Winston, resident mean girl of our class,” Gracie explained. “It was snide. It’s hard to explain. She just has the perfect tone of snark and censure.”
