Page 42 of Overtime

“I promise to hold you every night when we get to State. I also promise not to ever assume anything where you’re concerned. So, until you say yes, it’s not a foregone conclusion to me.”

I don’t even have to think it over. “Yes.”

His smile lights up my world. He shakes his head, that dimple in his cheek hypnotizing me as well as any pocket watch. “How’d I get so damn lucky?”

“You? I’m the lucky one.” I gesture around the closet and the rest of my bedroom. “How did you come up with this anyway? It’s…perfect.”

“You gave me the idea, actually.” He tilts his head back with a rueful laugh. “For weeks, I’ve been studying your reactions to every Promposal launched at school. I could never tell how you felt. Even the one I orchestrated for Alex got mixed reviews from you. I had no idea what you wanted until you practically dropped it in my lap the night of the Powder Puff game.”

“I did?” I have zero recollection of that. Which is hysterically ironic, considering my not-so-distant past.

“Yeah.” He brushes his lips across mine—just enough to give me a taste, but not nearly for the amount of time I’d like. “I said I was going to go home because you were tired, but you asked to sleep by me for just a bit. That’s when I knew what I had to do.”

“You didn’t have to do anything. I’m perfectly happy just to be going to Prom on your arm.”

He raises a disbelieving eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound very gender equalist of you.”

I shrug. “Neither is needing you to sleep in a bed, but that doesn’t seem to stop me.”

“That’s different.”

“So…” I bite my lip, anxious about being refused even if it’s completely non-sexual. This must be how nervous Rob felt while planning this whole thing and waiting for my response. “Since it’s different, can I make a small request?”

“Of course.”

“Can we do a practice run now? I’m exhausted after shopping all day.”

Rob heaves a deep breath. “I dunno, baby. That might be pushing the limits of Papou and YiaYia’s generosity. Even if it is just a nap together.”

He’s probably right. They would flip their old-fashioned shit to catch us napping in my bed. And no way am I going to let anyone discover us in the closet.

Rob heaves me off him, then climbs out of the closet. “I gotta blow out these candles before I start a house fire. I’m entirely sure your grandparents would kill me for that infraction.”

He sets to work while I look around at the galaxy he’s created on my walls. It’s funny he made me an entire universe. Does he understand he’s the center of mine?

“I love you, Rob.” The words spill from my lips without any restraint, just to make sure he knows.

“I love you, too, baby.” He climbs on my mattress, obviously staying above the blankets, then pats his chest. “Come on.”

“You said you didn’t want to incur the grandparents’ wrath. I think that’s fair.”

He gestures again for me to join him. “I’ll risk certain death for you.”

Well, when he puts it like that, how can I refuse? I settle myself in the crook of his body, snuggling my face in his neck while he wraps an arm around me.

“I won’t let them kill you. Promise.”

“Ssh,” he whispers against my forehead. “Sleep. If I’m not dead when you wake up, we’ll go out to dinner.”

I pop my head up from its resting place to gaze at his gorgeous eyes. “I can’t. I picked up an extra shift at the diner tonight.”

“Why?”

“To help pay for Prom expenses like the tickets, and limo, and whatever else we need.”

“No.”

“What? You can’t tell me no!”

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