Page 135 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

I almost snort but don’t call her out. “Yeah, well, the arcade we used to go to as kids is closed now, but this place has good reviews online so…”

Her smile softens as understanding washes over her. The hope in her eyes reminds me of a kid on Christmas morning. “So, you’re taking me to an arcade?”

“Yeah.” I lift my ass from the driver’s seat and pull out the wad of money from my back pocket, slapping it on the center console. “After all, we’ve got some cash to waste.”

The light from the dashboard makes her green eyes glow as she stares at it, though I can’t tell what she’s thinking. I knew it’d be a risk to bring it up. But the money has been taunting me for weeks, and I didn’t know what else to do with it. Besides, if we want a chance to start fresh, we might as well face our demons, including the bills in front of us.

“Is that my virginity money?” she asks.

I scratch my jaw, unsure how she’s going to react. “Uh, yeah.”

Those same eyes flick to mine. But instead of the hesitation or hurt I’d expected, they’re filled with mirth. She grins, easing the knot in my chest and the guilt I’ve been carrying since the moment Austin shoved the money against my chest in LAU’s locker room. Hell, even before.

“You, my dear Teddy,” she leans across the center console and kisses my cheek, “are a genius.”

43

BLAKELY

A thousand dollars can buy a shit ton of arcade coins. Okay, it’s more like nine hundred and seventy-three dollars can buy a shit ton of arcade coins. We saved the rest for cotton candy, a couple bottles of water, and a large pizza. Now, our bellies are full, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t laughed this hard in years.

We’ve been wasting money, earning tickets, and giving handfuls of coins to every little kid we pass. It’s freaking perfect.

“Did you think of this all on your own?” I ask, pulling off a cloud of blue cotton candy from the white paper tube in my hand.

“Think of what?”

“Coming here.”

He plucks the candy from my fingers and pops it into his mouth, letting the sugar melt on his tongue. “Maybe,” he answers.

“Aaaand?” I prod. “What made you think of it? I haven’t been to an arcade in forever.”

“Neither have I.” Another cloud of candy disappears from the white stick as he reaches over and pinches some between his fingers. “I thought of it when we were talking about vacuum beach and olive juice in Russ’s office a while ago.”

“Ah.” I steal the cotton candy from Theo’s hand and put it in my mouth. His eyes stay glued to my lips as my tongue darts out and licks the excess sugar from them. Ignoring the onslaught of butterflies in my stomach, I clear my throat and keep walking through the arcade littered with different games.

Wait.

Why am I ignoring those butterflies?

I stop and face him again because I’m allowed to kiss him, dammit.

When I peck a quick kiss against his lips, I smile and take another bite of cotton candy. “So vacuum beach sealed the deal, huh? Noted.”

“Want to know a secret?” He grabs my hip and pulls me against him like he can’t help himself.

Aaaand there are the butterflies again.

“Yup. Let’s hear this secret,” I answer.

“Colt used to always grumble about it when we’d get inside.”

I bite back my laugh and shake my head because there’s no way this is true. “No, he didn’t.”

“It was the only time you didn’t mouth, olive juice to him.”

“You guys got to go and be big kids, doing your own thing and spending your allowance on games, while I had to stay at home and hang out with my mom ‘cause I was too young,” I explain, mimicking my mom’s stern voice. “I was jealous. So sue me.”

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