Page 74 of Make You Love Me

I smile at him because he’s right. There are no words for how that felt.

Utterly exhausted, we don't bother cleaning up. We just cuddle into one another and enjoy the sounds of our calming breaths. His lips peppering light kisses along my shoulder as we drift off.

Before sleep overtakes me, I hear Greyson whisper, “You’re it for me Babygirl. I'm yours always.”

I swear I respond with an “Always” of my own, but my eyes close moments later.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Smilinglikealoonwhen I spot Lottie getting out of Frankie’s car, I see exactly why she had me pissed this morning when she texted me to just meet her at school.

Stacks has her hair in two French braids, looking cute as hell. Taking my eyes down to the shirt she has tied in a small knot right above her jeans, showing a sliver of that soft skin I love to kiss. My football number "55" is stretched across her front in garnet and gold, with a little anchor hanging off the bottom of one of the fives. Lottie must have made it last night during “girl time” with Frankie. She feels my stare and looks up with a wide smile. Letting out a whistle showing my appreciation for her, she turns her back to me, lifting her arms up and using her thumbs to point down at the back of her shirt. I read REXWOOD as her head turns towards me and she smirks.

“Get your fine ass over here!” I shout.

I pull her in for a kiss as soon as she gets close enough. “I missed you,” I say because damn if it isn’t the truth. Not caring how pathetic it sounds… I can’t stand going more than a few hours without laying eyes on her.

“I know baby but isn’t this…” she says, pointing to her DIY shirt, “worth it?”

Grabbing her hips to turn her around again, I say, “Seeing my name on your back is priceless, Babygirl. I didn’t know you had it in you. I thought Ashley was the costume designer.”

She nods her head back towards Frankie, who is heading this way with Lucian’s number painted across her top. “Luckily, my new bestie is also creative and artistic. Come on… you know I can barely draw a stick figure.”

Only two weeks of having Lottie back as mine and it's… indescribable. I have spent this past week inside of her every chance I can get, both of us making up for lost time. I love feeling that connection with her, as close as any two people can be, and watching her fall apart in pure pleasure. It’s the best fucking sight in the world.

There are really no words that could fully express the way she makes me feel. I remember thinking the same thing over the summer once I realized just how special she was to me. But this is next-level compared to that. Maybe because I know what it's like to lose her and I can’t imagine that again. Or maybe because a big part of this feels even more like fate after hearing about our parents.

I am still a little mind-fucked from that revelation.

My dad seems to be somewhere between peaceful and a cluster fuck over the news. I haven’t told Lottie that part because I don’t want her to feel like it's her fault, and even though he’s trying to save face, I can see some of his demons coming out to play.

Gunnar called me to pick my dad up after I left the cookout because they were all drunk and he insisted on going home. When I got back to the clubhouse, he was outside with the Lola chick that Frankie had introduced me to earlier in the night. There seemed to be a familiarity between the two of them, but I have no clue how.

Once we got him in the truck, I realized he wasn’t in a good head space. He was slurring and telling me he thinks Leah brought me into Lottie’s life to love her forever and finish what they started. In a weird way, I think he’s trying to find his peace in that, and I sure hope he does. His heart deserves to move on, and I feel like Leah would want that too.

After he showered off some of his drunkenness, he found me on the couch and told me to stay far away from Lottie’s grandmother. I assured him I had my eye on her and that I know she's a calculated woman. My guess is she tried controlling Leah all those years ago just like she does with Lottie. I already planned to avoid her at all costs. If it was up to me, Lottie wouldn’t live with that woman.

Sunday seemed to be better for my dad when he was talking to Lottie and reminiscing about the past, but the rest of this week he appeared to be in a fog. Gunnar said I just need to give him some time because the situation has stirred up a lot of old feelings, including some things I don’t even know about.

Even as close as we are, I know my dad has his secrets just like I have mine and I respect that.

***

By lunchtime, I’m so ready to bend Lottie over in nothing but the little handmade jersey she’s wearing in support of tonight’s big game. Seeing my name on her back has me thinking all kinds of shit.

We may be young, but I can’t help hoping she will wear that last name one day as her own. I know if it's up to me, she will.

When we make it over to our lunch table, Lottie sets her stuff down and tells me she’ll be right back. I watch her as she walks over to Snow, and he gives her a big smile that makes me lose my appetite. She wants us to all hang out sometime, claiming it will help me get over my issues with their friendship. As right as she may be, I’m just not there yet. Every smile she gives him has me raging inside. I trust her completely but I’m still not sure about him. He has to prove himself to me first. I need to know that he understands she’s mine.

Lottie gives me a kiss on the cheek as she sits back down and snuggles into my side. Unable to help it I look Snow’s way to see if he’s still watching her and am surprised to see a genuine smile on his face as he watches our exchange.Not enough to lower my defenses completely, but can’t say I’m not happy to see that reaction.

“One more week and we get to see Ashley and Trent,” Lottie says, grabbing my attention.

I smile at her excitement and say, “I know you are ready to see your girl… and we get to go back to where it all started. Glad Trent gets to come too. I’m not entirely sure what their deal is but he seemed eager to get out of New York and spend a weekend with her.”

“Is Ashley hot as fuck too?” Of course that comes from Ford.

“So hot. You’ll be obsessed but… she’s taken though, sorry,” Lottie replies.

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