Page 97 of Make You Love Me

I glance at Lottie as I say, “Nah, we’re good. Thanks though.”

Looking back to the waitress who suggestively says, “Okay, well let me know if you change your mind.”

“He won’t,” Lottie says sternly beside me. Thankfully, the chick realizes it’s a good time for her to leave.

Ford chuckles, “I guess she’s into beards.”

“Well, my fingernails are about to be into her eyeballs if she doesn’t stop looking at my man,” Lottie says aggressively to Ford as he holds his hands up in innocence.

I laugh and grab her chin. “Babygirl, as much as I love this side of you, either chill or you’re going to get yourself fucked in the bathroom.”

Tugging her lips between my teeth... nipping at them before I say, “She can look all she wants, but she’ll never have me. No one else will. You know that, right?” Her lust-filled eyes look at me as she nods. I give her a hard kiss to drive my point home. I feel her shifting against the couch, needing relief. That’s my sign I need to stop or we won’t make it to midnight. Before I can make myself pull away, a piece of ice hits me in the cheek.

“What the hell?” I growl and look directly at Ford.

“Y’all were making me jealous. Save some for the rest of us.”

Lottie giggles as she reaches for the champagne. “Let’s pop this!” Looking to Nox she exclaims, “In honor of the future welterweight champion and his KO tonight!”

“How you feeling about everything?” I say to Nox as the three of us watch Emerson take a boomerang video of Lottie popping the champagne.

“Honestly, pretty fucking amazing. Being in that ring was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I thought I would be nervous as hell but fighting for a crowd that large was such an adrenaline rush. It felt like I was there to entertain, and I thrived off that.” That smile still stretched across his face from his win earlier.

“Well, I’d say you did just that.” It’s the truth too. We weren’t the only people going nuts when he won tonight.

“Yeah, brother you were a crowd favorite… and the ladies loved you,” Ford says to him, but Nox looks to Emerson who is laughing with Lottie. Looks like he only has eyes for one lady.

I give him a look that saysI know the feeling buddy.

We continue to talk about Nox’s plans for his fighting career. I’ve always believed in him but after seeing how well he handled himself under pressure tonight, I have no doubts about him making it big one day.

I tell him about the prideful look his mom had on her face as he won. I also let him know my dad texted to tell me he and Gunnar just dropped her off at home, since they all decided to head back tonight.

The girls pass around the champagne glasses and demand we all make a little toast to the next year.

Ford goes first, “To turning eighteen and becoming a prospect for the Rebel Knights.” His aspirations don’t surprise me at all. He’s always known he wanted to be a part of the club, which is one of the reasons he’s so close with my dad.

Emerson lifts her glass next. “To winning my own fight this year. And to surviving Richmond Hills High without you guys.”

Nox puts his arm around her and says, “If you keep that right hook, there’s no doubt in my mind you’re going to win… My jaw can attest to that.” Emerson takes a knuckle and barely taps his chin, staring up at him a lot like Lottie looks at me. Ford and I exchange a knowing look.

“Here’s to watching the "Lights Out"Mermaid,” Nox says as he touches a piece of Emerson’s blue hair. “Kick ass in the ring next year.” He looks at all of us. “And here’s to you guys for always being there for me. I’m ready to see where this year takes everyone.”

We all nod and cheer to that.

Now it’s my turn. “Here’s to never going a day without calling this girl mine again,” I say as I pull Lottie onto my lap. “And to a year of learning how to make business boom for our shop with our new customizing machine.” After all the shit with Ethel, my dad wanted an explanation as to why I agreed to a deal with her in the first place. He was furious but understood my need to try to contribute instead of being handed everything. Two weeks later the machine I wanted for custom work arrived at the shop. My dad made a deal with me that I could pay it back like a loan as I brought business in. I beat myself up for a good week after that, knowing if I had of just gone to him with a loan proposition to begin with then I would have never hurt Lottie. Luckily, I opened up to her about what was going through my head and she reassured me. She said we all make mistakes but it doesn’t define me as a person or us as a couple.

Lottie kisses the side of my head.I love her little affectionate kisses.

Holding her glass high she says, “Lastly here’s to me being an official North Carolina resident with a driver’s license.” She smiles widely at that accomplishment. “And never living too far from my guy again.” Everyone cheers and chugs their glasses.We ain’t the sipping type.

Ford excuses himself to go prowl with only a few minutes before the ball drops.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Emerson says, standing up shortly after Ford leaves.

Lottie looks to the TV countdown as she says, “Crap it's three minutes till midnight. I hate to ask but do you think you can wait till after? I don’t want you to have to go by yourself.”

My girl isn’t missing out on her New Year's Eve kiss.

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