Page 114 of My Debacle with De Lorenzo

“That one’s on Pete. I don’t know if you remember, but he hooked up with her at the Christmas bonfire last year, and apparently, it was...amazing, so he called in a favor for me.”

I pull him in for one more hug. “This was incredible. Thank you.”

The energy dies down, and the crowd dissipates, the normal routine of the day slowly returning as we walk around the buildings to the parking lot.

As soon as we close the doors, I inhale a breath of courage. I’m just going to say it. I think it. I feel it. So, why not just say it? The only thing that has been stopping me is the fact that this is still an arrangement, a renewable contract. He hasn’t said anything about us making it official. He’s never once referred to me as his girlfriend, not when we’re alone and certainly not in front of other people, not even his parents, so I don’t know what we are to each other. But this has been going on for six months now. Surely, this is safe territory, especially after what he just did. I’m going to take the plunge and hope for the best.

“Dylan, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Dylan?” He turns slightly to give me his full attention, placing his forearm on the center console. “That serious, huh?”

“So...I broke one of the rules of engagement.”

His expression hardens, and his jaw remains tight. “We have rules for a reason, Bella.”

Well, that diminishes my confidence slightly, and I think twice about whether I should go through with this.

The silence makes him edgy. “Did you drink?”

“No.”

His fingers curl into a fist, and he lightly thumps it on the steering wheel. “I swear, if you’re about to tell me that you’ve been with another guy, I will literally lose my mind.”

“It’s worse than that.”

“Worse? How much worse?”

“I broke the most important rule,” I admit warily. “I think...no, I’m ninety-nine percent sure that...I love you.”

I was expecting him to freak out, so I’m pleasantly surprised when the widest grin takes over his face instead. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. A lot, like a disgusting amount. I’m ashamed of myself. I?”

His big hand clasps my jaw, and he shuts me up with a kiss, a kiss filled with excitement and exhilaration and so many possibilities. He pulls back to start the car, and the abruptness of it all leaves me feeling...disappointed.

“That’s it?” I ask. “You’re not gonna say it back? You don’t...love me, too?”

“Meh.” He shrugs with indifference. “I mean...you’re a’ight, but love? C’mon, it’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

My mouth drops open in utter indignation, and I shove his shoulder hard. “You fucking love me, De Lorenzo! Lying jerk!” I shove him again and just get snickering in return. “Asshole!”

He grabs my hands before I push him again and pulls them around his neck. “Of course, I love you. I was destined to. You’re my Queen of Spades. I couldn’t stop it if I tried.”

“Well, if I’m your Queen of Spades, then you’re...my King of Hearts.”

He physically recoils at that statement. “Fuck, really? It’s like I just witnessed the immaculate conception of baby Cheese-us.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“It was.” He gives me a quick kiss, then backs out of the parking bay.

“I thought it was pretty gouda.”

He chuckles. “Stop. You’re making it worse.”

“This is all your doing. I used to be cool and sexy. Now I’m just a collection of cheese puns.”

Without looking away from the road, he reaches over to grope a boob. “Still got awesome tits, though.”

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