Page 36 of Made For Me

Chase: See you in forty-five minutes.

“Are you sure about this?” Jillian says and I look up to see her and Alex there, side by side.

“I’m not sure about anything. I started this week on a roller-coaster ride and it’s been going up and down since.” I think about telling her how he held me in the bath. I think about telling her how he showed up at my house to see if I was okay, but I’m not ready to share that. “But it’s Chase and it’s me.” I shrug my shoulders. “We both know that if we cross that line, we both have to be sure.”

“Well, then,” Jillian says, “what are you going to wear on your date?”

“Jeans,” I say at the same time Alex says, “Nothing.”

“I have to go.” I get up and grab my stuff. “He’s picking me up in forty-five minutes.”

“What?” they both say at the same time.

“He thought if he gave me more time, I would cancel.” I ignore them when they both snicker with laughter. “I hate you both,” I grouse, walking past both of them toward the front door.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Jillian pokes and I stop on the last step.

“You slept with Michael on the first date and got knocked up,” I point out to her.

“I did.” She smiles big. “Good times.”

I walk out of the house and get into my car. Michael had someone pick it up and deliver it to me. I don’t even ask questions anymore; I just say thank you. My mind goes around and around as I get ready for the date. When I’m slipping on my white jeans and then the pink flowered loose spaghetti strap top, I have to sit down. I put my hand to my stomach and hear the soft knock on the door. “Come in!” I yell and I hear the door open and then shut. “I’m in my bedroom.”

“Um.” I hear him stop walking. “Are you naked?”

“Do you want me to be naked?” I ask, rolling my lips and then I see him standing in the doorway. He is wearing blue jeans and a baby-blue polo that makes his eyes lighten up. Just seeing him makes all the nerves go away.

“Are you okay?” he asks as he leans against the doorframe, folding his arms over his chest and crossing his legs at the ankles.

“What are we doing?” I ask him and he continues his leaning stance. “Like, this whole taking-me-out-to-dinner thing.” He just stares at me, somehow knowing that I’m not done speaking and it’s only normal because he knows me. Like he knows, knows me. “Jillian thinks this is a bad idea.”

He smiles at me and the nerves in my stomach feel like there are butterflies in there. “I’m not saying I was threatened by Michael, but I’m also not not saying it.” My mouth hangs open.

“He didn’t.” I gasp, shocked he would go toe-to-toe with his cousin over me.

“He did also throw in Uncle Max, just for some extra power.” I shake my head laughing. “And my father.”

“I don’t want it to ruin what we have,” I admit the truth to him. “Like, going out with you would be amazing and great. Because I’m awesome.” I toss my hair over my shoulders. “But what if this goes south?” His eyebrows wiggle at that comment. “Not that kind of south.”

“Nothing will ruin what we have.” His voice comes out softly. “Are you ready?”

“I don’t know.” I stand and look at him. “Is this enough?” I look down at my outfit, slipping on my ballerina shoes. “Should I wear heels? Where are we going?”

He stands up straight, putting his hands in his pockets. “You look beautiful,” he reassures me softly. I’ve been told that I’m beautiful all the time, but the way he says it makes me look down to hide my blush. He holds out his hand for me. “Shall we?”

I walk to him and slip my hand in his, as he pulls me out the door with just enough time to grab my jean jacket with my empty hand. He lets my hand go so I can lock the door, and the minute I put the keys away, he takes my hand back in his. “Where are we going?” I ask him again, ignoring how my hand feels in his.

“It’s a surprise,” he says, stopping next to his car. His hand slips from mine and he brings it up, his thumb touches my cheek. “I’ve missed you.” His voice is almost in a whisper. To be honest, with the way my heart is beating and echoing in my ears, it’s a miracle I hear him.

I look up at him smiling. “You know what I didn’t miss?” My smile goes so big it hurts my cheeks. “Your alarm blaring at the ass crack of dawn.”

He throws his head back and lets out the biggest laugh. I have to stop myself from taking a step forward and kissing his neck. Instead, I open the passenger door, holding the handle in my hand. “Okay, Mr. Grant, take me on this date of yours.”

“Oh, it’s a date?” he asks and my eyes go big, my mouth hanging open. “I just said dinner.”

“I,” I start to say. “Um…” I try to think of words and then I want to kick myself for thinking it’s more than it is.

He lets me hang out there for a minute before he steps even closer to me. “It’s definitely a date.”

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