Two weeks had passed since Gabby and Josh's lunch. It was mid-September—the weather was cooling down but their romance was heating up. They'd been talking or texting nonstop and had gone out twice since that Saturday afternoon. She was enamored of her newfound romance, and I couldn't have been happier for her.

We were sitting beside each other in the school parking lot. Cheerleaders and football players hung around, loaded their bags, and snapped selfies in front of the bus. It wasn't common for the cheerleaders to join the away games. Emily's mother oversaw the booster club that raised the funds to purchase the bus. Being involved wasn't her specialty but having connections sure was, and she'd managed to raise a ridiculous sum by simply reaching out to her elite circle and having them purchase Archwood Wolves' merchandise.

Coach Raeken made an appearance that afternoon. Her platinum hair was hidden beneath a sun hat and she wore a pair of designer shades that hid half of her face. When she arrived, I thought that she was going to be joining us. Instead, she gathered the squad, gave us a pep talk, told us she had a previous engagement that meant she wouldn't be joining us, and then left her spawn in charge. Such a cruel twist of fate.

"Fort Collins is an hour and a half from here," Gabby mentioned, pushing some loose gravel with her shoe. We were on the sidewalk a few feet away from the thick of the excitement, and there I would remain until we left. "I don't get why it's an overnight thing."

"Because,"—I retied the lace on my shoe—"one of the parents complained about us traveling so late at night. The parent council agreed that it's better for us to have a decent rest and avoid being on the road when it's dark just in case there's an accident or something."

She shrugged. "I guess there's logic in there somewhere."

I nodded and spotted Drayton sauntering out of the school gates. He was with his friends, but when he saw me he smiled and nodded as a form of greeting. It was respectful and unashamed, a vast difference from where we were three weeks ago. We'd spent a bit more time together since that evening at Rock Park—we talked on the field and he'd eaten at the diner more than once. He sort of seemed to be around even when he had no reason to be.

"Someone's thinking about sharing a room with a certain quarterback tonight." Gabby nudged me, her grin devious.

I shook my head with exasperation. "Nope."

"You so ar—"

"We should do something tomorrow when I get back?" I interrupted her accusation and hoped to distract her from her current train of thought. "Movie or bowling. Unless you have plans with Josh?"

"We have plans tonight." She smiled and pulled a curl straight, letting it go so that it sprang back into place. "So, that sounds good. Not bowling though. You're so good at it that it's not fair."

I scoffed with amusement as Coach Finn stood beside the bus doors and shouted, "We're loading up. Tick your name off the roll and choose a seat. Now!"

Gabby and I stood up. She smoothed out her skirt and I tugged on the bottom of my shorts. She pulled me into a hug and told me that she'd miss me. I was going to be gone for one night. She was adorable. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"What wouldn't you do, Gabby?" I laughed as she let me go. Her cunning smile told me all that I needed to know.

I was wandering toward the bus when Drayton appeared beside me. He threw an arm around my shoulders and his fragrance enveloped me. It was sweet, a softly spiced scent with an undertone of fruit. It was masculine but delectable, and it lingered.

"Sit with me on the bus?"

"Sure."

"How are our little lovebirds?" He gestured in the direction where Gabby had been. "Is she just as smitten as Josh?"

"I hope so. I haven't seen her so happy in a long time. It's cute."

He seemed surprised. "I thought you'd find it sickening." It hadn't evaded me that his firm, inked arm was still keeping me tucked beside him.

"Of course not," I defended myself. "It's sweet. I want them to fall in love and get married and have babies."

When we reached the front of the line, he dropped his hold so I could tick the box beside my name. But before Drayton could follow me onto the bus, his name was called, and we both turned around to find the principal waving him forward.

"Save me a seat," he sighed with boredom. "I have to go and receive another 'bring it home' pep talk."

He slipped past the last few students who were waiting to board. I left him to it and headed down the middle of the air-conditioned bus. It was nice, with wide plush seats and a bathroom at the back. There was a free set of seats in the middle. I sat at the window one and had about three seconds of comfort before I was joined by Emily, and I deflated. She was pouting, and her pin-straight auburn hair was high on her head, tied with a silver ribbon.

"As your captain, I think that it's important that we talk. Girl to girl." Pause. "It's embarrassing, your attempts to get close to Drayton. He's so nice, so he'd never say it, but you're not in the right circle. I mean, people like us come from elite families, and that comes with expectations. You come from nothing."

"Emily." I attempted not to laugh. "This is embarrassing— for you—not for me."

"Excuse me?"

"I couldn't care less about who's rich and who's not. It means nothing to me."

"That's just what a broke bitch would say," Emily said.

"I can afford school, cheerleading, food, and a car. I have a job and I have what I need. I'm just fine. Having more money than I know what to do with isn't something that I strive for. Your goals are yours. But that doesn't mean that I share the same ones. I'm good. Are we done?"

Steam practically came out of her ears. "Fall into line or lose your position on the squad. No CalArts. It's your choice."

She stood up and stormed toward the back of the bus. I hated that she could make that sort of call. She wasn't even bluffing— she'd used her mother to have cheerleaders removed before. I had a feeling that the one reason she hadn't done it already was because if she kicked me off the team, I'd have nothing to lose.

Instead of heeding her warning, I let Drayton sit beside me when he appeared in the middle of the aisle a few moments later. There were a few masculine shouts of protest from the back of the bus, but he pretended not to hear them and settled into his seat. His persistence in spending time with me was starting to mess me up a little.

The bus moved and we spent the next hour and a half sharing headphones and discussing our favorite music, new and old. We had a mutual love for Lauv. I introduced him to Drax Project and he introduced me Blackbear, and we loved our new discoveries. We also had a good laugh going into our Spotify Time Capsules and listening to all of the songs that had seen us through our youth.

When we arrived in Fort Collins, our bus stopped in front of a small, two-floor motel with a balcony that stretched from one end to the other. The rail was rusted steel and the doors could have used a paint, but it wasn't the worst. It was what our small accommodation budget would allow. Coach Finn gathered us in the parking lot while our assistant coach, Lincoln, headed toward reception to collect keys.

"Listen up," Coach Finn shouted. Drayton was still standing beside me. "The rules have not changed. No leaving your rooms after eleven. No mixing. No drinking. No drugs. No sex."

There were a number of sniggers from around the group. The rules hadn't changed, but neither had the students. Sex and alcohol were inevitable. So was mixing in the rooms at night. Half of the kids here would have plans arranged already.

"We leave for Sheridan High School at six. Do not be late. Or you will be left behind," Coach Finn continued, reading from a clipboard and scratching his mess of black hair. He always looked as though he'd received a mild electric shock. He quietly tutted for a minute as his gaze moved over the paper. "Oh. An announcement was being made this afternoon at school that would have been missed. Homecoming has been postponed."

There was a collective outcry from the girls. Some of the guys were disappointed too.

"Relax," Coach Finn scoffed. "It's being moved from the twenty-ninth of September to the twenty-sixth of October."

"But that's Halloween weekend!" Aria called out.

Maxon added, "And the same weekend as the last game of the season."

"If you make it." Coach Finn shrugged. "Some of your priorities are sounding a bit off."

"Why has it been postponed?" Becca asked, wrapping her raven hair around her fist.

"Repairs on the gymnasium," he stated. "The funding for this month is gone. Hence the date change. Now, I've had enough of discussing it. Lincoln will hand out the room cards. Find yours and go and get organized. Remember, back here at six."

It was clear that he wasn't going to talk about the homecoming dance, but that didn't stop the rest of the girls from complaining. It meant rescheduling their makeup and hair appointments. Rebooking limousines. It might even mean that some of them had lost deposits. I felt for them.

My room was on the second floor. I'd swiped the card, pushed the door open, and stepped inside when Melissa marched in behind me and headed straight toward the single bed beside the window.

"Can I have the bed by the window?" She dumped her duffel down. "Thanks."

It didn't matter to me in the slightest which bed I got, so I didn't argue. The room was spacious enough. There was a single set of drawers, a small bathroom, and a second single bed on the wall beside the door. We'd definitely stayed in worse before.

"So." Melissa sat on the edge of her bed and pulled her legs up into a crisscross position. "I'm supposed to be, like, getting friendly with you and getting the details. You and Dray. Emily's request." She put her hands up over her head. "Honestly, I don't care who you fucking and who you ain't."

"You can report back to her that there is no fucking going on with me and Dray."

"Why not?" she scoffed.

"We're friends." I hopped on my own bed, mirroring her sitting position.

"Just friends, psssh," she said, examining one of her long, velvet-like black braids. "Heard that before."

"It's not like that with us."

"You a lesbian? Because that boy could turn a straight man."

"Let's not give him too much credit," I mumbled. "And no, I'm not a lesbian. Like I said, he's just my friend."

"Hmm." She shrugged, busying herself with her cell phone. "Whatever. I'll let Emily know you're good. I got your back. Even if you do get freaky with him. I like you. You're a little quiet, but you're, like, one of those quiet chicks that has big balls. I respect that."

I laughed. I liked Melissa. Perhaps more so now that I knew she wasn't under Emily's thumb. It was also a relief to know that I wasn't paired with someone worse for the evening.

***

That night's game was at the Sheridan High School football field. The Cougars were a good team. We'd lost to them before, but our team was confident this time around, even when the game was nearing its end and the scoreboard was 28-26. We needed a touchdown or a field goal to win. It hadn't been a breeze— Sheridan had put up a hell of a fight, and both of the teams were exhausted. But it wasn't over, and we cheered in encouragement.

Drayton huddled the team. They lined up for a play. He took his place behind the center, the air thick with tension. Drayton called "Hut" and the snap was made. He stepped back as their defense went in, their protective gear crunching. He swung his arm, sidestepped, and managed to avoid losing the ball. As the defense went for the ball again, diving, Drayton twisted and threw the ball through a narrow gap of players, landing it in the hands of Derek, the running back.

Derek had the Cougars at his side and he was thrown to the ground before he could clear ten yards. The ball was hidden for a moment before it was thrown out from under the mountain of football players and into the hands of the other team. They threw the ball in the direction of their end zone. Maxon jumped and intercepted it, then threw it to Drayton. The seconds on the clock disappeared, but Drayton stepped back and threw a Hail Mary. It cleared forty-yards to Austin, our wide receiver, who caught it in the end zone. Touchdown.

The celebration was immediate. We'd won another game.

There was something about watching Drayton throw a ball that far. It was so powerful, effortless. It made me a bit weak in the knees, which must have been obvious, because later on, back in our room, Melissa pointed it out.

"Quite a man when he throwing that ball, huh?" She was in the bathroom with the door open. I couldn't see her, but I could hear her opening and closing makeup products.

It was ten. Coach Finn had performed his final round of room inspections about fifteen minutes ago. Melissa and I had both been in our pj's. Now she was wearing a leather skirt, a tucked-in tank top, and a pair of platforms. Drayton had texted straight after the game asking if I'd be joining the rest of the crew at a party by a small lake about ten minutes from the hotel. I'd declined. The last thing that I wanted to do was spend time with him while Emily was watching. When Melissa emerged from the bathroom, her bronze skin was glowing.

"He should be good at throwing a ball," I said. "He's the quarterback."

Melissa made that psssh sound again. "You were impressed. I know it." She gave herself one more once-over in the little mirror beside the bed and smiled. "You sure you don't want to come, girl?"

"I'm sure."

I wouldn't mind doing something, just not that something. I opened Messages on my phone and tapped out a message.

Hey. I might sort of be a little bit keen to do something tonight. But it won't be drinking with those guys. No pressure. But if you want to do something else, let me know.

"Suit yourself." Melissa shrugged, swiped on some lip gloss, and then dropped the tube into her bra. "I'm gonna get my femme prowl on."

She opened the door to our room, peered from left to right, checking the corridor, and then crept out.

Drayton responded to my message faster than I was expecting.

Come to my room. I can think of plenty to do. ;)

You've got a one-track mind. B right there.

It was hot; the air conditioning must have been off, because when I'd finished getting dressed, I felt flushed. I'd changed into a white off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved cropped top and a pair of jeans that hugged all the right places. My hair sat in a long natural wave, and I didn't put on a lot of makeup for the simple fact that I didn't want to waste any more time.

Drayton's room was three doors down the hall. Checking for any of the adult supervisors, I knocked twice and stared at the brass number 15 for about six seconds before the door swung open. Drayton had no shirt on, just a pair of sweatpants and his signature black backward cap.

"Damn, I didn't think that you would for-real show up. Come on, come in before anyone sees

"I did not come here to smash. Don't be small minded."

He was cute when he pouted, but he didn't seem surprised to hear that I hadn't come for illicit activities. His room was much the same as mine. Perhaps a little bigger.

"Where's your roommate?" I asked as I leaned against the door.

He dropped backward onto the bed beside the door and threw an arm behind his head. I didn't want to stare at him. I didn't. But I did. His skin was warm. Tan. So smooth. I sort of wanted to run my tongue along the dips of his abdomen.

Wow.

"Derek's gone with the rest of them."

"You didn't want to go?"

He shook his head. "Boring. Someone texted me with a better offer."

"Dreamer."

"So, what are we doing then, Cheer?"

"I have no idea," I admitted, still leaning against the door in an attempt not to sit beside him, because then I might have actually touched his torso and that would have been inappropriate. "This was probably a dumb idea. I have no plan. Forget it."

I turned around with the intention of leaving, but he sprang up from the bed and put himself in front of me. He was so close that I had to tip my head back to look at him. His hand wrapped around mine on the door handle behind him, and it was giving me the spins. "I have an idea. Or two. Trust me?"

If this had been three weeks ago, I would have said no. I should have been reluctant now, but I wasn't. It was unexplainable. I did trust him. I pretended to be hesitant for a moment but then nodded. "Sure."

"Good. Let me get dressed."

What felt like moments later, we were in Old Town in Fort Collins. Historical buildings had been restored. The air carried the aroma of exquisite food. Music carried us through the center of town. Magical European-inspired walkways had potted flowers and Tivoli Lights stretched between the lampposts. There was a large round fountain with blue glow lights illuminating spouts of water that shot out of the ground in timed succession. Seating areas made from cobblestones were given some extra color with small trees, and as we walked farther through the throng of people, we discovered that downtown was dotted with art-covered pianos, romantic alleys, cozy restaurants, and open plazas.

We stopped and listened to a live band on an elevated makeshift stage. Their music was whimsical. I moved with it, smiling and absorbing the moment. Drayton watched me.

Moving on, we passed a small flower shop. The owner was beside the store, and there were several paint pots and brushes on the ground. There were already hundreds of random brush strokes on the concrete wall. She offered us a brush each; Drayton picked blue. I chose silver, and we left our marks.

We slipped down an alleyway. The crowded walkway was filled with excited couples and teenagers. We walked beside each other, careful not to become separated, until we arrived at a solid black door. Drayton pushed it open, and we slipped inside a narrow staircase. It descended into darkness, but he didn't hesitate, and the farther down that we went, the more I could hear the solid thump of bass music. At the bottom of the staircase, there was a curtain. Drayton held it aside. I gave him a curious look as I passed him.

A bouncer with a big, pale, bald head hovered in front of another door, watching me carefully until Drayton appeared. His expression went from hard and cold to warm and elated.

"How's it going, Caleb!" Drayton greeted the bouncer, wrapping his arm around me as he walked us forward. Under his touch, a thrill pulsed through my veins.

"Not bad. How's your dad?"

"Same old." Drayton's answer was quick and indifferent. He pulled me a bit tighter against his side. "Dallas, this is Caleb. Caleb, this is Dallas. My girlfriend."

Hold up.

What?

Dazed for a moment, I missed the rest of their little chit chat because I was unsure of what the hell had just happened. "Behave you two, but go on in." Caleb stepped aside and Drayton pulled me into a nightclub. A real nightclub with a bar and adults and a blue hue from the lights that illuminated all of the white in the room, including my top. Drayton walked toward the bar, pulling me behind him. There must have been a different entrance because people were spilling in from a door on the other side of the room.

"Dray," I shouted over a remixed version of "Kiss and Make Up" by Dua Lipa. "I'm not dressed for a club!"

He lowered his mouth to my ear, and his breath was warm.

"You look perfect."

Our fingers laced together, we squeezed through the cluster of people surrounding the bar. I'd have never made it through on my own, but his large presence got us safely to the front. He quickly looped an arm around my waist and slipped me in front of his body. I was against the bar, and his arms were on either side of me, creating a safe little cage where I wouldn't get trampled.

"We'll have a Corona and a passion-fruit martini," Drayton said to the bartender.

"That's an interesting order," I teased.

I turned around and realized how pressed against each other we were. Chest to chest. Well, chest to nose. His arms remained encased around me as he leaned on the bar, staring down at me.

"Why did you tell the bouncer that I'm your girlfriend?"

"He won't let just anyone in. You had to be someone important to me or he wouldn't have allowed it."

"Makes sense." I turned around and bopped to the beat, fingers curled on the edge of the bar while I ignored the feeling of Drayton's chest against my back. He smelled so good.

The bartender slid the drinks across the bar. Drayton picked up the beer and left me the martini. Sure, it tasted like a passion-fruit slushy, but it was tainted with the taste of alcohol—the combination was awful. I winced with disgust and Drayton watched me with amusement. He took the martini and handed me the beer. I was surprised when he slurped on the straw. It was the funniest thing that I had ever seen. He was tall, muscular, and masculine, and he was sipping a frozen martini. I couldn't stop giggling.

"Thank you," I shouted with laughter, lifting the bottle. The corner of his mouth pulled into a small smile, and he winked.

When we were finished with our drinks, we ditched the glass and the bottle on the bar, and Drayton took me by the hand again, leading me through the crowd. It was effortless. He was almost impossible to ignore. He was a teenager in high school, but he carried himself with importance and confidence. It wasn't arrogant, though. It wasn't even intentional. It was just him.

We stopped in the middle of the dance floor and he placed his hands an inch from either side of my waist, hovering over the exposed skin but not touching it until I gave him a confirming nod and he gripped my hips. My hands connected at the back of his neck and we moved to the remixed beat of "Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On)" by Cheat Codes and Dante Klein. There was no avoiding the occasional hair whip or stood-on toe, but we were soon lost to the moment.

Our bodies were pressed flush; we moved our hips in time. His large hands tightened, and he watched me as we stepped. He turned me around, pulling my back into his front. I lowered. It was slow as I dropped down in front of him and came back up with rolling hips and hands in my hair.

I felt his lips beside my ear again. "I'm glad that I get to dance with you this time," he said with a raised voice. "I was jealous when I had to watch Josh doing this with you."

My stomach flipped over, and I was glad that he couldn't see me. His hands slid around, resting on my stomach. He felt me as I continued to grind against him. His grip was tight and desperate.

When I spun around again, I stepped back and danced alone. The music was the lead and the song was hot. I closed my eyes and lifted my arms. I knew the swing in my hips was sensual, even more so when I opened my eyes again and found Drayton a few inches in front of me, watching with his gaze full of longing. This was dangerous. It felt precarious. But it felt so good.

After an hour of dancing with no barriers, we agreed we needed some fresh air. Drayton also let me know that this was just the first stop of the evening.

"There's more to come, Cheer." He slid his hands into his pockets and his tone turned teasing. "You as well, if you're up for it."

He was such a shit. We walked through downtown and found that the nightlife was still alive and in full swing. It had just passed midnight.

"You can dance, Cheer." He nudged me with his elbow and stared at the ground. "I mean, I know that most people can dance in a club. But your body. There's this flow. Like the music isn't in control. You are. It beats to your body."

I felt breathless at his explanation. No one had described my dancing like that before. No one. "It's just natural." He cleared his throat and smiled. "You can move."

"Thanks," I said, running my hands through my damp hair.

"Now, here's an observation," he mused with a knowing grin. "You don't like cheerleading. You're just doing it because we don't have a dance team. It's an alternative."

I attempted to hide how flattered I was that he had picked up on that without having been told. "You're right. Cheerleading is fun, but it doesn't do it for me like dancing does."

"That's the plan? For college."

"That's the plan," I confirmed. "I've applied to three schools: Colorado College, SMU in Texas, and CalArts in California. But I want CalArts."

"California dreams, huh?"

"Something like that. I want a change. Even if it's not forever, I want to experience something else. Something different."

"I've been to California. It's nice. I mean, some of it sucks. But I think that's the same with any place. All cities have their pros and cons."

"For sure," I agreed. "How about you. Know where you want to go?"

"I'm not sure. It doesn't bother me a whole lot. As long as I get to play football. My dad is pushing hard for Baylor, in Waco, his alma mater. A long line of Laheys attended that school. I've told him that it doesn't matter where I go. He's set in his ways though."

"Is that the reason that you support the Cowboys? Roots in Texas?"

"My mom is from Dallas. It's where they met."

"Your dad isn't from Texas?"

"Nope. Born and raised right here in Colorado. But his dad went to Baylor as well. It's sort of become a tradition to retire here."

"Oh. Retire? What did they do? Football? Is it a family tradition?"

He was quiet for a beat. "Yeah."

"Did they play in the NFL?"

There was a long pause. Drayton's hands fidgeted in his pockets. He seemed wound up. It was a long time before he spoke. "Yes. Please don't tell anyone. I've done a damn good job of hiding it."

"What do you want to hide it for?" I couldn't believe that his father and grandfather had played in the NFL.

"It's a lot of pressure when people know the truth. It's enough pressure as it is, being quarterback. My dad and grandfather both played the same position, generations of stress and expectation . . ." His laugh sounded tense. Nervous.

"How has it remained a secret though? How has no one recog-nized him, or your grandfather—do they live around here too?"

"My grandad died in a house fire when I was a baby, and my dad doesn't come to school. He gives me space. And besides, he retired a long time ago."

It was obvious that he didn't want to talk about it. I was surprised that he had said as much as he had. But if he didn't want to boast about his football-star father, I wasn't going to push it. Being closed off from potential relationships and romantic connections meant that I'd never shared so much with someone before. I'd never had someone share so much with me, and I never realized how good it would feel.

We were walking and talking so easily that I lost track of time and distance, but when he eventually stopped, we were outside an exquisite Colonial home. I checked my phone and realized we'd been walking for an hour. It was one o'clock now, and the streets were dead silent.

"What are we doing?" I whispered because I was afraid to speak in a normal tone, considering how quiet it was.

"Follow me," Drayton instructed with a devious grin, and I was immediately on high alert. Whatever we were about to do, I suspected that it was not a good idea. I tiptoed behind him as we crept up the home's hedge-lined path toward a back gate secured with a high-tech lock. Somehow, that didn't deter Drayton, and without warning, he moved behind me and gripped me by my hips.

"Time to cheer," he whispered before he threw me into the air. I might have been a flyer, but his throw sort of sucked. I couldn't blame him. I was a human, not a ball. Grabbing the top of the gate, I flung myself over before dropping to the ground on the other side. Before long, Drayton dropped down beside me with a triumphant smile.

The backyard was lavish. The home must have been occupied by a family because there was a treehouse that I could only have dreamed of having when I was a kid. There was a large trampo- line and a swing set. All of the kids' items occupied the far side of the backyard while the rest was taken up by a large deck, a pool, a spa, and an extravagant garden.

Drayton tugged on my hand and walked us toward the swimming pool. He lifted the second gate latch as quietly as he could, and we both walked onto the concrete surrounding the water.

"Seriously. What are we doing? Are you going to drown me?" I didn't know why I was still whispering.

"Oh please." He rolled his eyes. He started to pull off his shirt, rendering all coherent thoughts extinct. "We're going to skinny-dip, Cheer."

"You're kidding." My light laugh became strangled in my throat as he dropped his pants and kicked off his shoes. "Oh wow. You're serious."

"Yep," he grinned.

"This is insane." I was panicking as he stood in front of me in nothing but his Calvins.

"Yes, it is." He nodded. "That's the point. Live a little, Cheer. And remember to trust me."

My attention moved between the house and the pool, and then back to the house again. I decided that I'd regret it more if I didn't do it. What was the use in being young if you didn't have a little irresponsible fun once in a while? I kicked off my shoes and dropped my cell phone safely into one of them so that it didn't get wet.

When I stood up straight again, Drayton winked right before he tucked his thumbs into the sides of his Calvins and pulled them down, exposing all of his endowed glory. I stared. I couldn't help it. I was starting to regret being so opposed to riding something that wasn't his motorcycle.

When he turned around and dropped into the pool, I felt like I needed a moment. He waved me forward, gesturing to get in. "Let's go, Cheer, the water's perfect."

"Turn around," I ordered after I'd taken my shirt off, revealing my white lace bra but nothing more.

"Hey, you got to see me butt-ass naked."

"What are we, five? Turn around."

He rolled his eyes but obliged, twisting himself in the water so he was facing the back fence. I quickly finished undressing, my heart thumping the entire time in fear that someone was watching or that someone would catch us. But I couldn't deny that the thrill of it was exciting as hell.

When I was completely undressed, I took a deep breath and slipped into the water, expecting it to be freezing cold but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was slightly heated.

"You can turn around now," I told him as I walked through the water. It was dark, only the moon and stars illuminated the sky, so there wasn't a lot to see once we were both facing each other.

"Feeling insane?" He grinned.

"I don't know what I'm feeling," I admitted as my arms swept the surface of the still water. "But it's kind of amazing."

"Feels good to let loose once in a while, doesn't it?"

"I can tell you're just itching to say I told you so," I smiled. "Go on, say it."

"You got in the pool, that's good enough for me."

There wasn't a lot of space between us. We watched each other. The breeze picked up, and it was cold against my wet shoulders and face. Drayton noticed when I shivered. He moved closer again and his legs grazed mine under the surface. "Cold?"

I swallowed and sank a little deeper until the water came to my chin. "I'm all right."

"I can warm you up?"

I was waiting for it. The joke. The innuendo. But his expression remained sincere. And then his hands settled on my hips. It startled me but I didn't move. I just felt the thudding in my chest as he pulled me through the water and into his embrace.

Our bodies touched. There wasn't an inch of space. I could feel him. All of him. His arms wrapped around me and his thumb made slow strokes on my lower back. His lips were parted. Mine were, too, and I felt short of breath.

Traffic sounded in the distance. Tree leaves rustled in the cool, night breeze. Water rippled. The filter flap in the pool opened and closed. The sounds around us were drowned out by the pounding in my chest and ears. He inched closer. When his face moved in, I saw his throat bounce as he swallowed. This wasn't the same as it was last time, when he'd been teasing me. I could tell he was nervous too. Heart beating, heat gathering in places that demanded attention, and the chill of the night long gone, I leaned in as well.

As our lips brushed, a blinding light switched on from the back deck. It was abrupt and unexpected, and we broke apart with a harsh gasp.

"Shit," Drayton snapped. He wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me toward the edge of the pool. Both of us were panicked. I felt as if I might throw up. "Get as low as you can."

We leaned our backs against the edge of the pool and sank as low as we were able to. I kept still.

The sound of footsteps padded across the deck behind us. My hands trembled under the water. I was trying not to breathe too loudly, but it was almost impossible not to hyperventilate. A woman's voice echoed through the air.

"I can see you, Drayton."

I turned to him, my mouth agape in total disbelief. I was wound up with panic, still, but now I was also confused. Drayton hung his head in defeat, but there was a definite amusement in his green gaze.

"Hey, Aunt Cass," he called.

"There are two towels hanging on the gate here," his aunt said, sounding as if she was smiling. "Come in and see me when you're done with—whatever it is that you're doing."

When the door closed again a moment later, Drayton lifted his head, gave me a splitting grin, and then turned around to hold the edge of the pool. I had no chance to become clued in on what was going on because he lifted himself out of the pool beside me, and I got an eyeful.

"I'll get your towel," he offered, water hitting the concrete as his wet feet walked toward the gate.

A moment passed. "Here."

I turned around and found him holding a large white towel. The other one was wrapped around his waist. It sat low, exposing the defined V-line on his hips. I hesitated, glancing down at the water keeping my body hidden.

"I won't peep," he said, turning his head to the side, eyes closed tight. He was full of devious comments and sexual jokes, but he was respectful. Placing my palms flat on the poolside, I heaved myself out before dashing over to the towel. As promised, he kept his eyes closed.

When I was wrapped, the towel tucked in and my long hair dripping down my back, I said, "You can open your eyes." He looked down and let his gaze move over me slowly and appreciatively.

After a moment of blatant staring at each other, he said, "Come on."

After we collected our clothes, he led us toward the house, which was convenient because I got to watch his strong back and shoulders. His skin was pulled taut over his frame, and it was mesmerizing. He had a large, dark freckle on his shoulder blade. It was sort of cute.

Inside, Drayton closed the French doors behind us, and we were in a kitchen/dining area, where the walls and fixtures were white and charcoal. The floors were polished wood and the appli- ances were state of the art. A beautiful, tall woman stood behind the kitchen island. Her complexion was flawless, and her light- brown ringlets were in a fountain on the top of her head.

"I want to ask,"—she grinned, pushing two coffee cups across the granite counter—"but I'm also not sure that I want to know."

Drayton laughed. He looked nervous as he ran a hand through his hair. "Please don't tell my mom we were here . . ."

"Don't tell your mother, who's under the impression that you're tucked up in a motel bed, that you're actually halfway across Fort Collins skinny-dipping in my pool at midnight?" She pointed at the door behind us. "I don't think that's a conversation that I want to have with your mom."

Cass rinsed a cloth under the faucet and began to wipe down the countertop. She seemed young, but her hands were aged.

"I'm . . . confused," I said, feeling self-conscious. I was standing in a towel with a puddle of water forming around my feet from my hair.

"Aunt Cass, this is Dallas." Drayton pulled out a seat at the four-seater kitchen table, waving his hand between me and his aunt as he sat. "Dallas, this is Aunt Cass. She was married to my dad's brother, Noah. But—"

"They kept me and got rid of him because he's a cheating little asscrack," Cass finished with a wicked smile. She rinsed her cloth and began wiping down the stove top, which was already clean. No wonder her hands looked so aged.

"Yeah," he turned to me while watching Cass with mild concern. "Sorry you had to meet a member of my family like this."

"She hasn't met your parents?" Cass recoiled. Her expression became proud and she rolled back on her heels. "Well. I'm honored to be the first family member to meet you. Drayton doesn't bring girls home all that often. Not that this is home. But yo—"

"We're not"—Drayton cast a subtle glance in my direction—"we're just friends."

"Do you swim naked with all of your friends?" Cass teased, obviously amused. She sounded like Nathan.

"W-w-wait—" I shook my head and stared at the floor. "Why'd you let me think we were in a stranger's pool?"

"I wanted you to feel the rush of doing something bad." He shrugged. "Without getting into any real trouble."

My stomach twisted. It turned to mush while he sat in front of me giving me a heated stare. The fact that he was considerate enough to keep me out of trouble but reckless enough to do what we'd done in the first place—it was sort of perfect.

"But someone,"—Drayton broke our eye contact and turned his head toward Cass—"ruined my good deed."

"Don't look at me." Cass held her hands up in defense. "You could have texted to warn me, and I would have left you to it."

"Never mind." He stood, brushed past me, and picked up the coffee, and I couldn't help but watch. "But you've got bigger balls than me. I never would've skinny-dipped in a stranger's pool."

"Great." I grinned and folded my arms across my chest. "You're really not living up to this badass reputation you supposedly have."

"Don't be fooled by the brooding attitude and motorcycle," Cass teased. "Dray here is a big ole softie."

He rolled his eyes.

"May I use the bathroom?" I asked, gathering my clothes from the table. I needed to stop ogling Drayton while I was naked because it was winding me up.

Cass nodded and pointed behind her at the other end of the kitchen. "Through to the corridor. Second door to the left."

After apologizing for the puddle that my hair had created on the hardwood floor, I headed to the bathroom to dry off and change back into my clothes, appreciating the feeling of modesty more so than I ever had before. After toweling my hair, I quickly tied it into a French braid.

When I walked back into the kitchen, Drayton was clothed and seated at the small kitchen table, a small child perched on his knee. The little guy was dressed in an adorable panda onesie, and he rubbed his tired eyes.

"We woke this one up, apparently," Drayton informed me.

Cass tipped some powder into a bottle of hot water. "You did. He heard your voice. You know how much he loves you."

"This is Coen," Drayton told me as I sat down in the seat beside him. "My baby cousin and the best-looking kid in the family."

He started to tickle Coen's sides, causing a bubbly laugh to escape the toddler's lips. He was so cute. His light-brown hair matched his mother's, and he had huge bright-blue eyes. I watched the two of them interact with absolute awe.

"All right, Coen." Cass shook the bottle and he jumped off Drayton's lap, running toward her at full speed. "Time to go back to bed, little guy. Say good night to cousin Dray."

"Ni-night Dray-Dray." He waved his little hand and my heart turned into a puddle of goo as he and Cass disappeared through the door I'd just come from.

"Dray-Dray." I grinned. It was blowing my mind that this was the same stone-faced boy whom I felt so frustrated toward less than a month ago.

"Don't," he warned, slipping his phone out of his pocket. "Only Coen gets to call me that."

"Oh, sure . . ." I was taunting him with the fact that I wasn't going to forget that nickname anytime soon.

Cass reappeared a few minutes later. She scuffed her slippered feet and yawned.

"Are you two going back to the hotel now? I can call you a cab?"

"Nope." Drayton stood up and slid his phone into his pocket. "We have another stop to make. I've ordered an Uber. It'll be here in a minute."

"Okay," she said. "I'm going back to bed. Dallas, it was nice to meet you. I hope I see you again. Perhaps a little more clothed next time."

I laughed. She wasn't telling me off. She was actually far more relaxed about the whole thing than she had to be. "That'd be nice," I agreed.

Climbing into the Uber, I asked, "Where are we going now?" We'd gone out on a whim. How many spontaneous plans could this boy possibly make?

"You'll see."

We arrived in front of a park tucked between a museum and an enormous vintage furniture store. The trees glittered with fairy lights and solar lamps sat underneath shrubs. When we got out of the car, I noticed the projector screen at the end of the park playing P.S. I Love You. Couples were scattered over the grass, cuddled on blankets or beanbags. It was romantic, but I didn't point that out. Instead, I wondered if Drayton had brought us here to do something hideous like set the projector on fire or spray everyone with a hose.

"What are we doing here?"

"We're watching a movie, Cheer. We're a bit late but"—he shrugged and we stopped near the back—"I heard some of the guys talking about this place earlier. They planned on bringing the girls down."

"All an attempt to help them score?" I guessed. His grin was laced with guilt.

"That's not what's happening here." He gestured between us. "Unless—"

I gave his firm chest a shove. "Each to their own, but I'm just not into fornicating in public places."

He laughed. "Fornicating?"

"Shut up."

He sauntered toward three large baskets at the fence line and returned with two blankets, spreading one out on the ground. "I checked it over for jizz stains," he assured me as he sat down. I wasn't entirely confident that it was the cleanest piece of material, but I sat down beside him and let him throw the other blanket across our legs.

We watched the movie in quiet for a little while. Drayton offered to jog over to the food vendor and get some popcorn or a soda, but I declined. He began to fidget after five minutes. He twisted and moved his legs, and then he sighed and lay down on his back.

"So," he said, casually. "Thoughts on your fun-filled evening?"

I lay down as well and stared at the stars, thinking about how to answer him. So many different elements contributed to the night and I didn't think that I hated any of them. I didn't hate experiencing the enriching culture in Old Town. I didn't hate the dancing or the long walk that consisted of conversation without pause. I didn't hate our moonlit dip or meeting someone important to him.

I don't hate this.

"It's been something else, Lahey."

"Is that it?"

"I thought it was amazing, okay?" I laughed lightly as he threw his fist triumphantly into the air. "The entire night has been thrilling and exciting and I loved it. Thank you, Dray."

He smiled, watching the stars. The movie played softly in the background; the people spread out in front of us munched on snacks and murmured quietly among each other. The trees around us rustled ever so slightly in the soft breeze. This was a serene place and I was beginning to realize you could find peace in more places than just the confines of home.

Drayton moved one arm to rest beneath his head. The other was draped across his chest. I wanted to know what he was thinking about.

"It was a good night," he mumbled. I turned my head to watch him.

His hand moved. It slid down from his chest and then it wrapped around mine. It was soft and unexpected. But I didn't react. I just appreciated the moment.

"It was a good night," I agreed with him. "A great night."