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“So, should I buy it?”
What am I saying? I’m not buying it—he is. Or his family is, which is the same.
“Yeah, it looks beautiful on you. Do you need help taking it off?”
His voice is as velvety as his hands. Turning around, I move my hair over my shoulder, and his knuckles travel down my spine with the zipper. I can’t stop the shiver that takes over my body. His hand stalls, and I swear he’s smiling behind me.
“There.”
I glance over my shoulder. “Thanks.”
Dane reaches into his pocket and holds his credit card between two fingers. He walks with the saleswoman to pay as I’m getting dressed.
When I come out, Dane’s holding a rich blue dress bag with Chauncey’s embroidered across the front. “Ready?”
“Yep.” We stroll down the sidewalk. Being with Dane shouldn’t be awkward.
“Are we going to Brooke’s now?”
Dane loves Caleb, and Brooke feels comfortable with Dane taking care of him, so I ask, “Are you babysitting Caleb?”
“No. Brooke said you were coming,” he answers, strumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
“Damn, I forgot all about the cookout.”
“Do you have other plans?” he asks.
“No.”
“Good, let’s stop by The Stable. I bought Caleb a little basketball hoop last week.”
My smile widens at Dane’s thoughtfulness and generosity. “I’ll wait in the car.”
“Lettie, don’t let Nick keep you away from my place.”
“I’m not. Just hurry.”
He runs to the modern building adorned with what looks like hardwood and “The Stable” written in steel letters. At night, the letters are backlit in blue, so it looks like they’re glowing. Using his key card, Dane disappears inside. I barely have time to think about all that has transpired since we went to the theme park before he’s plopping back inside.
He hands me the hoop and the soft, blue rubber ball stamped with the Stallions basketball logo.
“This is so cute.”
Our friends group all love next door to each other. Brooke and Reed’s house is next door to Harper and Logan’s, which is right beside Hagan and Adalee’s. Hagan and Harper are twins, and it’s just one big, happy family.
What if Dane and I moved in together?
Chatter comes from the backyard, so we walk down the driveway and hear Reed and Brooke shout, “Over here.”
They’re beside the grill, hanging with Logan and Harper. Although Logan was the number one NFL draft pick to the Louisville Heavyweights, they’re living here until Harper completes medical school. Logan‘s holding their newborn baby and singing a song to her about body parts.
“Can I hold her? I haven’t seen her in a month since you brought her home from the hospital.”
“Lather up first,” he says as Harper hands me the sanitizer and rolls her eyes.
Logan notices Harper’s reaction. “What? I want to keep our baby out of the hospital. You’re going to be a doctor; you should be all for it.”
“You do understand that Evy stuffs her mouth with toys. We pick up the toy and hand it back to her without washing our hands. It’s fine, big guy.”
