Page 161 of Sparks Fly

Sawyer’s smile softened. “She has?”

Ashley nodded emphatically. “In love. Down bad. It’s gross.”

I covered my face with both hands. “I’m going to die.”

Sawyer leaned closer, her voice dropping near my ear. “Not tonight. You have to drive us home.”

“And be my maid of honor tomorrow!” Lilly added.

I turned my head and caught her mouth with mine for a second.

Quick.

Impulsive.

Public.

When I pulled back, her eyes were dark and warm.

“Hi,” she murmured, like we were alone.

“Hi,” I whispered.

My friends literally ‘awed’ at us.

The rest of the dinner went shockingly well.

Sawyer held her own without trying too hard. She laughed at the right moments, asked questions, and listened in that steady way she had, like she wasn’t performing or trying to impress anyone.

She was just present.

My friends ate it up. I could see it in the way Lauren kept angling herself toward Sawyer and the way Ashley kept glancing at me like, finally.

I watched Sawyer talk. Watched her smile. Watched the way her good hand landed lightly at the small of my back when she passed behind me.

And I kept thinking, This is what I’ve been afraid of? This?

She told me she was fine every time I checked on her, but by the end of dinner, I could see the exhaustion settling in. Her smile was still real, but her movements had slowed, and she held her injured arm closer to her body. And I could tell it was time for some pain meds.

“We should go,” I whispered.

“I’m okay.”

“I know. We’re still going.”

Her mouth twitched. “Bossy.”

“You love it.”

“I kinda do.”

We said our goodbyes, and I promised I would be there early tomorrow for the big day.

When we got back to Sawyer’s place, the adrenaline wore off and the pain caught up with her.

It showed itself in small ways first. Her jaw tightened. Her movements slowed. The way she lowered herself onto the couch told me more than her mouth ever would.

I hovered immediately. “How bad?”