Page 34 of Princess and Country

Six months later

I twirled around, looking at my reflection in the mirror. “You look perfect, Dah. Stop worrying so much.”

Addison sat on my bed, reading a magazine as I changed for the sixth time.

“I look like a sixteen-year-old.”

“Duh, because you are, dummy.”

“I know.” I threw a pillow at her. “But what if he sees me as a kid? We haven’t seen each other in two months. It’s enough time for a guy to find another girl. One older, wiser, and who’s ready to put out. Why would he wait for me?”

Addison sat straighter. “The guy’s madly in love with you, Dah. He’ll wait for you a thousand years if you’d ask him.”

I tied my hair in a high ponytail. I cringed and let my hair fall back over my shoulders.

“I guess you’re right, but it still seems like a dream most of the time. Even more when I don’t see him for weeks. Since he got that new job in Nashville last fall, he hasn’t come home as often.”

“Stop whining. You’ll have your man all to yourself the entire summer. Don’t overthink everything.” She put the magazine down. “When will he be here?”

I glanced at the time. “In two hours. I’ll never be ready in time.”

“Chill, Dah. What am I here for?”

Jeff pulled into my driveway twelve minutes after Addison left. We had plans to meet with her later. There was a Spring Fling party tonight at the fair, and all our friends were going.

I rushed to him before he had time to kill the engine.

I yanked his door open, almost ripping the hinges off, and straddled him, my back pressing against the steering wheel as I kissed him senseless.

“I can’t believe you’re home,” I said against his lips. Jeff clamped my waist and pulled me closer. I could feel every inch of him twitching underneath me. I peppered kisses all over his face.

“Woman, you feel good. And you taste even better.” His fingertips grazed my nape, the back of my arms, the length of my throat, sending shivers through my core.

Heat filled me.

My pulse doubled its rhythm.

My toes curled.

Jeff fisted my hair and pressed his forehead to mine, his breathing heavy.

“I’ll never get enough of you, Princess. I can’t believe we’ve been apart for months.” His large hands cradled my face. “I love you, Dahlia. I fucking love you.”

Fireworks burst inside me. “I love you, Jeff.”

“You’re coming home with me for dinner?” he asked. I bobbed my head. “Then I need to tell you something first.” My breath quickened, and I pressed my hands over his muscular chest. Jeff scratched the side of his face, now avoiding my eyes.

“Hey, talk to me,” I said, a jittery feeling in my tummy. I cradled his cheeks. A shadow passed through his eyes. In a low voice, I continued, “You’re scaring me. What is it?”

“I’ve been lying to you. Since October— I—How am I supposed to tell you? Damn it.” His palm hit the middle console between the front seats.

With both hands, I pushed him against his seat.

“Hey, just tell me. Stop messing around. It’s not funny.” Anger sliced my voice. Waves of angst danced in my stomach. The cabin of the truck closed around us. The air became rare and thick. “What is it?”

“I dropped out of college—”

I tried to talk, but nothing came out of my throat. I went blank. His words appeared to reach me after a few seconds, traveling through the fog in my mind. I couldn’t breathe as if I were free-falling from a sky-high building