Page 88 of Made Better Together

I set the glass down, now empty. “This one was kind of crispy.”

“Crisp?” Connor says, a look of amusement on his face.

“Yeah, crisp.” Whoops.

He dips down and pecks my lips. “You’re cute.”

Cute I may be, but it’s time to take a break from this beer. “Can we get that water?”

He winks. “Sure.”

Half a glass of water later, and my mind has cleared a bit.

“Better?”

I smile at him. “Yeah, better.”

Our time at Cheetos may need to end soon, since my lightweight self isn’t going to finish the other half of my beers. Still, the combination of our free-flowing conversation, him letting down his guard, and the drinks already consumed has me tingling with anticipation over the night continuing.

What do I want tonight? The question returns from earlier. Now, I have a better sense of the answer. I unquestionably want to kiss him, yes. But more, too. I want to be able to touch him, explore what he likes, freely, finally. I never got to do that on the Fourth of July at Bree’s.

The looseness I feel around him right now? The trust he’s building is its foundation. Feeling safe with him, because of him, after these three hours, I want him to touch me again too.

Feel his hands on me tonight.

Even more, I want this stoic, restrained soul to know that he can let go of his careful control around me. Strip his armor away. If our night fifteen months ago was any indication, the result will be intense and hot—hopefully for him this time too.

“You all set with food?” the bartender asks. “Last call for the kitchen.”

Connor pushes our plates over to him. “Yes, thank you.”

He wraps his arm around the back of my chair, grinning. “First, the chocolate chip cookies, now this fine cuisine tonight. You’re going to think I eat like a teenage boy.”

My internal conversation still front of mind, my eyes roam down his body. “I don’t think of you as a boy. Don’t worry.”

“Hmmm…” His hands thread through the back of my hair, stroking my locks.

“I don’t think I want to go to another bar.”

His face sinks. “No problem, I can take you back to Tolliver.”

“No, not that. How do you feel about dancing?”

25

CONNOR

Dancing? With Eden? I’m not going to turn that down.

“Eclypse?” It’s the best club around here.

She nods.

“Let’s go.”

We’re able to walk there, since it’s just a few minutes away on foot. I subtly watch Eden to make sure her gait’s steady, and she seems fine. I want this night to last, so it was smart to mix in food and water.

It’s still early for the club—just ten, so we don’t need to wait in a line to enter. If I were with my brothers, we’d be ushered to the VIP section. But no one knows who Eden and I are. Once we’re inside, I lead us to a darker corner on the main dance floor.