He stands and comes toward me. “Did you have fun?”
I nod. “I did. It was amazing.” I’m not going to play coy with him, especially since this will never go anywhere. I want to at least be honest.
Chance places his hand on my shoulders. “Then it was worth it. Do you want to go have breakfast? I’d cook, but I don’t have anything.”
“How about we go back to my apartment, and I’ll make breakfast for you.” What am I doing?
“I like the sound of that. Let me go jump in the shower real quick, and then we’ll go.”
He grabs some clothes and disappears into the bathroom. I get tingly all over just thinking about him being in the other room … naked.
I grab my phone and shoot a quick text to Nicole.
Laken: Are u up?
The dots begin bouncing almost immediately.
Nicole: I am. Um … I’m assuming your date went well if you’re still not home.
Laken: It was amazing, and then I got drunk, puked, and then slept alone in Chance’s bed. He’s bringing me home, and I’m going to make him breakfast. Can you hide the pictures of Ava? I know, I know, but I am not ready to tell him yet.
Of course, in my head I know I’ll end things before we ever get to that point. As much as I like him, he doesn’t need someone who has baggage; not that Ava’s baggage. The relationship, or non-relationship I had with her father left me scarred and broken—my history is just too … messy, and he deserves better.
Nicole: Oh wow. Yeah I’ll stick them in your dresser drawer. I have to go teach yoga, so I’ll be leaving soon.
Laken: Thank you!
Nicole: I want to hear all about your date tonight.
The water shuts off, and I put my phone in my bag. I slip on my tennis shoes and quickly braid my hair. The bathroom door opens, and Chance comes walking out. I would like to say I’m unaffected by him, but that’s a lie. His hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing basketball shorts with no shirt.
His eight pack is on prominent display, and those damn V muscles beckon me. I look away before Chance catches me salivating as I stare at him. He throws on a t-shirt and tennis shoes and then comes over to me, sitting next to me on the sofa.
“Are you ready?” I nod and go to stand, but he stops me. “I need to do something really quick.”
Chance cups my face in his hands, and my heart races as he moves in. Oh God, he’s going to kiss me. This gorgeous cocky man wants to kiss me.
The moment our lips touch I close my eyes and sigh against his mouth. It’s a soft, tender kiss that surprises me. He seems like the type of guy who likes to control everything. Chance is like the hero of a romance novel, but better because he’s real.
All too soon he pulls away. Was I bad? I don’t have a lot of experience; can he tell? “Umm … was that okay?” Why did I ask that?
Chance leans in and kisses me before pulling back. “That was more than okay. If I keep kissing you, I’m not going to want to stop. You promised to cook me breakfast.”
He stands and holds his hand out to me. I take it, and then we head to my place.
***
I sit next to Chance’s mom while we watch him play soccer. His parents are hilarious, and I could listen to his dad talk all day with his Australian accent. Of course, now that they’re playing, Chance Sr. is focused on his son.
We’ve spent every day together in some capacity, since our date last weekend. Sometimes we have lunch, or sometimes I go to his place or he comes to mine and we work on homework.
He hasn’t kissed me again, except for a little peck on the cheek or forehead. As much as I want him to kiss me, like really kiss me, I’m afraid it might muddy the waters. I need to keep a little distance for when I break things off.
“Laken, did you grow up around here?” Aubrey asks.
I turn toward her. “I’m from Riverside.”
“What do your parents do?”
“My mom works for a winery, and my dad’s a lawyer…”
“Princess, leave her alone. If she runs off, I’m telling our son it was all you,” Chance Sr. says from Aubrey’s other side.
“Oh hush, Cocky.”
Chance’s mom and dad kiss, and it makes me smile. They remind me a lot of my own parents. When Aubrey turns back toward me, her cheeks are pink. She shrugs and turns back to watch the game.
I’m riveted as I watch Chance play. He plays hard, and the way he moves is fascinating. It’s like he never stops moving. The last goal he made, Chance did one of those kicks over his head all while on his back. Aubrey called it a bicycle kick. I thought for sure his dad was going to run right onto the field, but he didn’t.
It was so fucking sexy to watch. I swear my panties are a little damp now. There’s only two minutes left in the game when his mom leans in. “We’re going out to eat after the game.”
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”
Aubrey immediately shakes her head. “You’re not intruding. Plus, my son told me to make you say yes.”
“Okay, sure … that’d be great.”
Once the game ends, Chance disappears inside the building, and we make our way over to where they’ll come out. The moment he steps out of the building my heart starts to race.
He spots me, and the heated look in his eyes exhilarates and scares me. Ignoring his parents, Chance comes toward me and picks me up in his arms. I wrap my
