Chapter Fifty-Two RHETT

I’m out of breath and my entire body hurts after that fucking brutal game but in the end we won, and then Brooks and I hauled ass running up the hill to get here, hoping we didn’t miss the homecoming ceremony they planned on having during the dance.

Damn, looks like we just missed it.

But there’s my girl, standing alone wearing the homecoming queen sash and the tiara on her head, looking fucking gorgeous in that black velvet dress, a matching thin black velvet choker around her neck. Her dark hair spills down her back in soft waves, clipped back with a black velvet bow. She’s wearing shiny black Chanel Mary Jane shoes on her feet, and I only know they’re Chanel because she told me.

Her lips are painted a deep red and they slowly part, revealing her teeth in a beautiful smile. I walk toward her, feeling like I’m in a teen movie with the music playing in the background and the couples swaying. Me in my dirty football uniform while my girl is stunning in her beautiful dress.

“I missed it, huh?” I say to Willow when I’m close enough that she can hear me.

She nods, her smile turning tremulous, her eyes shiny. She better not cry. I feel like I’m gonna die whenever she sheds tears, not that she does it often. “Did you win?”

“Yeah, baby, of course we did.” Unable to resist, I sweep her into my arms and off her feet, making her squeal as I swing her around. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for the ceremony.”

“Don’t apologize. You had a game to play and besides, we were together for the most important ceremony out on the field.” She kisses my cheek and I feel that innocent touch of her lips on my skin all the way to my bones. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I can’t stop looking at you.” I set her on her feet and take a step back, admiring her. Willow is too beautiful for words, I swear. I get overwhelmed when I look at her and end up feeling like a chump who can’t speak. “That dress.”

It hugs all of her curves. She’s the sexiest woman I know. And she’s all mine.

“The way you look at me makes me feel beautiful,” she whispers, grabbing my hand and rising up to press a kiss to my cheek.

I can feel the lipstick staining my skin, and she examines it, making like she’s going to wipe it away when I take a step backward, dodging her. “Keep it there.”

“But I left a lipstick print on your face.” She frowns. “You can’t walk around like that.”

“I sure as hell can.” I wave a hand at her. “Take a picture. I left my phone in the locker room.”

Like some sort of miracle, her dress has pockets and she pulls her phone out, standing next to me and taking a few selfies of the two of us together before she shows them to me. “Aw, we look cute.”

I admire the photo of the two of us, me looking like a lovesick dope with Willow’s lipstick print on my cheek, her smiling into the camera. We’re fucking happy is what we look like. “Yeah, we do.”

“Should we dance?”

“You don’t wanna dance with me like this. I’m still in my pads.” I’ve got all the equipment on. So does Brooks. We look ridiculous but man we booked it to get here. Coach didn’t even care that we ran out before he could give the team speech.

“That doesn’t bother me. Dance with me, Rhett.”

Without hesitation I pull her into my arms and we join the rest of the crowd on the dance floor, shuffling to the music. I spot Brooks dancing with Iris as well, the two of us rolling our eyes at each other, but he looks happy too.

It’s been a good night. A good week, celebrating homecoming. I have zero complaints. I don’t know how I got so lucky to win homecoming king, the girl of my dreams and the game, but here I am, living my best fucking life.

Willow’s arms are slung around my middle, her fingers slipping beneath the waistband of my uniform pants.

“Hey, watcha doing?” I ask, hoping like hell she’s not going to feel me up out here. Iris’s dad is watching the dance floor like a hawk. I know he’s paying more attention to his daughter and Brooks but still. That guy scares the shit out of me.

“What is this?” She tugs on something. A piece of cardstock, and I realize a second too late that she’s discovered my good luck charm. “Why do you have a piece of paper stuck in your pants?”

“Uhhh.” I don’t know what to say or how to explain it without looking like a stalker. I mean, I know I’m her boyfriend and it’s okay to keep something for myself that originally belonged to her, but she might find this a little weird.

She unfolds the worn and creased paper, frowning before she holds it out to me. “Wait a minute. This is mine, isn’t it?”

I nod, wincing. “Maybe?”

“Maybe?” She stares at the lipstick prints on the paper, then glances up at me. “Is this from the lip print reader? The fortune teller lady?”

“Yeah.”

“And you kept it?”

“You left it on the table so I figured it was fair game. I took it before it got thrown away.”

“You’ve kept it all this time?”

“It wasn’t that long ago.” I shrug. Almost a couple of months. “I like to have it with me during games.”

“Why?” Her voice is soft, her eyes glowing.

“It’s my good luck charm,” I admit.

“Oh my God,” she murmurs, carefully folding the paper back up and clutching it in her palm. “This is the sweetest thing you’ve ever done.”

“Yeah? You really think so?” I reach beneath my uniform shirt and the equipment I’ve got on, pulling out my other good luck charm. “Hate to break it to you, but I need the paper back, Will. And I’d rather give you this.”

I let the number one pendant dangle from my fingers, the gold glinting in the light.

“I can’t take that. It belonged to your dad,” she says, her eyes wide when they meet mine.

“And I want you to have it. You’re the number one most important thing to me. You deserve to wear it.” I reach behind me with both hands and undo the clasp, carefully removing the chain from my neck before I hold it in front of her. “Turn around for me?”

She does as I ask and I slip the chain around her neck, fumbling for a few seconds before I get the clasp into place. She’s got her head bent, her fingers stroking over the pendant, and I lean forward, whispering in her ear, “My dad wore it because his dad gave it to him, and when he was with my mom, he gave it to her. She wore it for years, whenever he played football, but once he was done, she wanted me to have it and he agreed. They said it would be my good luck charm now. But you’re the one who brings me luck, Willow. And happiness. You’re my number one and I want everyone to know it.”

Willow whirls around and hugs me, burying her face against my chest. “I love it. I love you. Thank you.”

I hold her close until the song is done, another one starting right up, and it’s faster. Everyone floods the dance floor, and I take Willow’s hand, pulling her off and away toward a dark corner where we can be more alone.

“You can have this back.” She hands me the piece of paper with her lipstick prints on it. “Though I can make you more if you want.”

“I kind of like this one best though.” I return it to my hiding spot, the tiniest makeshift pocket on the inside of my pants that’s only there because of an undone seam. It’s the perfect place to stash it.

“You’re the sweetest.” She’s watching me like she can’t believe I’m hers.

I know the feeling all too well.

“Pretty sure you’re wrong, Will. You’ve got me beat on the sweetness part. There’s no one sweeter than Willow Lancaster,” I drawl, appreciating the pink flush that coats her face at my words.

We stare at each other for a moment, lost in our own little world. I could watch her for an eternity and never get tired of looking at her.

“You know all of my kisses are for you, right?” Her gaze goes to the one on my cheek. “You own all of them.”

“Good, because I need every one that I can get for luck.” I chuckle and she laughs and we lean into each other, our mouths meeting. Melting. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she whispers. “Want to get out of here?”

Those six words are like freaking magic. I’m already impatient and eager to leave. “You sure?”

She nods, slowly pulling away. “Where are my parents?”

“With Row at the field.”

“Where are your parents?”

“With my brother. Also out at the field.”

“No one is paying attention then.” Her smile turns sly.

So does mine. “Nope.”

“Let’s ditch this dance.”

“You got it, baby.” I grab her hand, about to hightail it out of there, but she doesn’t budge.

“Maybe I can give you more kisses. On your skin.” She lowers her voice to the barest whisper. “All over your body.”

“Promise?”

She tips her head back, her laughter reaching deep inside me and never letting go. “Yes, Rhett. I promise.”