24. Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Charlotte

There is no part of me that is not pressed against Andrew's back. The bike isn't big enough for a roomy back seat, but I try not to think about that while he explains how to be his backpack without getting us injured on the ride. I thought the kiss would occupy my mind all night, but it turns out there are other things that trump it. Namely, this man laying claim to me in ways no one else ever has. I'm pretty sure we passed see how it goes right on over to a game of chase he's determined to win.

"All set? Ready to go?" he asks.

I nod, admittedly a little scared. He slides on his helmet, hiding everything but those gorgeous eyes of his. Somebody help me. I'm drowning in his gaze, but it's focused on his task—getting my helmet fitted just right and strapped on. My head bobs a little under the weight but he adjusts and helps me ease into it. He gives me a thumbs-up, and I nod again.

He faces forward again and leans down, so I do as he instructed and wrap my arms tightly around him, remembering to support myself on the gas tank when we have to stop. When the bike roars to life, I'm hooked. Yep. Anticipation and adrenaline soar through me, and I am ready for this adventure. He checks my hands to make sure I'm good to go and eases us forward. Traveling the parking lot slowly, he gives me a chance to get comfortable and adjust before turning onto the main road.

After that, it's a game of hold on tight while he takes the turns toward the pub. The evening air is cool against my skin at this speed, and there is something entirely different about traveling at night this way. I remember not to bonk his helmet with mine when we stop at a red light and support my weight. Those dragon sized butterflies come to life when he squeezes my knee for a split second before the light turns green.

All in all, there are definitely worse ways to get from point A to point B. When we arrive at our destination, I try to remember what to do. I've all but forgotten since he's got my mind so frazzled I'm not even sure where the lines in our relationship are anymore. Since I seem to be doing the wrong thing, he removes his helmet and twists on the bike to help me with mine. Suddenly, I can hear again.

"I'll need to get these fixed with comms so you can hear me. You can hop down."

I run my hands through my hair and slide off the back, almost faceplanting when my feet finally hit the ground. Andrew grips my shoulder and keeps me up while getting off the bike. He hands me the helmet and nods toward the pub.

"Should probably take the helmets inside with us since this is a public lot. You mind?"

"No, not at all. Lead the way."

I follow him into The Salty Dog where laughter and shouts spill into the street the moment he opens the door.

"Rossi!" Koa shouts at the top of his lungs and raises his hand. Andrew chuckles but leads me to where his friend and a group of other players are huddled around a dartboard. My stomach churns when I see a group of beautiful women seated at the large table behind them. This is all too familiar, but at the same time it's completely different. Andrew is a different man, and I hate that I have to keep reminding myself of that.

"Look who I brought," Andrew says and steps aside to show me off. I didn't realize I was practically hiding behind him until he moves and puts his arm around my shoulders.

"It isn't every day Rossi brings a woman around," a tall brunette says. Her green eyes take me in and her lips curve into a smile.

"You mean never," another woman adds. "This is monumental."

Andrew's cheeks redden but he introduces me. "This is Jess Travers," he says, motioning toward the brunette. "She's the coach's niece and married to Paxon Travers who is currently making a fool of himself pretending he can play darts. And this is Katie Keaton, Koa's little sister."

"It's nice to meet you both," I say, extending my hand to each of them.

"You must be Lottie. Koa told me you and Andrew were sort of seeing each other," Katie says.

"Kit Kat, you weren't supposed to say anything," Koa says and ruffles her hair. She gives him the standard sibling glare and rolls her eyes.

"Well, I for one am glad he finally decided to start dating. Someone needs to remind him life should be fun," Jess says.

I peer up at Andrew and poke his arm. "Are you a grouch? Say it isn't so."

"Only when I'm not with you. I guess you'll have to stick around so I don't revert back to my grumpy ways," he teases.

"Oh, please. You aren't that grumpy." Koa rolls his eyes before glancing over his shoulder. "Spencer, that is not…How do you breathe unassisted? You're a cheater!" He leaves the group to tease Spencer a little.

"Do you play?" Andrew asks.

I glance at the dartboard. "No clue how. Wanna teach me?"

Something tells me the twinkle in his eyes means I'm about to enter another level of flirting, which also means my defenses will be tested further.

Andrew motions for the guys to move out of his way as he manipulates me into position. I'm positive this much touching is not part of the game, but I'm not going to shirk his hand on my lower back that slyly slides around to settle on my hip while he hands me a dart and leans in. With his free hand, he moves my arm and bends it at the elbow.

"It's all in the elbow. Aim for the middle, throw and extend your arm all the way through."

I peer at him from the corner of my eye. "Just like pitching?"

His breath warms my cheek when he laughs. "Nothing like pitching, but I think you're teasing me."

"Oh, I am." I toss the dart and it hits the wall. One of the guys has to stand a little straighter to avoid getting hit and I realize this game is harder than it seems.

"I think that would be a ball if you were a pitcher. We try not to do that," Koa teases and hands me another dart. "Don't hit anyone, or it's an automatic walk to first."

"Who's doing the walking?" I ask, glancing at the dart board.

"Whoever you hit's gonna have a fun walk to the ER to get a dart dug out of their body." Koa takes a few steps back and clears the area. He's teasing me, but if I survive this horrible game of hit the red circle with a sharp object, then I'm going to show him what's up with a game of pool. My daddy taught me that game when I was barely big enough to see over the table, and I haven't lost a game in years. Except to my mother, but she beats everyone.

"All right, stop teasing the woman," Jess says. Her pink Sharks jersey sports her husband's number and it's probably the most adorable sports related top I've ever seen. After admiring the cut of it, I toss another dart. This time I actually hit the board.

"Nice," Andrew says and lets his arm drop from my hip.

I shrug and turn around. "Meh, not really much fun if you ask me. You can fill in for me while I watch and learn."

Andrew proceeds to play a cutthroat game of darts with the guys, something I didn't know was possible until they started ribbing each other.

"They do this every week, and every week they lose to Andrew. It's like shooting fish in a barrel for him," Jess says.

"He knows it, too. He just likes messing with them," Katie adds.

"Excuse me," a man says behind me and clears his throat. I turn to find Martinez staring back at me. His brown eyes hold none of the confident swagger they did when he approached me before. "Can I have a moment?"

I look over to find Andrew in a conversation with Spencer. "Yeah. Sure."

Marco only pulls me a little away from the group, for which I'm grateful. It's just out of earshot. He clears his throat again and fidgets with a ball cap in his hand. "I wanted to apologize for the way I behaved the other day. I was way out of line, and I'm really sorry."

Well. I guess Andrew really did get to him. "Apology accepted." I shrug and smile, which seems to throw him off.

"Wait, that's it?" His eyes narrow on mine.

"Of course. You did a rude thing and you seem legitimately apologetic. So, apology accepted."

Marco breathes a sigh of relief that's almost drowned out by the guys cheering. Andrew must have made a winning throw because Koa's head is hanging. Andrew turns his attention back to where I was and scans the area when he doesn't find me.

I wave at him. He sidles up with a little more swagger, so I press a finger to his chest, slowing his advance. "So you're good at baseball and darts, but I'm going to take you out at pool, Mr. Confident."

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Marco says and sneaks over to join the rest of the guys.

"Oh, really?" he asks, eyebrow raised to match that smirk. "Also, did he apologize to you?"

"Absolutely, hotshot. And yeah, we worked it out. Did you make him do that?" I stand and cross my arms, ready to match him in a battle of smack talking once we've cleared this up.

"No, but he told me he wanted to. I figured that's what was happening." He puts his hands on my shoulders. "Okay, you'll probably beat me because I'm not very good at pool, but it's Koa you'll have to watch out for." He thumbs over his shoulder where Koa and a guy I remember as Spencer argue about where a dart landed.

"Bring it on." I wave him over and sort through the pool sticks. They're a bit old and not the straightest, but I'm used to playing with subpar equipment. Once I've chosen one, I turn and find Koa has set up the table. His smile is full of confidence and I'm about to wipe it right off his face.

"Ladies first." Koa steps back and motions toward the table while the Sharks gather around.

For some reason, Jess has taken a fast liking to me and leans in close. "Wipe the floor with that sassy one, honey. I have faith in you." She pats my shoulder and leans against the wall with her arms crossed to watch the show.

"You sure you don't want to go first? I mean, I want you to have a turn," I say.

Koa bursts into laughter and all that athletic cockiness is on display. It's one of the things about my ex and his teammates I didn't care much for, but it goes with the territory. It's not unusual for athletes who dominate their sport to be full of themselves at least a little. Andrew shakes his head and pulls up a barstool to watch.

"Something tells me not to make fun of the statistician, but you do you, friend," Andrew says. Jess pats his back while her husband joins Andrew in his head shaking. At least there are three people who might bet on me.

"We all know who controls this table. I'm not saying she's not good, but I'm not worried I won't get a turn. The likelihood of her getting hers all pocketed without a foul are—"

"Slim but not impossible," I say.

Koa motions for me to go and I don't argue. I settle into position and break, pocketing two solids. He nods a little as if he is mildly impressed but it's not a big deal. That comes next. I scan the table and find my next ball, pocket it, and continue until that smug expression on his face starts to melt into something resembling worry. When all that is left for me to pocket is the 8-ball, he groans.

"I think I just got played."

I chuckle. "I should have told you that I'm not just a statistics geek, but a math geek in general. It's all about angles, my friend." I pocket the 8-ball and stand straight. "There we go. I feel better about darts now."

Jess laughs so hard she snorts, and I realize I've garnered the attention of every patron in the pub. Andrew smacks Koa on the back and leaves him to lick his wounds in favor of hugging me. Those strong arms slip around me in a congratulatory embrace.

"That was amazing. He's a great friend, but I love seeing him eat some of that pride."

"I feel mean," I admit when he releases me.

"Don't feel that way. He earned his butt-whipping. The least he can do is take it like a man."

The rest of the evening goes much the same way, and Koa finally breaks after three more games. He asks for lessons, which reminds me that Andrew is still due some drum lessons once that shoulder is fully healed. When the pub begins to thin out, Andrew nudges me.

"Ready to go?"

The fundraiser is in the morning, so I do need rest. "Yep. Better head out."

We say our goodbyes and Andrew takes me back to the stadium to pick up my car. Once we arrive, my stomach bottoms out. I've had such an amazing time with him, and I'm not ready to let it go just yet. He slides my brand new helmet off and helps me down from his bike.

"I had a great time tonight. Thanks for giving it a shot," he says.

"I had an amazing time with you too. I'm glad you're in my life, and I want you to know that." It's the closest thing I can say that feels like commitment without going all in.

Andrew runs his hands up my arms and settles them on my shoulders. "I'm glad you're in my life too. This was easily one of the best nights I've had in a long time. Everything with you is so easy for me."

My heart soars but I bridle it. "Andrew, I—"

"Hey, no. I can tell by that tone you think I expect more. I hope for more, but I don't expect anything from you except honesty, okay?"

I take a steadying breath and reach for that honesty. "I know. I meant what I said before about giving this a try if we go slow."

A flicker of disappointment crosses his face, but he steels his expression and replaces the frown with a slight smile. "I haven't seen anyone beat Koa so badly at pool before, and I might have to watch you do it again next week. Want to go out with us again soon?"

"I'd love to. The ladies seem nice, and it was a good time."

He brushes my left cheek with his thumb and I know it's time to say goodnight. I just don't know how, and I think maybe he doesn't know either because he seems to be waiting for me to lead. I hate these moments, the ones that are only awkward because there is no definition to the relationship. Do we hug? Do I try to kiss his cheek again? Do we wave goodbye like little kids?

Andrew releases me when I make no commitment to leave and straps the helmet he got for me onto the back of his bike. "I guess I'll see you at the festival tomorrow?"

"Bright and early," I whisper and it hits me that I don't want us to say goodbye like this. Ugh, what am I doing? Why am I still punishing him for what Rory did? I let him drive me around Savannah on the back of a motorized rocket, flirted with him all night, even kissed him at the game. The mixed signals I'm throwing this guy probably have him more confused than a rookie pitcher trying to read his catcher.

And he keeps letting me do it.

He doesn't complain or push. He just…waits.

"I'm going to pick Koa up first, then I'll meet you at the front office at eight, right?"

I blink the haze from my mind and try to focus on this moment. What do I want? What does he want? What can I do to make this more clear for both of us? My heart slams into my ribcage when he swings his leg over the motorcycle. He's about to leave, and every cell of my body wants to go with him. I want to stay with him. More than that, I want to kiss him. Not some shoddy kiss cam catastrophe. I want to kiss Andrew Rossi until he knows I'm his, even if I have to iron out a few things before it's officially official.

He's just about to pull on his helmet when I finally unfreeze and step forward. I move the helmet away with one hand and grasp the front of his leather jacket with the other. I have to lift myself to reach his lips, but by golly, I manage it just fine.

Andrew lowers his helmet to the ground and both arms encircle me when I crash into him. One hand slides into my hair and increases the pressure between us while the other tightens around my waist until he can lift me. And I'm suddenly sitting in front of him on the gas tank of his bike at perfect kissing level. He deepens the kiss and I can't help the sigh that erupts from the back of my throat. Kissing him is divine, and the preview at the game was nothing compared to the accuracy and precision with which Andrew Rossi moves in tune with me.

A low grumble precedes him pulling me still closer. I run my hands through his hair and he kisses me until I'm delirious with him. I've never been so cherished before, so lovingly attended to through a kiss as I am with him, and I make a note of this for the times when my heart tries to run away from what's coming.

And what's coming is inevitable, because as much as I want to deny it, Andrew caught my heart. I'm going to fall in love with him at some point. It's only a matter of when, not if, but if his gentle caress up and down my back are proof of anything, it's that this time, the fall won't kill me.

I pull back slightly, nearly gasping for air. It's only a moment, a quick inhale before I'm kissing him again. If I thought leaving before was difficult, I'm surely going to have a hard time now. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—a car enters the lot and we break apart. Still, he doesn't let me escape from his bike just yet.

"What was that?" he murmurs into my ear before placing a string of kisses from my jaw to the nape of my neck. "Incidentally, I've been wanting to kiss this line of freckles since the night we met."

Chills shoot down my spine. I didn't even know I had that many freckles there, but his warm lips on my skin make me want to check for more on the other side of my neck.

"Andrew," I whisper, thoroughly embarrassed.

He pulls back as if I've scolded him, so I press a sweet kiss to his lips. When I pull back, he grins.

"Don't you grin at me like that. And don't pretend you didn't leave me little crumbs all the way here."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He lifts his leg over the bike and helps me down, but he keeps me close with both arms wrapped snugly around my waist.

"You being all sweet and patient with me as if you didn't know it would lure me in." I try to be feisty and put my hands on my hips but he steals another kiss. Back to those freckles. It tickles this time and I giggle.

Andrew has chosen misbehavior over everything else at this point and dives to the other side, eliciting another giggle. I finally capture his face between my hands and kiss him so he'll stop nibbling in places that make me want to run away with him to a chapel somewhere in the south of France. It's getting late and I need rest before the fundraiser, so it's time to put my foot down. He's deepening the kiss again and I'll never escape if I don't end this now. But there's almost nothing I'd rather do than stay in this parking lot kissing this man.

I finally break free and step out of his grip. "Whew, okay, listen…" I take a breath and he comes back to reality. "I…I just...wow."

"Yeah. Wow." He scratches the back of his neck and clears his throat. "Tell me that wasn't the world's most epic this just isn't going to work out kiss."

"What? No! Not at all. That was the total opposite of a this is not going to work out kiss. It was a…I don't know. I guess an I know what I want and it's definitely you, and I need you to know that but I still have to have that awful conversation with my ex kiss."

His face sours. "I could have done without mention of the ex after that kissing, but I get it."

I did ask for honesty. Stepping closer, I let him take my hands. "I kissed you because I didn't want to say goodbye. I had such a great time tonight, and I know you've had to be so patient about this. You haven't complained a bit, and I wanted you to know that I see that and appreciate it."

"What does this mean? Exactly?"

I take another deep breath and clasp my hands behind his neck. "It means I'm going to send Rory a message tonight and set up a time to talk. I want to end any thought he has of us getting back together and try not to carry my animosity around any longer. And then I'm going to need you to get me a jersey so I can wear it to all of your games as your official girlfriend."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. A pink one like Jess has, please."

Andrew chuckles and tugs at my hands, pulling them from behind his neck. "Anything you want, sweetness. Now, let's get you on your way before I'm tempted to kiss those freckles again.