14. Adrian

14

ADRIAN

O h, fuck, she's here. I peek out through the blinds of the Idea Garage as Britt's car turns into the driveway.

Please don't let her think I've crossed the line. Please don't let this be a giant mistake.

But it isn't. It can't be. Even if she rejects me, I'm just being true to my feelings and embracing the passion I feel for her. It's not all bad and destructive. I love this woman, and I plan on laying it all out in front of her. I'm going to offer her everything I have.

And if I fail? At least I tried.

Britt brakes when she sees my SUV in her driveway. There's no backing out now. I look around and stifle a nervous chuckle.

I went Over. The. Top.

She can literally have me arrested for trespassing.

I waited until after I knew she'd be gone to lunch with her parents and Jackson, then let myself in with the garage code. I dragged the bins of lights from the winter dance into the Idea Garage and got to work. Frappy and Captain were curious, at one point settling into one of the empty containers to watch me decorate.

Maybe they don't hate me after all.

Britt gets out of her car and stares at my SUV. I send her the text I have ready.

Me

Come to the Idea Garage. I have a surprise for you

She grabs her phone from her pocket and reads it, then glances up, making direct eye contact with me as I peek through her blinds. Shit. That probably makes me look like a real stalker. I'll have to make it up to her right away.

I step back and wait for her to come inside. It takes a hundred years for the knob to turn and the door to slowly open.

Britt steps inside. "Adrian?" Then she gasps, her hand flying to her chest.

I've strung up about half of the school dance white fairy lights. I would've done more, but there was no more room. I lined the walls—careful to use hooks that wouldn't damage the walls or paint when I take it all down—doorways, tables, desks, the loft area, and the kitchen. The dark December day helps, since no sun streams in from the windows and the effect is a holiday wonderland.

Britt wanders to the center of the room, her mouth parted, eyes flitting everywhere, resting for a beat on the kitchen table, where there's a chilled bottle of champagne and two flutes.

If this doesn't work out, it'll get awkward real fast in here.

"Britt." I savor the sound of her name on my lips.

She squeaks and slips off her jacket, throwing it on the couch and spinning in a slow circle, eyes wide. "What did you do?"

Something right, that's for sure, because she has an awestruck smile as she turns.

"I decorated. You taught me everything I needed to know about making a place magical with strings of lights."

She giggles and stops spinning.

"And—" I take a step toward her. "The thing is, I've been dying to dance with you again."

"You want to dance with me? Here?" She rubs her arms and then slides her hands on either side of her neck, as if she needs grounding—a reminder she's here, and something big is happening.

"Better than the high school gym, no?"

"At least we don't have to hide behind curtains." Britt makes a sound I can't place, something that makes me think her body is humming in response to mine, wanting to touch me as much as I want to touch her. She looked hot as hell on Friday night, but she's just as gorgeous today in jeans and a thin, gray sweater.

"So? Will you dance with me?" I hold out my hand.

Britt nods. Then she does the best thing I can imagine—she places her hand in mine.

"Alexa, play the song."

Britt's mouth quirks up as the familiar slow guitar strums fill the air. "Is this the song we danced to on Friday?"

"Yeah, I think it's ours now."

She smiles again, and I can see the joy reflected in her eyes.

I pull her body against mine, arms wrapped around her waist. Her hands press against my chest, her eyes fixed on mine. Oh, this is right. This is exactly how it should be.

"Adrian," she whispers and presses her lips together. But she says nothing else.

That's fine, because there's something I have to say first.

I splay my hand on her back, feeling the warmth of her body as we sway together, my chest filling with its own warmth.

"Six months ago, I was an idiot."

She blinks. "No, I was. Not you. I shouldn't have made such a big deal of things. I should've just..."

"Hush, baby, let me get through this." I touch my finger to her lips, then gliding it down the curve of her neck, her shoulder, and grabbing her hand again. "I'd closed myself off so tight, blind to what was growing between us. You weren't imagining it. You weren't alone. I was just too stupid to realize what was happening."

I take a deep breath, grounding myself in the moment.

"But you, Britt. You were so brave. You saw it when I didn't. You tried to do the right thing. I know that."

She chuckles and blows out air. "Maybe I should try harder in the future."

I want to kiss her so badly, and my eyes drift to her lips. But it's not time. Not quite yet. "That's one of the things that makes you so incredible. And I have to tell you—I need to tell you—that I'm absolutely, completely, and overwhelmingly in love with you."

Britt takes a sharp breath.

"I'll do anything to be with you. Anything." I rub the inside of her wrist with my thumb. The other hand remains on her back. I won't let her go. Not until she tells me to get out.

This is where I belong. With her.

"I know there are complications. But we can overcome anything together. You and me."

"Oh, god, Adrian." Tears fill her eyes and her hand is shaking in mine. She's not letting me go, either. "I don't know. I don't know..."

"We can light up a whole school gym by sheer will and determination." I touch my finger under her chin and tilt her face up to me, placing my lips on hers for a brief kiss. I can't resist. "You're worthy of the most true and deep love out there. I will give it to you. I will give you anything and everything. Just tell me you're willing to let me spoil you every single day."

Her cheeks flush and I can see the switch in her face when it clicks.

"I've just done it all wrong," she whimpers, but her body melts into mine, as if we are one person instead of two.

"No." I kiss her again, this time for longer, with the slightest flicker of my tongue inside her mouth. "You've done it your way. Now we can do it our way. Together."

Britt throws her other arm around my neck and drags me down to kiss her again and again.

Breathless, I pull away. "Did you get that I'm madly in love with you?"

She nods, her eyes flicking to my lips and back again. "I love you too. I've loved you for a long time. And now you've done this." She looks around, eyes wide, an open smile lighting up her face along with the lights.

We kiss again, and this time, when I look up to see her cats supervising, it feels like we're doing everything right.