Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

DANE

F ollowing Mom to the elevator, I lead Lettie down with my hand on her back, I touch the fabric of her dress instead of her skin. Because I'm holding myself together by a tiny thread.

Needing a distraction, I switch gears. "Mom, you look pretty. Dad is one lucky man."

"Thank you. Sometimes people don't notice what is right under their nose." My mom glances over her shoulder. There's a subtle emotion in her voice. Is she referring to Lettie and me or does she feel that Dad doesn't see her for the beautiful person she is?

The metal door opens to a large foyer full of women in colorful gowns and men in black. Lettie was so anxious, she got on her knees in the seat. She would pop up and straighten her back whenever the action started.

"Excuse me, I see your dad," my mom says heading straight to my dad and his friends. He's easily seen, like me towering over the vast majority.

"Do you want a cocktail or chardonnay?"

She lets out a hearty laugh. "What no Beast?"

"No, we get to pretend to be grownups with money tonight. Top shelf wine and liquor for us."

"Dane, you have more NIL contracts than any player in the history of the university. Save the humble pie for your sponsors and donors. You're not impressing some rich, country club girl."

Spinning her to face me, I say, "You're making it sound like I'm an asshole. One, you know I'm saving all of my sponsorship money. And two, I don't need to impress you. It doesn't work anyway."

"Sorry, I'm getting nervous about the competitions coming up. What if I'm not good enough to make the Olympics?"

I order our drinks, handing her a cranberry vodka with club soda and when our fingers touch, our eyes deadlock. She holds my gaze and I look down to her lips and then to the cutaway of her dress showing her round cleavage.

"Stop all of the self-doubt. You're one of the premier riders in the states and Diamond Mine is ranked among the top ten horses. You'll make it."

I stick out my elbow, and she laces her arm through. We wander around the room and of course I'm stopped every five seconds wanting to talk about the Stallions basketball team.

"Hey, are you winning the National Championship this year?"

"That's the plan."

"How's the new coach?"

"He's a motivator."

"Why did you stay instead of entering the NBA draft?" A woman possibly in her mid-thirties asks. She must sense my hesitation and looks at Lettie and smiles. "Sorry, that was a personal question."

"No ma'am. I just never know how to answer it. Half the people think I'm an idiot for staying, the other half wanted me to stay. Which one are you?"

"I'm definitely glad you stayed. It makes it more exciting when a Kentucky boy is leading the team in three pointers."

I swear basketball is all the people in this state care about.

Lettie squeezes my arm. "It's nice to meet you, but my friend needs some food to keep her sugar up."

"I'm sorry to keep you. Good luck to you this season. My husband and I sit near half-court, so I'm sure I'll see you soon." She pats my chest before swinging her hips in that tight AF dress, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Lettie punches me in the arm. "She's going to think I have diabetes. And why are older, married women hitting on you?"

I chuckle. "She was just being social."

"And you are clueless."

If anyone is clueless, it's you.

The waitstaff offers bacon wrapped shrimp and Lettie wrinkles up her nose. Popping two in my mouth, I drag her to the charcuterie table. I fill up a plate and we go to the outside patio. We lean against a rail consisting of iron spindles topped with a cedar-wood slat.

Our drinks are nearly empty, and it hasn't done shit to relax us. Every sentence feels forced. She's so damn beautiful with her blonde waves and her make up that enhances her natural beauty instead of competing with it. The shades of brown on her lids makes her green eyes pop and sparkle. And the stain on her lips is the color of a deep mouth watering peach.

I rest the plate on the railing and pick up a cheese cube and hold it a hairsbreadth from her mouth. Her lips open up like a blooming flower. She's fucking beautiful, always has been.

"Dane?"

I realize I'm staring. "Hmm?"

"They're chanting Greathouse. It's your cue."

Letting out a deep sigh, my admission of wanting her as more than friend will have to wait and I guide her back into the ballroom.

The emcee asks for everyone to take their seats at the dinner tables. Wealthy men and women take the stage one after the other announcing they are endorsing my dad for U.S. Senator. I notice Lettie only eats half of her st eak and a few bites of her grilled asparagus which she loves.

Something is wrong and my guess is she feels the distance between us.

I place my palm on her bare shoulder and ask, "Do you want me to request a different dinner?"

"No, I'm fine. Like I said, I'm just nervous about leaving for a month. Will I be able to keep up with my classes and keep my academic scholarship?"

My fingers naturally drift over her skin. "I have faith in you. But Lettie, we really need to talk, alone."

"Put your hands together for the Greathouse family," the emcee says, energizing the crowd, but postponing the talk I need to have Lettie.

"Looks like you're up, number 11."

My jersey number is eleven and I've never told anyone why. Coaches, teammates, and friends have asked, "Why don't you wear your dad's number?"

I'm my own person that's why.

One day I will share, but not tonight.

Standing at the podium with my family behind me, I give the crowd what they want. "Do you want a Stallion in the U. S. Senate?"

"Hell Yeah."

"Do you want a Greathouse in the U.S. Senate?"

The crowd c hants, "Greathouse."

I look out and find Lettie's eyes locked on mine.

"Do you know why I want my father in Washington?" I pause and a hush falls over the room. "Because when I brought home a pig tailed girl that lived next to our farm with her grandmother, he didn't act like we were better than her. My mom and dad welcomed her with open arms. Her parents had problems and so my parents worked to give her everything she needed."

Lettie shakes her head no.

"I just know that my dad will do everything in his power to fight for people that have been dealt a bad hand in life. Ladies and gentlemen, my dad, Gregg Greathouse."

My dad gives a short speech about foster care, education and bringing jobs to eastern Kentucky. Then tells everyone that dancing is expected in the adjacent ballroom.

As I make my way to Lettie, she stands up and storms off. I'm stopped by donors giving me kudos for the speech and wishing me well on the upcoming season. The entire time I'm searching for Lettie over their heads.

I find her on the patio with another drink in her hand. "Why did you say that?" She asks as fire blazes through her emerald eyes, reddened around the green globes.

"I didn't mention your name."

"I'm finally starting to see our friendship for what it is to you… a charity case," she huffs and spins away from me.

"Lettie, baby." I've never called her baby. Never dared for fear of getting slapped so why did it slip out of my mouth?

Her mouth falls open and her head tilts processing my words but then she takes another drink.

"Save the pet names for one of your jersey chasers."

I sit in the chair letting out an exasperated sigh and question her. "What's going on?" She resists as I try pulling her into my lap, but she gives in. The lights twinkle above us and the slit in her dress falls to the sides of her leg, leaving her long muscular thigh exposed.

"Don't get mad at me, but did you take your ADHD medicine?" I ask, as I lay my hand on her leg, and she flinches. "Talk to me."

"It's the first time I've taken it in two months. It always makes me feel weird the first few days like I'm not myself." She rests her head on my shoulder.

"I know. I'm sorry, but do you feel you can handle your responsibilities, and relationships without the meds? Like, has not being on it made you forget to do something or be somewhere? Or have you made an impulsive decision?"

"What relationships? Brooke has Reed and Caleb. Tessa and Jules graduated. I don't feel close to anyone right now."

That's a gut punch. I strain to find my voice. "Not even me?"

She stares at her fingers which is all the information I need.

Not even me.

It feels li ke I can't breathe, like I'm struggling for an inhale of the fresh mountain air. If Lettie doesn't feel close to me, then the world must not be spinning.

Lettie changes the subject. "You haven't asked me to perm your hair. It's back in style, you know." She narrows her eyes, and the corners of her lips tip up into a slight smile.

"Would it make you feel close to me? You know, if I let you make me look like Screech from Saved by the Bell again."

She scoffs and twists on my lap. "Maybe. But I don't really like curly headed guys anymore."

"Devon has curly hair. And you were head over heels for Craig King, senior year. And you're crazy over me."

"Your hair is thick and wavy, not curly." She chuckles while scanning the patio. "Can I be honest?"

"I hope you're always honest with me." Even though I haven't been honest with her about how I feel.

As I caress her thigh, we both look down at the same time. Her chin lifts to me. The bridge of her nose creases and her eyes swirl with emotion or maybe I'm reading into it what I want and not what she wants. She didn't kiss me back at Timber Thrills.

"You confused me the night at the amusement park." She tucks her lips inside her mouth and her body begins to shake.

Skimming her toned thigh, I admit, "I confused myself. If I'm certain of one thing in life, it's I need you, my best friend."

I kiss her bare shoulder and my lips linger before my mouth moves up her neck and then to her ear. "I'm sorry. I've kept my feelings hidden for so long, I can't control myself anymore, but I don't want to jeopardize our friendship."

"Oh." Somehow she seems disappointed. "So, you did kiss me?"

"I had to. I had to know how your lips tasted."