Chapter Thirty-Eight

Myles

I adjust my tux and gaze in the mirror. Then I slip my wallet into my coat pocket.

“Flynn, you ready?” I call out. I don’t know what’s taking her so long, but we can’t be late. I am searching for my cell phone and keys, even though I’m not driving, when I sense her standing a few feet away. I look up, and I lose my bearings as I stumble backward, my palm moving over my heart to make sure it’s still there.

“Say something.” Her hands twitch in front of her.

“You’re stunning,” I answer, a little breathless.

“That’s a good start.” She cocks a brow and stalks toward me. The blush-colored gown shifts over her curves, holding her body like a glove. The dress is pale against her milky skin. Her blond hair is blown out and curled at the ends as she sways her hips.

“I have something for you.” I pat my tuxedo jacket nervously, hoping I didn’t misplace her gift with all the nerves brewing inside me.

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?” she asks. I presented her with this dress a few days ago and told her to take the night off and to go to the hairdresser or whatever it is women do before a formal night out and pamper herself.

“Not yet,” I say as I remove the jewelry box from the inner pocket of my tux. Her blue eyes sparkle. “I got you a little something.” I open it to show her the diamond necklace and earrings nestled inside.

She gasps. “Myles, this is too much.” I place the necklace around her neck, and she fingers the diamonds.

I press a kiss to the spot between her neck and shoulders.

“Nothing is too much for you,” I whisper against her skin. “I’ll leave you to do the earrings.”

She gives me a heated look.

“What?” I ask.

“You look so hot in that tux.” She bites her lower lip.

“Like what you see, do you?” I straighten my shoulders and puff out my chest for effect.

“Very much.” She continues to sink her teeth into that plump lower lip, and I fight to keep my dick from going half-mast. It’s a losing battle.

“Keep looking flushed, and you’re going to show up to the party looking thoroughly fucked,” I answer, my tone deep and commanding. This woman can get a rise out of me, that is for sure.

“Would that be so bad?” She bats her lashes. She’s playing hardball.

“For where we are going, yes.” I adjust my pants.

“You won’t tell me, so I don’t know. I’m not one for surprises,” she says as I take her hand. She grabs her clutch from the table at the entrance to the condo, and we head outside, where Oli is already waiting beside the limousine.

“Took you long enough,” he complains.

“Don’t look at me. Look at her.” I shrug toward Flynn.

“You look beautiful.” Oli smiles and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Did you get Shorty her dress?” he asks her.

“I did,” Flynn answers, adjusting her dress so it doesn’t wrinkle in the limousine. “I don’t like that you won’t tell me where we are going.”

Oli chuckles. “You’ll live.”

Twins, I think to myself, you gotta love them.

It seems we drive forever before the driver stops in front of Sloane’s building. Sloane enters the car in a formal emerald-green gown, and I watch my best friend’s eyes glimmer with a heat that is all too familiar.

The driver heads out toward our destination.

“What are these two up to?” Sloane asks Flynn.

“Wish I knew.” She shrugs, seeming so at ease. Flynn likes to be in control. She needs to know her next steps before they happen. The fact that she has placed her trust in me tonight means everything.

Twenty minutes later, the driver pulls up to the entrance of the venue where the gala is being held. Flynn peers out the window to see where she is and reads the big sign by the front door.

She looks back to me with tears in her eyes, but she gets out of the car. I take her by the arm and guide her through the entrance. Oli follows with Sloane on his arm. We are all quiet as the gravity of where we are weighs us down and lifts us up.

“You clean up nice, Shorty.” Oli winks. “Knew that color would look amazing on you. Matches your eyes,” he says as he adjusts his crotch. In my head I confirm that my friend has it bad. I will have to share with Flynn later, because she worries about him a lot.

Sloane smiles to Oli. “Aw! And here I thought you didn’t have a sweet bone in your body, Oliver,” she says sarcastically, causing a rough chuckle to escape my throat. I look over to Flynn, and she’s noticed their flirtatious banter, too. She seems pleased.

As we pass through the door, I read over the sign, even though I approved the final version of it. It says: Fundraising Gala Dinner for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) 2018. Hosted by Oliver Russell and Myles Sanders in honor of Kevin and Patricia Russell.

“It’s really amazing that you and Myles do this,” Sloane says, looking up at Oli. It plagues me that Flynn is still quiet.

As we walk inside the hall where the gala is being held, I notice most of the guests are still mingling while hors d’oeuvres and wine are being served. When I gaze at Flynn, she looks shell-shocked. I just pray that it wasn’t a mistake bringing her here tonight.

…

Flynn is quiet, maybe too quiet. It’s unlike her, so I don’t know how to gauge the situation. I proposed the idea of this fundraiser to Oli last year when he was traded to Chicago, and this is the second year we are holding the event. In the past, the lie and our fear kept both Oli and I from inviting Flynn. Now I want to show her I’m sharing every part of myself. I just wish she would say something. The fact that she hasn’t run away and is still holding my arm is reassuring.

After we’ve schmoozed around the entrance for a good hour, the main doors to the hall open. She squeezes my hand, and I do the same to her.

We take our seats beside Oli and Sloane at the head table, along with some other survivors and the National Board of Directors of MADD USA. The evening begins with a speech from the CEO. Flynn’s attention is solely on the woman. I can tell she’s hanging onto each word she says, from the yearly statistics to new awareness projects in high schools. It’s not until the first victim, a paraplegic in a wheelchair, comes up to the microphone that Flynn pulls her gaze from the man and stares wide-eyed back and forth between me and Oli.

“Hello, my name is Lucas. I’m twenty-eight years old. When I was seventeen I was heading home with my parents after a basketball game. My dad was driving the car. My little sister and I were in the back seat. My mother had just turned around to smile at my sister when out of nowhere there was a crash. I woke up in the hospital to news my parents had been killed.” Lucas pauses to take a breath.

I look over to Flynn, and she has tears streaking her cheeks. She doesn’t try to hide it or wipe them away. I just pray this night was a good idea.

Lucas continues to speak. “Doctors told me I would spend my life in a wheelchair. Paraplegic, I’ve still got use of my hands. My sister made it through with some cuts and bruises. She was small, and by some miracle that car seat saved her life.” Lucas pauses again as he tries to work through his emotions. “My entire world changed because a woman didn’t realize she had drunk too much alcohol at a party.”

Lucas goes on to tell his story, and I sit quietly watching Flynn, my knee bouncing up and down at the thought of making my speech next.

“I will be attending the 2020 Summer Paralympics representing our country in wheelchair basketball,” Lucas says proudly, and the crowd bursts out in applause. “Thank you to Oliver and Myles. It’s the second year they are hosting this event, and I’m so grateful to your dedication to this cause.” Lucas looks my way and smiles.

Flynn looks startled when I get up from my chair and Oli goes to take a seat beside her. I notice that he takes her hand.

“Hello, I’m Myles Sanders, team captain for the Blackhawks.” I pause because loud applause breaks through the hall. I wait for it to quiet down. I also adjust the mic to fit my height. “In June of 2011, I was drafted into the NHL. It should have been the best night of my life. My dream of a hockey career came through, and I got the girl of my dreams.” I turn my head to look at Flynn and smile. She smiles back through her tears. I take a lungful of air and continue. “The most memorable night of my life turned into a nightmare.” I continue to discuss the details of the accident.

Oli and I agreed that it was better for me to give the speech this year, because we never truly spoke to Flynn about the details of that night, and even though you can never have total closure from such a tragedy, we want to share this part of us with her so she will feel like she’s a part of our pain and healing. The three musketeers. Us against the world.

“Tonight, in honor of the parents I lost, Kevin and Patricia Russell, I am asking you to second-guess. I am asking you to be aware. But most of all, I am asking you to go out of your way to be a good human being and stop the random guy. Don’t be afraid that your friends will think you’re a jerk for questioning them. Do the decent thing and save them from the biggest mistake of their lives. I wish someone could have done that for the man driving the pickup truck that smashed in to us. It would have spared five lives…” I pause and look over at Flynn. She’s a sobbing mess of tears, and Oli has his arm around her.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and supporting MADD.” I wrap up my speech, eager to get back to Flynn. I pull away from the microphone, and the CEO of MADD says a few more words before telling everyone to enjoy their dinner.

“Flynn, I …” I begin. Oli gets out of my seat and gives her a kiss on the cheek. He whispers something in her ear.

“Hey, baby.” I press a kiss to her lips, which are moist from her tears. “You okay?”

“Thank you.” She says it so quietly I barely hear the words. “Thank you for sharing that with me. Thank you for inviting me and making me a part of tonight.” She takes a napkin and dabs at her eyes.

“Let’s go find somewhere private.” I give her my hand, and she takes it.

I guide her out of the hall, stopping to ask one of the waitresses if there’s a private room. She directs me past the restrooms to a bridal room.

We enter a room with a fancy loveseat, a wing-back chair, and an area with a mirror that looks like a makeup station. I lock the door behind us, and I’m turning to talk to Flynn when her arms come flying around my neck and her lips press against mine. “Thank you.” she repeats, and I know exactly what she means.

“I want to share every part of me.” I kiss her back feverishly. “I love you so damned much.” The kiss is wet from her tear-stained cheeks.

“My parents would’ve been so proud of you and Oli. So proud.” She swipes at her tears. “I can’t seem to stop crying.” She laughs through her tears.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s good to cry. It’s good to let it out.” I place my forefinger under her chin and will her to look me in the eyes as I share her pain and heartache. Her tears slow down, and she blows out a breath. There is a water dispenser in the room, and I get her a little.

“Better?” I ask with a slight smile.

She places the cup of water on the table. She gives me a mischievous smile.

“Tink?”

“Kiss me,” she says, although by the look on her face, she’s saying “fuck me.” A wide smirk curves my lips because my bossy girl is once again telling me what to do, and as much as I like to take control of things, I know with her it’s gonna have to be give and take. I lean forward and slowly kiss the corner of her lips. I use my hand to tilt her head up to me and press a hard kiss on her mouth, but I don’t deepen it.

“Tease,” she calls out through the kisses.

I laugh. “Me? You look good enough to eat.”

She cocks a brow.

“Just wait until I get you home.” I continue to press soft kisses across her cheeks.

“Home,” she sighs. “I like the sound of that.”

I hold her hands in mine and gaze into familiar and loving blue eyes. “You’ve given me more in these last few months than I ever could imagine. I never saw myself settling down or having it all.” My heart is full of love for this woman as she gives me a knowing look.

“I never thought I would have this, either.” She smiles sadly. “I always wanted what Mom and Dad had, and after the accident, I just didn’t think it would be possible…until you.” She kisses me with every fiber of her being.

“Until you, baby,” I say through the kiss, and in my heart, I know that Flynn and I will make it, no matter what.