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The reunion party is in full swing, but all I can think about is kissing Roxy again. Her lips are so soft and smooth, her mouth so... tempting. I had to stop because I didn’t want her former classmates to see me with a hard-on.
We’re sipping on a drink when Roxy suddenly flinches. A couple approaches us, and it only takes me two seconds to realize it’s Macie and her boyfriend.
“Hello, you two,” Macie says with a weak smile. “You remember Bruce, right?”
“Hi,” Roxy squeaks.
I hold my hand out. “Bruce, Macie. I’m Nate, Roxy’s boyfriend.”
She gives me the once-over in a way that only a girl like Macie can. “Nice to meet you, Nate. I must say, your existence came as a complete surprise to me. My mother hasn’t heard anything about you two getting together. At first, I thought it was all fake. Can you imagine that?”
Roxy wobbles beside me, but I keep her standing by pulling her closer. “My love for Roxy is anything but fake. Right, Snugglebug?”
She bites back a laugh and smiles at me. “That’s right, Hot Lips. You’re the man of my dreams. The love of my life.”
Macie flicks her gaze to Bruce and elbows him in the side. He almost chokes on his beer. “Um, yeah, I love Macie too. A lot.”
“How old are you, by the way?” Macie asks me. “You look kind of old. No offense.”
She definitely meant to offend me, but I can take it. It’s not like I’m ancient. “I’m twelve years older than you guys.”
Roxy leans in closer and runs her hand over my arm while looking Macie straight in the eyes. “I love the age gap. Who wouldn’t choose an experienced man in the bedroom over a younger guy, am I right? Someone who knows a thing or two about driving a girl crazy between the sheets. That’s what it’s like to be with Nate.”
Macie’s jaw drops to the floor. She looks at me again, her gaze questioning, as if wondering if it’s true that I’m a stud between the sheets.
“Macie, I heard you work as a receptionist,” I say, leading the conversation away from the mind-blowing sex Roxy and I are supposedly having.
I wish.
She shakes her head, giving me a disapproving look. “That term is so outdated. I’m the Front Desk Manager.”
I frown. “Outdated, sure, but the work is the same, no?”
“Being a receptionist isn’t easy, you know.”
“Macie’s really smart,” Bruce chimes in.
I hold my hands in the air. “I never said she wasn’t. There’s nothing wrong with good, honest work.”
“What do you do for a living?” Bruce asks.
“I run my own business. I have a tattoo shop downtown.”
Bruce opens his mouth, but before he can speak, Macie stares at him with a look that could kill. “We talked about this, Babe. You’re not ruining your body by getting a tattoo. It’s unhealthy and tacky.”
“Yeah, sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Geesh, this Macie girl sure runs a tight ship. Bruce gives me an apologetic smile, and I almost feel sorry for him.
“We’re working on bringing our ten-year plan to fruition,” Macie says. “We’re right on track. Didn’t Roxy tell you we’re getting married soon? I guess you two aren’t in that stage of your relationship yet, if you ever get there, of course.”
She holds out her hand and forces me to look at her engagement ring as if this is a battle deciding which couple has the most love between them.
“I’m glad you’re happy,” I tell Macie.
She clearly loves the compliment, even though I detect a hint of sadness in her eyes. She’s not happy at all, and Bruce isn’t either.
“I am. I have a great boyfriend—sorry—fiancé, and a fantastic job with lots of responsibilities. Daddy says I’m the best Front Desk Manager he’s ever had at his firm.” She purses her lips. “I’m sorry you’re unemployed, Roxy. That must be hard.”
Roxy squares her shoulders. “I’m not unemployed.”
“But Mom told me you were.”
“I guess your mother doesn’t know everything,” Roxy says.
Macie’s lip quivers. Dear God, I want to get away from her. She acts like she’s still in high school, and I’m way too old for that nonsense.
“If you’ll excuse us, we’re heading out,” I tell them.
Macie looks shocked. “You’re leaving? Already? But why?”
I straighten my jacket and take Roxy’s hand in mine. “I promised my girl an unforgettable night which isn’t going to happen by sticking around here. I’m taking her to my bedroom for a night of wild passion.”
I wink at Roxy, who gladly takes the bait. “Oh, yeah. We’re going to ravish each other all night long.”
Macie elbows Bruce in the side again.
“Oh! Uh, us too. Later tonight,” he says.
“Sure,” Roxy replies in a tone that says she doesn’t believe him.
We walk away, but then I hear Macie cry out in frustration. “Bruce, do something. I’m not letting a girl like Boxy Roxy have a better night than me. I was prom queen, for fuck’s sake! We should be having better sex than them!”
I stop in my tracks, ready to turn around and shut her up, but Roxy gives me a pleading look.
“Please, let it go. I realized that you were right. Macie’s not happy and retaliates by making other people feel bad. Trust me, trying to talk sense into her isn’t worth it. She’ll always try to one-up me.”
“Okay. Let’s get out of here, but not before I do this.”
I dip Roxy and kiss her right there for everyone to see. I make sure it’s a slow, long kiss that seems to linger forever. Not only because I want her to feel like a princess in my arms but also because I can’t get enough of her. She’s quickly conquering my heart.
We walk outside while everyone stares at us with expressions of awe and disbelief. As soon as the door closes behind us, Roxy hugs me.
“Thank you for that.”
“My pleasure, Snugglebug.”
It takes everything I have not to kiss her again. Our charade is over. We left the party, so there’s no need to fake date anymore. I feel like Cinderella turning into a pumpkin. I should’ve kissed her senseless while I still had the chance.
We get into the car, and I punch Roxy’s address into the navigation system, but she puts her hand on my arm. “Wait. Before we go home, I...” She swallows. “Tonight was amazing. You made me realize that Macie, or anyone else, doesn’t have a hold on me. I create my happiness, not them or their words. I feel like...”
“Yes?”
“Like a girl who gets a tattoo,” she says with a smile.
“A tattoo?”
She nods. “The hummingbird one. If that design is still available, of course. I’d love it if you wanted to ink me tonight. Do you think that’s possible?”
I smile at her. “It is. I can’t imagine a better ending to a perfect night with you.”
Well, maybe that’s not entirely true. The real cherry on top would be me being able to kiss her again. Maybe even take her to my bedroom like I joked before.
Her eyes are filled with happiness. “Great. A hummingbird tattoo it is, then.”
“And where do you want it?”
“On my back, right below my right shoulder.”
“Perfect. Let’s get to Creek Ink.”
I navigate the car to my tattoo shop as fast as possible without endangering our lives. I don’t think I’ve ever been more thrilled to ink someone.