Every Glance (Every Life #3) (22 page)

After we make several rounds—not that I was cognizant enough to count how many passes we made—she pulls back and looks up at me. “I like this date even more than the last.”

“Me, too.”

“I’m really glad I came.”

“Me, too.”

She snuggles the top of her head into my neck, and we both look out over the skyline as we ascend to the top once again. Being under the stars with her is quickly becoming one of my favorite things in the world. But like all good things, it has to end.

“I’m going to have to leave soon,” I say after kissing the top of her head. I hope the scent of her hair lingers on my shirt all night.

“And I just had myself convinced that we could stay like this forever. The ride operator seems to agree with me. He’s stopped to let everyone on and off several times, but he hasn’t even batted an eye at us.”

We pass the operator again, and I hold up my index finger, signaling to take us around one more time. I catch her look of confusion when he nods at me. “Because I may or may not have bought us a little extra time.”

Devyn stretches up and kisses me, lingering for a few seconds before backing away. “Thank you. I never have understood why people go on dates. I mean, it never has been anything special to me, so it just seemed like a ridiculous waste of time. But I get it now. I want to go on a date every day.” She laughs softly, and her breath tickles my neck. “I didn’t meant that the way it sounded. I don’t mean with
other
people. I mean…I want to date you.”

“I think we’ve already established that.” Kissing her forehead, I close my eyes and soak in her words. I want to date her, too, and I hope to also show her what falling in love is supposed to feel like. “You’re my girl, remember?”

Just as she nods, our time comes to an end. The ride operator winks at me as we pass, so I mouth a silent thanks. I weave through the crowd carefully, never letting go of her hand, until I find a somewhat private spot on a grassy area beneath a palm tree.

“Where are you going now? Can I walk you back to your car, at least?” I ask, swiping a stray strand of hair off of her forehead and tucking it behind her ear.

Devyn shakes her head. “I’d like to do a little shopping before I go back to my condo, but I appreciate the offer. I’m glad to know that chivalry isn’t quite as dead as I once suspected.”

“Just be careful, okay? And I’d appreciate it if you’d text me when you get there, so I won’t worry about you.”

One corner of her mouth turns up. “I will. Promise.”

Damn, I don’t want to go. “Good. Goodnight, Devyn.” I step forward, pinning her to the tree with my torso before kissing her again. One last, sweet kiss to tide me over until…oh, who am I kidding. It won’t tide me over for six seconds.

“Goodnight, Dalton.” She presses her palm to my cheek and lets her fingers trail down my neck and chest before it falls away. “Have fun with the guys.”

I nod and force myself to take a step away from her.

Two steps.

Three steps.

But I stop and turn back again.

“Come to our place tonight. We’ll be like teenagers, and I’ll sneak you in after everyone is asleep. I’m just a half mile down the highway from you.”

“Absolutely not. I’m not going to intrude on your weekend anymore. It wouldn’t be fair to you
or
your friends. I swear I’ll be fine. After getting a few minutes with you tonight, I’m
more
than fine.”

“You wouldn’t be taking me away from them at all if they’re asleep. Just think about it, and let me know if you change your mind.”

I finally tear myself away from her again and barely make it back to the bar in time to meet Sawyer and Wes coming out the door.

“Helluva marathon phone conversation for a guy who hates to talk on the phone,” Sawyer chuckles and hooks his heavy arm around my neck. “I was beginning to wonder if it turned into a booty call and if we would see you again tonight.”

“I don’t do booty calls.”

He and Wes stop in their tracks and gawk at me.

“Fine. I don’t
anymore
. Better?”

Wes rolls his eyes, but there’s no annoyance behind it. “Wasn’t it just a couple of weeks ago that you were half naked on your couch with that kid’s aunt?”

“Hey,” I argue, “she called
me
. Totally different.”

The thought of Kyler sends a wave of guilt over me. I hate that I kind of hooked up with her before Devyn. I hate even more that I came between the two of them. It puts all of us in this awkward position that I don’t know how to shake.

We barely make it to the amphitheater just in time, but because it’s just a local band, we don’t have to fight quite as large of a crowd as was in here earlier tonight. I don’t know many of their songs, but I’ll admit they are pretty damn good. Sawyer is singing every word, but then again, he knows a couple of the band members well. He’s actually played and sang with them a time or two over the years.

Little does he know, I made a few phone calls once I found out they’d be playing tonight.

The lead singer, Israel, sets his guitar on the stand and runs his fingers through his shaggy hair before stepping back up to the mic and pointing over to us. “I see my good buddy, Sawyer, in the stands tonight, and I hear he’s about to be a married man. That must be one hell of a woman if she tamed that beast.”

The crowd roars as Sawyer laughs deeply and nods his head.

“Why don’t you come up here for one last hoorah before you get all tied down and become the world’s best purse holder? You know you want to.”

He doesn’t have to beg. Not even a little bit. As soon as the words are out of Israel’s mouth, Sawyer is down at the gate, waiting for security to let him slip through to get on stage. I can’t help but laughing at the screams of women as soon as he walks across the stage, and he’s eating that shit right up. I’m glad Wes is catching it all on video for Makenna because she’s going to really get a kick out of it, too.

“How about we play one of our old favorites? Since it’s been a while, It’s Been Awhile is fitting.”

Sawyer’s grin is so wide, I can almost count his teeth from here. “Hell, yeah. Let’s do it.”

Israel hands Sawyer his guitar and walks over to the side of the stage to grab another. Israel counts it off, and they both start strumming the familiar tune, kicking the crowd into another frenzy. Sawyer looks like a natural up there, just as comfortable as he does when he’s playing for our group of friends.

But when he sings, the crowd goes silent, hanging on every word, every note. I’ve always said he missed his calling, but he’s never believed it for a minute, especially since Makenna came into his life. He’s perfectly happy with where his life is going, and there’s nothing wrong with that. He found it. The thing that all of us look for, whatever the word for it might be. Just…
it.

Wes and I yell along with the rest of the crowd as the last notes are strummed, and Sawyer and Israel hug and exchange a few words before he descends the stage to find his seat again. The whole way down the aisle, everyone is patting him on the back and congratulating him.

“Thanks, man,” Sawyer says as he approaches before seizing me in a bear hug and nearly picking me up. “This weekend couldn’t have possibly been any better.”

Mission accomplished.

OUR NIGHT CONSISTS of shooting pool, a lot of laughter, an unhealthy amount of hot wings, and way too much whiskey. Sawyer was right…it really couldn’t have been better.

Even the women shamelessly hitting on all of us didn’t dampen the mood. But it did make me sad that they were even flirting with Wes, even though he was trying hard to keep his wedding band in plain sight at all times. It just seemed to fuel their fire. I guess it’s the whole “wanting what you can’t have” thing. That could explain my deep-rooted attraction to Devyn way back when.

We’re all feeling mighty fine by the time the cab drops us off at the house, but the combination of the relaxing effects of too much alcohol and the clock reading two-thirty has all of us eager to get into bed. Wes hardly mumbles a goodnight before retreating to his bedroom, and Sawyer halfway hugs me with one arm before announcing through a yawn that he’s texting Mak that he’s back and going to bed.

It takes me less than ten minutes to fall into my mattress after rinsing the night away in a steamy shower and brushing away the foul taste in my mouth. The room spins ever-so-slightly when my head hits the pillow, but thankfully, it stops within a few seconds. I don’t think I’ve drank that much in years, and I’m sure I’ll be paying for it tomorrow.

Deciding it would probably be a good idea to get ahead of the hangover, I get back out of bed and pad into the kitchen to down a couple glasses of water and toss back a couple of ibuprofen. The house is already completely silent, so I know the guys have already passed out. They’re used to getting a lot more sleep than I am, and the last couple of days have been a blast but exhausting.

I roll back into bed again, more slowly this time to keep the room from spinning, and curl up on my side.

Just in time for my phone to buzz behind me.

I reach around to snag my phone from the nightstand, and the name glowing on the screen is exactly the one I hoped I’d see.

Devyn:
‘Are you still out?’

She texted me a couple hours ago while we were at the bar to let me know that she was back at the condo for the night. I thought she’d be asleep by now.

Me:
‘Just got into bed. Why are you still awake?’

Devyn:
‘The walls are paper thin. Someone next door really likes action movies with lots of explosions. Not conducive to quality sleep.’

Me:
‘My offer still stands. Come nap with me for a while. I don’t snore. Usually.’

Devyn:
‘I can’t. You’re supposed to be there with your friends. I wouldn’t want them to be mad at you.’

Me:
‘They’re in a whiskey-induced sleep coma right now. Promise. Neither of them will wake up before nine.’

Devyn:
‘You’re sure?’

Me:
‘2,000 percent.’

Devyn:
‘Text me the address, and I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.’

Me:
‘Fifteen??? You could walk faster than that.’

Devyn:
‘When you see me, just pretend that I don’t look like I just brushed my hair and teeth and put on makeup just to go to sleep.’

Me:
‘I’ll allow the teeth brushing. No hair and makeup. Three minutes. I’m counting.’

Devyn:
‘You can’t hear me, but I’m growling at you. Fine. On my way.’

After texting the address, I get back out of bed with a cheesy smile plastered to my face. I slip on some shoes and a t-shirt before quietly sneaking down the hallway, pausing at the foot of the stairs for a moment to make sure no one is stirring. All I hear is snoring.

Closing the door behind me as softly as I can, I step out onto the porch and sit on the front steps. There’s still a little traffic on the highway, despite the time, so my heart starts pounding every time I see a car slow near the drive. I’m more excited to see her than I would ever let on, but I really feel like I could jump right out of my skin.

“Is my time up yet?” Devyn suddenly appears at my side.

I jump up and grab my chest. “Where did you come from? Where’s your car?”

“I parked in the lot over there,” she explains, pointing at the resort lot just next door. “You know…to be extra careful.”

She looks even better than she did earlier tonight. Pink polka-dot pajama pants, a white tank, and a white hooded jacket never looked so good. And she has her hair swept up into a messy knot on top of her head. For a woman who is usually so put together, a little disorder is a welcome change.

“It wouldn’t be
that
big of a deal if they found out you were here.” Sure, I’d have a lot of explaining to do. Not because of me bringing a girl into the house during our guys’ weekend, but because Sawyer thinks Devyn is playing me. However, he shouldn’t be surprised in the least. He knows she’s my kryptonite. But especially now that we’re officially dating, he’s going to have to find out sometime soon. I just prefer that it’s not in her presence, so he doesn’t go off on her. I could see that happening.

“Well, I’d rather not get you into any trouble with your friends.” She’s rocking back and forth on her heels and wringing her hands together. How cute. She’s actually nervous. “Uh, the house looks really nice. A big difference from where I’m staying, for sure.”

“Let’s go inside, and I’ll show you the main floor before we go to bed.”

She hesitates a moment, looking down at my outstretched hand. “I can’t believe I came down here in the middle of the night to sleep with you.”

I raise one eyebrow. “Sleep with me? As in…”

“Oh!” She smacks herself in the forehead. “I swear there wasn’t as much innuendo in that statement as it sounded. Tonight, it’s sleep…as in
slumber
.”

“Good. Just making sure we’re on the same page.” I wink at her.

“You’re drunk, aren’t you? I don’t think you’ve stopped smiling yet.”