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Fallon bursts into gales of laughter. The brightness of her smile lights the dark corners of my soul. My whole body stills when Helen Brookes murmurs, “Ethan? Can you promise me you won’t hurt her?”
Slowly, I lower my cell phone and face her mother’s directness, realizing Fallon has told her everything. Her mother’s knowing eyes meet mine. Still, I give her the only thing I can: honesty. “I can promise to try.”
Her chin jerks. “That will have to be good enough.” Her attention returns to Fallon, whom she taunts, “Well, at least I know who instigated your obsessive-compulsive love of Ho Hos.”
Fallon doesn’t hesitate before calling back, “Thus why I kept it from you for so long, Mama.”
“Austyn, switch places with your uncle. He needs to be in some of these photos,” Helen commands.
Austyn’s melodic voice purrs, “I couldn’t agree more.”
I roll my eyes. “Brat.”
“But you love me,” she sings—on key, as always.
I hand her my phone and approach Fallon—whose smile hasn’t wavered since she spotted me sitting beside her mother and her best friend. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I murmur, “Good surprise?”
Her arm slides around my waist and she tilts her face upward. Her mortarboard shadows her eyes, but not the blazing emotion bursting from them. “The best, E. Better than anything.”
My fingers clutch her shoulder. My gaze spears down into hers even as her breath fluctuates slightly.
The world fades away as I’m lost in pools of indigo.
Then, in front of the people who mean the most to her and in front of a million strangers, she shows she has more courage than anyone I’ve ever met. Fallon leans up and brushes her lips against my cheek. “Thank you for being here for me tonight.”
An ache races through me as her lips touch my skin for the first time. Now, I know what that feels like, and that too, will factor into the dreams she stars in every single night of my life. In that moment, I clutch her to me, bury my face in her neck, and give her everything. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Fal. I hope you know that.”
I watch her struggle as she tries to interpret my words. For just a moment, I let the facade I’ve been wearing all these years slip. Whatever she sees on my face causes her eyes to flare. She opens her mouth, but I shake my head. “Not now.”
Her head tilts. “Then when?”
I tighten my arm so she’s notched against my side, facing forward. Finally, I give in. “I’ll come to you later.”
Together, we face the camera, each of us clutching the other, knowing the temptations that lie between us will be given into the moment we’re alone.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Amaryllis Events, local coordinators of Collyer, Connecticut’s GradNight, were asked about why the all-night event works, they gave the following quote, “The GradNight celebration is always a success because of the commitment from everyone involved.”
Though serious about the rules, they teased future graduates about parents begging them to add items to the list of requirements to participate in GradNight, such as reduced gaming time, increased reading, and double dating with parents.
—Fab and Delish
After we all celebrated with a late dinner at the Ritz Carlton, I pull my rental up to Fallon’s. Climbing out, I find the discreet PRIVATE plaque marking her entrance. After plugging in the code Fallon texted me earlier, I bound up the stairs leading to Fallon’s apartment, anticipation building.
Particularly when I glance up and spy her waiting for me in the open door, still in the sexy as fuck blue silk dress she was wearing beneath her graduation robe.
I murmur, “Hi.”
Happiness blooms across her face, causing my stomach muscles to clench, my cock to harden, and my balls to draw up, and I haven’t even laid a finger on her. What on earth does she want with a man like me?
She cocks her head to the side. “What are you thinking?”
I let her close the door before I admit, “I’m tired of pretending I don’t want you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember your graduation party?”