Page 84 of Die for You

The most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen sits beside me. “Hi! Sorry I’m late. I was taking my permit test.”

Mom brightens, and I can’t help the goofy smile that takes over my face as I wrap my arm across the back of Aurora’s chair. She never mentioned plans to meet us here. Best surprise I’ve ever gotten.

“Aurora! Oh my gosh, Damien didn’t even tell us you were joining us. I’m so glad you made it! How did your test go?”

She pulls a card from her pocket with a megawatt smile. “I’m now a driver with a permit.”

When I met her, she was the type of girl to keep her accomplishments to herself. To keep everything close to the chest. Shut everyone out; let no one in.

I’m so fucking proud of her. She’s the strongest, bravest girl I know. She faces her fears, and even when she’s trembling, she overcomes them.

I squeeze her shoulder and lean close to murmur in her ear. “I’m proud of you, angel.”

“Thank you, honey,” she purrs.

I bark out a surprised laugh, but Mom is eating this shit up. She grins as her gaze darts between us. Even Todd looks happy for us.

Aurora orders a dessert, and we linger while Mom interviews her and Aurora answers every question politely between bites. I’m dying to lick that smear of chocolate from her lip. When I get her alone.

Mom finally lets us leave the table when I insist we’ve both got studying to do. Outside the restaurant, she hugs me and Aurora, and Todd shakes my hand. Firm handshake. He takes my mother’s hand and keeps to the outside of the sidewalk, putting himself between her and the cars passing in the parking lot. Another box checked.

Still keeping my eye on him, though.

“Your mom is so sweet,” Aurora says. “I like her. I like Todd too.”

“Yeah. He’s all right.”

“Wow.” Her eyes shoot up in mock surprise. “You don’t hate him? How many hoops did you make him jump through to win your approval?”

“Yeah, yeah, smart ass. Let’s go.” I grab her hand and tug her toward my SUV. “Knox and Finn drop you off?”

“Yep. But I can drive us home. I’mpermitted.”

Her corny pun lands like a rock in the silence between us. I shake my head but bite back a laugh. She’s so damn adorable, even a terrible pun from her lips makes me smile. “I’m glad you showed up.”

“I knew you didn’t want to go. So I figured I could at least help break the tension.”

I drop her hand and tug her close by the waist when we reach my SUV. She looks up at me with those irresistible brown eyes and a perfect little smile with those pink lips that make me want to kiss her every time I see her.

“Thank you.” The words are unfamiliar on my tongue. But she deserves to hear them. “Having you there meant a lot to me. Having you by my side always does. I’m...better. With you.”

Aurora makes me feel stronger. Invincible. Like I could do anything, be anybody, and she’d be right there, cheering me on.

“Me too.” She beams up at me. But when I open the passenger’s side door for her, her smile falls. “I said I could drive?—”

“Get your ass in the car, Aurora.”

She huffs and stomps to the door, ignoring the hand I offer to help her in. I chuckle when I shut the door behind her.

In about ten seconds, she’ll forgive me.

“Guess we better get home and get to all that studying we have to do.” She folds her arms and pouts.

“Or we can do our studying right here.” I pull her onto my lap until she’s straddling me. She’s so soft and pliable in my grasp. “See? I can study you just fine from here.”

“So this is what you meant by studying.” She flashes a coy smirk, and yep, I’m forgiven. Her finger traces my lips with seductive precision. “Careful. There’s an oral exam.”

I match her taunting smile. “That I’ll pass with flying colors.”