Page 9 of Protected Promise

Jackson shrugged. “She gets all dressed up and I guess I can’t help myself. We’ve never actually made it to one of these events.”

It took a second to realize what he was insinuating. “Gross. Why the hell did you ask me to come along then?”

Jackson shrugged as she smacked him.

“You are my guaranteed ticket that we will make it this time and I will finally experience my first formal.”

Jackson pouted. “Damn it. Sneaky woman. I didn’t even think of it like that.”

She laughed. “Now go. Both of you. We are doing this thing."

“Wait, you looked awkward when Tobi suggested you go by yourself. I thought I was intruding on your fun.”

Jackson laughed easily. “Trust me, you are, but not in that way.”

“Jackson,” Tobi warned him.

“Why does it embarrass you so much that your mate finds you irresistible? Sex is a perfectly normal part of mating, Tobi.”

Her jaw dropped and her cheeks turned an impossibly darker shade of red. “I’m not talking to you about that!”

“Why? You used to tell me everything,” I teased.

“Well notthat!”

Jackson was laughing. “I love watching you two together. It’s going to be an awesome summer.”

“Summer?” Tobi asked. “I thought we were going to be in Seattle this summer.”

“Actually, babe, I only have one week of training next week and then if all goes well, I’ll be working mostly remote.”

“The Pack is close enough that if anything happens he can get back there quickly, so we thought maybe you’d like to come home for the summer. Please say yes because I think your mother is going to challenge my ass for Alpha if I return without you.”

“You guys are serious? You worked all of this out without even consulting me?”

I looked to Jackson for help, but he was already staring at me for help.

Tobi squealed and threw and arm around each of us. “Thank you. I love that you two schemed together behind my back. This is the best surprise ever!”

“Whew.”

“For a second there I worried that was going to turn bad quickly.”

“Me too,” I admitted.

Tobi practically skipped in her heels the rest of the way there.

As we approached, I could see other people dressed in their best walking into the house before us.

“Man, I hate dances,” Jackson confessed.

“Wait, what? It’s a dance?”

“Don’t even pretend like you don’t dance, Landon. I know you better than that.”

I started shimmying around her. “Girl, you know I can dance.” But the truth was, I’d never actually been to a dance unless you counted the fake prom Tobi and I threw our senior year of high school as we playedNever Been Kissedon the TV and decorated the basement.

I wasn’t sure I could actually dance in front of other people. My palms were suddenly sweating more the closer we got.