Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

BODE

“T his is more my speed.” Stevie smiles up at me, wearing a big, cheesy grin as she adjusts her vest.

“Good thing I know for next time.”

Stevie steps closer to me, the tips of her boots touching my tennis shoes. I changed into the pair in my truck when I got to our new spot for the evening.

“You have to beat me in order to win a second date.”

I tip my head closer to her. “Is that right?”

“Gotta work for it.”

“Do either of you two need pointers on how laser tag works?” The young girl working the front desk draws our attention back to her.

“Point and shoot?” I joke.

She chomps her gum and nods. “Yes. Through those doors. The lights will turn green when it’s time to start.”

“Roger that.” I salute her and grab Stevie’s hand to head into the room I booked for the two of us at a small laser tag place near the restaurant.

I should have known that restaurant wouldn’t be Stevie’s kind of place. I put so much thought into taking her somewhere special that I didn’t even think if she would like it.

Fucking idiot , I chide myself.

But seeing her happy face now? I’m okay with this change in plans. It’s more me if I’m being honest with myself.

“You think you can beat me, Bode?” Stevie asks.

“Oh, I know I can.”

If it means getting a second date with her, I’ll do everything in my power to win.

“You’re going down, Adams,” Stevie calls out.

The minute the light turns green, I’m ducking behind an oversized black mountain of sorts that’s lit up with pink lights. Other games are going on around us, but I’m trying to keep my eyes peeled for a certain blonde.

A few teens run by and at the end of the line is Stevie. Before I can jump up, she’s diving under a log and aiming her gun in my direction.

“Nice try!” Stevie calls out.

I pop out and move deeper into the room. I’m in the open too long and Stevie gets me, one of my lives flickering out.

“Ha.” Her voice echoes around the room as strobe lights flash and the bass from the music thumps around the room.

I’m laughing as I find protection in a tiny-ass cave. I barely fit, but do my best to curl up and wait her out.

There is no way I’m losing in laser tag.

Especially with a second date on the line. Even if my legs start to fall asleep.

“Come out, come out and play, Bode.” I hear her voice.

Peering out from my hiding place, I see there’s the smallest opening and I shoot, hearing the noise of success.

“Damn it!”

“Now, now, Stevie. Language.”

“Funny, coming from you, Bode,” she tosses back at me.

This is what I should have planned from the start. Having fun and goading each other.

I’m not a fancy guy. I don’t need a hundred-dollar steak and wine. This is better than I could have imagined.

Stevie makes another run for it and I get her easily.

“You only have two lives left, Stevie. Do you really want to lose to me?”

“I don’t plan on it, no.”

“So confident.” I get stuck trying to leave my hiding spot, and Stevie gets an easy two shots on me, resulting in her having one life over me. “Clearly you didn’t think this one through.”

I army crawl to another safe space and wait as neon lights start to flash. With her having more lives than I do, I need to be strategic.

A flash of blonde hair runs by with kids in front of her. Making my move, I see her vest light up as I duck behind a tree-like structure for protection.

One more to go.

There’s a recharge station where groups are hanging around—the only safe space in the whole game area. Neon tape marks it off on the floor, and seeing that Stevie is now on the outside of it, I fire my last shot at her.

Raising my arms, I’m victorious.

“Hell, yeah!”

“That wasn’t fair.” Stevie walks over to me, poking me in my vest-clad chest. “I was recharging my gun. That wasn’t allowed.”

“You weren’t at the station. You were by it.”

“Technicality,” she huffs, walking out of the dark room.

The overhead lights in the lobby have me shielding my eyes it’s so bright.

“Still won, baby.” I wink at her.

“You cheated!” she scoffs. “That’s not fair.”

“I did no such thing.” I blow the tip of my laser gun as I revel in my win.

“You totally did. I want a rematch.”

“Stevie, Stevie, Stevie. I never thought you’d be such a sore loser.”

Placing her hands on her hips, she stares up at me, trying to be fierce. But something in her blue eyes is preventing it.

“I’m not a sore loser if you cheated.”

Before she can walk away, I grab her hand and pull her close. “How about next week then? I did win…”

She eyes me up and down. “Because?—”

I slap a hand over her mouth and watch her eyes go wide. “And don’t say it’s because I cheated. I won fair and square, and that means I get another date.”

Stevie mumbles against my lips, but I don’t hear a word of it.

“Sorry, what was that?”

“Another date? Yes. But I think we might need to take laser tag off the table.”

My heart swells in my chest as I wrap an arm around her shoulders and lead her toward the equipment return.

“I will put it on the no-go list along with fancy French restaurants.”

“I won’t say no to some dinner. I believe I was promised some.”

I shake my finger at her. “I believe I said a date. I didn’t specify dinner.”

Stevie sidles up to me and wraps her arms around my waist. There’s a slight flush to her face from running around. Although, it has me imagining that from more pleasurable things. “If I admit defeat, will you feed me?”

“Yes.” I stow the electronic gun and vest and open my locker to grab my wallet and keys. Looking around, I see the teenage girl at the concession stand, handing out slices of pizza. “How does that sound?”

Stevie still has a grumpy look on her face as she nods.

“What do you want?” the girl asks.

“Three slices of pepperoni for me, and…”

“Two sausage for me,” Stevie answers. “And two cherry sodas, please.”

“I ran out of plates. Want boxes?”

“Sure thing.” I tap my card on the reader and drop a twenty-dollar bill into the tip jar.

She places the greasy slices into two to-go boxes, puts them in a bag, and fills up Styrofoam cups to the brim with dark liquid and thanks me.

“Want to eat outside?” I ask, taking the plastic bag of food.

“Sure.” Stevie grabs tiny packets of Parmesan cheese and napkins before grabbing the cups and following me into the parking lot.

Clicking the lock on my fob, I open the passenger door for her and help her in.

“Oh look, you can be a gentleman.” A smirk plays on her beautiful face.

I lean close. So close I can see her eyes darkening. “Oh, you want a gentleman? I can show you just how gentlemanly I can be.”

Before I make my next move, I shut her door, round the hood, and hop into my seat.

She has the drinks set in the cupholders with napkins sitting on the console between us. Pulling two boxes out of the plastic bag, I toss it into the back seat and set our culinary masterpiece between us.

“Not quite a French masterpiece, but I think this will do.”

I cheers my pizza to Stevie’s as I take a big bite. Fuck. There is nothing better than greasy pizza.

“An Italian feast.” Stevie winks at me as she tears off the tip of hers.

I sprinkle the cheese over the top of my slice before taking a slurp of my drink. “How’d you know I like cherry soda?”

Stevie turns, tucking her knees up on the leather of the seat. “I took a guess. It’s my favorite.”

“Good to know we have something in common.”

I won’t get into the shared trauma of our childhoods. We don’t need to bring that up on a first date. Maybe it’s why we connected so easily.

“Okay.” Stevie licks the grease from her fingers and sets her slice down. “Since you’ve never been on a real date before, how would you rank this one? How do you think you did?”

“Taking into account the failed French restaurant?” I grab a napkin and wipe my hands off.

She nods. “Yes. Even that. And the cheating.”

“You were outside the neon tape! It was a good hit.”

She wads up her napkin and tosses it at me. “It wasn’t in the spirit of the game.”

“That’s not how we count goals in hockey.”

Stevie gives me a fake smile, leaning over the console. “I know how I’m ranking this date. Zero out of zero stars.”

“Well, then that’s basically a glowing review.”

“Crap,” she mutters. “I meant five stars.”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “No take backs. One hundred percent for the star pupil.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“If it helps, I give this date five out of zero stars.”

Even in the dim light in the cabin of my truck, I can see Stevie smile. A real, happy smile. Something I’m starting to learn I really, really like.

“Five hundred perfect? I don’t think I’ve ever scored so high.”

I shrug a shoulder. “I mean, if we’re going on technicalities of math, anything times zero is still zero.”

Resting her elbow on the dash between us, Stevie beckons me closer. “I like five hundred instead.”

“Anything else you like?”

I shift closer. The air intensifies around us. I can feel the energy between Stevie and me. I want to pull her closer to me by the V of her cardigan and take her lips in a searing kiss, but I don’t.

Not until she makes the first move.

Her eyes dart down to my mouth and back up. I don’t know if she realizes what she’s doing, but she’s taking in my entire face. As if she’s memorizing every detail.

“Stevie?”

I can’t take it anymore. I need to taste her lips. To see if it’s as good as I’ve been imagining.

“Yeah?” It comes out as a breathless whisper.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Yes, please.”

I smile at her before sinking my hand into her soft hair. Finding the rubber band, I pull it out and finger the soft strands. It’s like silk as I press a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth.

Moving to the other side, I kiss that corner. Rubbing a thumb over her bottom lip, I study her face. Her breath hitches, eyes widening with desire.

I savor everything about this moment, stroking her cheek, before closing the distance. My lips seal to hers.

With one touch, I’m a goner. Absolutely and totally fucked because it’s the sweetest, yet best kiss of my life.

Swallowing her gasp, I slide my tongue into her mouth and savor the sweet taste. Every mewl and whimper has me sinking my hands into her hair and tugging her closer. I’m ready to throw caution to the wind and hoist her into my lap and fuck her here and now.

But she deserves more.

Even if it’s good. So damn good, I’m losing my mind.

Needing a breath, I pull back, but Stevie doesn’t let me go. Leaning over the console, she knocks the pizza box to the ground and captures my lips in the hottest kiss of my life.

Holy. Fuck.

I want more. More of this. More of Stevie. I’ve never felt anything like it before. I’m not sure why this woman is bringing out these emotions, but she is.

Each brush of her tongue against mine has my cock thickening in my pants.

Clasping her cheeks in my hands, I slow her down.

“So.” Kiss. “Fucking.” Kiss. “Good.”

I capture her lips in a warm kiss. Sweet. Teasing. Taunting.

I could stay here all night and not get bored, perfectly content just like this.

But reality buzzes in my pocket.

“Shit.” Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I go to silence it, but it’s Gran.

Gran

Caleb is starting to fuss and we’re out of Motrin. Any chance you could pick some up on the way home?

Bode

Sure thing

I think it’s his teeth again

Okay. We’ll be home soon

“Sorry. Caleb isn’t feeling too well.”

“Is it his teeth?” Stevie asks.

I love that she knows this and I don’t have to think of some excuse to ditch her. Not that I would want to, but she understands my life.

“She thinks so. Want to finish off the date by stopping by the drug store and going home to snuggle a teething baby?”

Stevie pecks one last kiss on my lips.

“Yes.” Leaning back, she picks up the pizza and finds the bag to dump it into. “And just so you know, this date just went up to six hundred percent.”

“Then next time I’ll try for seven hundred.”