Page 10 of Your Last First Kiss

“Oh my God, Penny! Look at you,” Tilly says to my right.

Lochlan narrows his eyes on me. “You just cost me a thousand dollars.”

I raise my eyebrows and wait for him to continue while keeping one ear open on Penny and Tilly’s conversation.

When he doesn’t respond, I take the bait. “How’d I do that?”

He leans to the side, drawing me a few feet away from Penny. “I bet Ashton you’d keep your distance from Penny, at least until the band started. He said you wouldn’t make it in the building without her.”

Lochlan is a tough read. He holds his cards close to his vest, so I shouldn’t be surprised that he gives nothing away in his tone or facial expressions as he speaks.

I give a noncommittal shrug because I fear the truth—I may never be able to keep my distance. “Her car pulled up right in front of mine.”

“Mm-hmm.” He runs his thumb and forefinger along his jaw, then opens his mouth to speak when we’re interrupted by Tilly’s sister, Eli.

“Loch, you are so going to owe me for this,” Eli hisses. “I’m not a party planner. I’m a fundraiser. I bring communities together. This is the exact opposite of what I’m trying to do.”

Eli works for a nonprofit, bringing after-school programs to underprivileged youth in rural areas. I’ve admired the work she does for a long time, and Ashton’s words ofsomething meaningfuluse my brain as a snare drum.

Eli is making a difference in the world.

Lochlan leans in to give her a hug. “It’s all taken care of, Li. You’re simply the point person for everyone working tonight, so Tilly and Penny can enjoy the party too.”

“You had better make this one hell of a donation to my After the Bell Foundation,” she hisses before storming away. She’s making a difference, all right, but she’s a feisty little thing.

Lochlan chuckles, but Penny throws her head back and laughs, capturing my attention like always. What I wouldn’t give for the privilege of being the one to make her this carefree all the time.

“Bloody fucket,” Lochlan curses, clapping his hand on my shoulder. “You’re done for, mate.”

It’s more difficult than it should be, but I finally tear my gaze away from Penny to find him staring at me with something close to understanding.

“You’re playing the longest long game I’ve ever seen. I hope it works out. I do. But remember, it’s not justherheart she’s protecting.” He keeps his voice low, but even Lochlan can’t filter the emotion from those words.

He sighs heavily, like he’s resigning himself to something, then points toward the dance floor. “Ladies, care to join us for a dance?”

Penny’s breath hitches and it’s like she sank a fishhook into my heart with it.

I can’t decide if Lochlan’s trying to help me with Penny or push me so hard I stumble right out of her way, but I’ve always been a patient man. And for Penny Mulligan, I could wait forever and never miss a thing.

Lochlan and Tilly lead the way, and Penny hesitantly takes my elbow.

“Did you put him up to that?” she whispers.

I grin. “No, but I will thank him later.”

Her steps falter, and she looks up at me with wide, beautiful eyes. “Me too,” she whispers. My chest expands as hope swirls dangerously beneath my ribs.

“Yeah?” I ask, then tilt my head to the side to watch her every reaction.

“Yeah.” She smiles, and I know it’s meant only for me. “It might be time to take some chances.”

My heart stops beating. “What kind of chances are you talking about, Penny?”

She leans in, places her palm over my heart, and lifts onto her tiptoes so her lips nearly graze my chin. “The kind of chances that include you.”

Penny doesn’t allow me to respond, not that I could form words right now anyway, but she grabs my hand and leads me closer to the music.

We hit the dance floor just as a song ends, and I catch Tilly giving someone a thumbs-up.