Will I ever be ready? He’s just as intense as this attraction I feel toward him. Can I handle that?
“We better head up before they come looking for us.” Keeping my hand in his, he steps toward me. “It was great to see you, Jamie. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Leaning in, he kisses my forehead, then leads us up the stairs.
Once we reach the top of the steps, Whit looks at us, grins, and then quickly turns back around.
“Ladies, we leave here at eight in the morning,” Liv says.
Once we all agree to the time, Evan and Kinley leave to go get their kids.
“You ready?” Liv asks David.
“When you are,” he tells her.
Liv gives both Whit and I a hug before linking her arm through David’s and heading outside.
Once the door closes, Mike snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me into him.
I try to turn to look around the room, to look for Whit and Aaron.
“They’re gone,” he says, his lips against my ear. “Giving us time to say goodbye.”
“How did they…?” Who am I kidding? Whit’s been hinting for months that Mike and I would be good together.
He chuckles softly. Looking down at me, his blue eyes sparkle. “Have fun tomorrow.”
“We will,” I say excitedly. “I’m really glad I’m not going to miss this. I hate living so far away from my best friend.”
He doesn’t reply, placing his lips on my forehead. “Be safe, and call me when you get back. Don’t care what time, just call me.”
“Okay,” I agree, tilting my head up to look at him.
“Good night, James,” he whispers before kissing the corner of my mouth.
I’m not sure what has me more surprised: the kiss, although short, or the fact that he remembered my real name is James.
I told him that night. He asked if Jamie was short for anything. Usually I just say no, that’s my name, but something had me telling him the truth. I was named after my dad. My parents had so much trouble conceiving, they knew once they had one healthy baby they were going to stop. Mom was convinced I was a boy, and they had picked out the name James Matthew, after my father. To their surprise, I was a girl. Mom insisted that the name James stick, and that’s the story of how I became James Lynn Turner.
“Night,” I say, my voice barely a whisper.
With a gentle squeeze to my hand, he releases me, turns and walks out the door. I stare after him, my hand resting on my lips where his connected. It was simple, soft, sweet and just enough to leave me craving more of him.
“I knew it!” Whitney says loudly, causing me to jump. I quickly turn to face her. “I knew you liked him.”
“Whit, come on, have you seen him? That ass? Of course I’m going to watch him walk away.”
“Uh-huh.” She grins. “I’m on to you, missy.” She points at me.
I can’t help laughing at her. “He lives here. I’m in Chicago. It would never work,” I finally admit.
“My earlier idea fixes that too,” Aaron says, sliding up behind Whit and wrapping her in his arms. She melts into his hold.
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave my hand in the air. “I’m going to call it a night. It’s been a long day.”
“And tomorrow we’re going dress shopping,” Whitney sings.
I make my way toward the stairs, stopping to give her a hug. “Night,” I whisper.
“Night,” Aaron answers while Whit hugs me tight.