“Go and grab a bag, Sunshine, and I’ll meet you in my truck.”
“So bossy,” she grumbled before turning on her heel and marching back up the stairs. But I didn’t go to my truck. I waited. Unable to tear myself away from her even for a second.
When she came down the stairs a few minutes later, I pushed off the doorjamb and went to her. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Hooking my arm around her waist, I kissed her head and said, “It’s a surprise.”
Ten minutes later, I pulled the truck into a parking spot and cut the engine.
“The Alley,” Hailee said. “We’re going to The Alley?”
“Yeah, is that okay?”
“Yeah, I mean, I love it here, but are you sure you want to be here?”
“What’s wrong with here?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing...” She pressed her lips together.
“Did I do the wrong thing? It’s just Felicity said—”
“Felicity told you to bring me here?” Hailee stared at me with disbelief.
“Well, yeah. I wanted tonight to be perfect. She said you loved those brownies and that I should avoid wearing my football jersey and that you loved The Alley... so, here we are.”
Her expression softened as she shuffled across the seat and leaned over to me. Cupping my face in her hands, Hailee kissed me. “It’s perfect. I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
That had my attention. “Why would I feel uncomfortable?” It was just bowling and a dinner. Nothing special.
“Because this is Switzerland.”
“Switzerland?” Now I was the one gawking at her.
“Yeah.” She chuckled. “In there you won’t be Cameron Chase, wide receiver for the Raiders; you’ll just be Cameron, my date.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Because it sounded damn near perfect to me.
“Well, no, I just thought... it doesn’t matter, it’s silly.”
“Hailee, stop. Nothing you could say or do is silly. Now tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?”
“It’s just you’re used to hanging out at Bell’s, or parties at Asher’s house. This,”—her eyes flicked over to The Alley—“isn’t exactly what you’re used to.” Hailee lowered her gaze and my chest tightened. She genuinely thought I gave two shits about where we were? We could have been in the school cafeteria surrounded by our nosy classmates and it wouldn’t have mattered.
I stole another kiss from her before flashing her a smile. “Come on, or we’ll be late.”
“Late, but—” Her voice drowned out as I climbed out of the truck waiting for her.
“Ready?” I held out my hand as she came around to me, still frowning.
“What are you planning, Cameron Chase?”
“Why don’t you come find out?”
Tate, the owner, met us inside. “Cameron, Hailee, glad you could make it. Your table is all set.”
I glanced down at the girl beside me, grinning when I saw her dumbfounded expression. “Hmm, Tate,” she said quietly. “What is happening right now? And how do the two of you know each other?” Hailee looked from him up at me and back again.