One-Eighty (Westover Prep 1)

She smiles at me, and I want to take a snapshot of this moment and hold it in my heart forever. God, I’d be the luckiest man in the world if this girl actually gave me a chance, if she actually let me love her.

“I love how you don’t give me an inch when I’m being corny,” I say instead of laying the confessions I said to Peyton at her feet. “It’s only going to make this so much sweeter when you’re mine.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Those are her words, but they no longer hold the bite of anger or unease that they had each time we’ve talked.

“Let’s go get that snow cone,” I tell her because all I want to do is unhook her seat belt and pull her across to sit on my lap. I want to bury my nose in her hair while my arms are holding her close.

And maybe something more than losing my memories did happen because of the accident, because all of that, although one hundred percent true, sounds ridiculously cheesy, even in my head.

She agrees by putting the car back in gear and merging into traffic.

“Crap,” she mumbles as we draw closer.

Lined up on the picnic tables beside the snow cone stand are all the people I could go a lifetime without seeing again. Bronwyn is sitting on Kyle’s lap while everyone else is either sitting or standing nearby. They’re all laughing and having a good time, and I don’t begrudge anyone of that, but it’s the unsure look on Piper’s face that makes me wish they’d all disappear.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Piper mutters as she pulls into the crowded parking lot. “I won’t mind just getting ice cream down the street. I’ll understand.”

“Understand? Look at me, Piper.” Her eyes are slow to meet mine. “What are you talking about?”

“We can go somewhere else if you don’t want to go here.”

“This is exactly where I want to be.” I lean in closer to her. “I’m not hiding you away, baby. I’d be a fool to keep the prettiest girl in the world in the dark.”

“If we go out there together, there’s no going back for you. Even if you get your memories back and decide against whatever it is you think you feel about me, you’ll be a pariah.”

“Whatever it is, I think I feel about you, huh?” I huff a humorless laugh as I sling open my car door.

Either this woman isn’t listening, or she’s so broken from the pain I’ve caused in the past she just can’t believe what she’s hearing. That changes here and now.

“Get out,” I tell her after yanking open her car door. “Now, Piper.”

With the quickness of honey in the winter, she unbuckles and slides out of the car.

“Everyone is staring at us,” she whispers as she stands in front of me.

I ease her door closed and press her against it.

“Are you nervous?” I ask as I inch toward her.

Her hands are trembling at her sides, but instead of letting her eyes dart toward the group of people who are exceptionally quiet, considering how animated they were when we pulled in, she keeps her focus on her feet.

“I’m a little nervous. Are you nervous?”

“I am,” I admit. “I want to hold your hand, but I’m terrified you’re going to hit me in front of everyone.”

“That would be embarrassing,” she says quietly, and I’m going to be in serious trouble if she doesn’t stop watching my mouth.

“Incredibly so,” I agree, my face mere inches from hers.

“They’re still staring at us,” she repeats.

“They don’t exist, baby. It’s only you and me here.”

“What are you doing?” Fear laces her tone when I lean my face closer.

“Making sure everyone here knows you’re mine.”

“Dalton—”

I swallow her worries.

I lick away her fears.

I press my body against hers and give her all the strength she’ll ever need to stand at my side.

Her fingers tangle in the sides of my t-shirt, and even though she’s shoved me away twice when we’ve done this before, right now, she’s pulling me closer. There’s no longer hesitancy in the way she opens her mouth and lets me in. She doesn’t draw her tongue back to get away from mine. She gives as good as she gets, and I’m grateful we’re in public because I don’t think I could be a gentleman if we were alone.

My blood is on fire, my breath short and ragged when I pull my mouth from hers. Her eyes glisten, but the tears from earlier are gone, replaced with a sheen of adoration and happiness.

“Get a room, whore!” I tense at the insulting words as they’re thrown our way. I’m not all that familiar with Bronwyn’s voice, but I know she’s the one who just said it.

“Don’t,” Piper says, her fingers in my shirt holding me tighter when I begin to pull away.