Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

He closes his eyes, and his head falls forward. “I don’t give a fuck what they think,” he says, meeting my gaze. “I only care what you think. Do you think that, Shelli?”

The tension between us is thicker than ice. Not even my daddy’s slapshot could break it. “I want to say no, but I don’t know if I can.”

“You’re not just a fuck,” he says, coming closer and grabbing my hips to pull me into him. “You never were, Shelli. You were always special. From the moment I saw you and felt your lips on mine, I didn’t want to let you go. Please believe me.”

Tears flood my eyes as I look up at him. I take in a deep breath. I know he’s waiting for an answer, but I can’t give him one. “I have to go check on things.”

“Lame excuse to get away.”

“It’s either that or the truth,” I say, backing away even as his arms beckon me to him.

His shoulders slump. “What’s the truth?”

“I don’t know if I can get over it.”

He shakes his head. “You’re so fucking stubborn, Shelli.”

“I know,” I say, walking backward as I shrug.

“But I love that about you.”

I stop midstride. His words are so strong, so confident, and they blow me away. Unlike before when I was pissed, now my heart takes a hit. Breathlessly, I ask, “You do?”

He nods. “I love everything about you.” I blink, my heart in my throat as his eyes hold me captive. “I’m gonna prove it to you too.”

I watch him for a moment until he disappears into the crowd. I don’t know what just happened here, but hearing that he loves everything about me did something to my heart. Or better yet, my pride. My stubbornness. I’ve wanted to hear those words from his lips for as long as I can remember. Finally, he says them, and I just gawk at him. Why does he make me feel like a crazy person?

I shake my head and head toward the bar. I need a drink. Probably not the greatest answer to this situation, but I don’t know what to do. Do I just let it go? Do I forgive him when I’m worried it is true? I was so sure of us. Is this going to be what holds me back from having the guy I’ve always loved? I reach the bar and take a wine bottle out of the cooler, waving off the bartender. I pull the cork out with my teeth, spitting it into the trash, and then take a swig.

My mom would be so proud.

“Hey.”

I have the bottle at my lips when I direct my gaze to where Wes is staring at me. Boon is beside him, nodding. “Man, you’re a catch.”

I laugh as I lower the bottle from my lips. “Y’all get to drink. Why shouldn’t I?”

“Hey, no judgment here,” Wes says, showing me his palms. “What are you doing?”

I wave the bottle at him. “Trying to get drunk.”

He nods, and Boon grins. “I’ve got the strong stuff at my table. Come on.”

“Okay,” I say, following them but not leaving my bottle. I can drink the strong stuff and my wine. When they go to cut across the dance floor, I’m confused. I thought they were sitting in the back, but maybe I was wrong. Boon stops suddenly, and I run into him as Wes laughs.

“You already drunk?”

I give him a dry look. “Hardly.”

Wes takes the bottle from me. “Good,” he says with a grin.

He then backs away, as does Boon. No one is on the floor. Why isn’t anyone dancing? I look up at the band to figure out why they’re not playing, but then I see Aiden.

Only Aiden.

With a guitar.

“If I can have everyone’s attention,” he says, a guitar hanging around his neck as he brushes his hair back with his fingers. My heart jumps up into my throat as he ties his hair up and then grabs the mic. “My name is Aiden Brooks, and I want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting this amazing foundation. Isn’t this party stellar?” The room erupts with applause as he takes the mic from the stand and then comes to the end of the stage, his guitar now on his back. I’m still trying to breathe because I think I know what he is doing. But surely not. “As a lot of you know, Shelli Adler is the one who put this shindig together, and I think she may have outdone herself.”

More applause as he lowers himself to the stage and then hops off. I wave at the crowd with a curt smile, but my heart hurts, it’s beating so hard. “I have witnessed Shelli plan this thing. She stayed up night after night, working hard to make sure it was a success, and I, for one, am very proud of her.”