Power Play (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 2)

She nods. “Maybe. My mom thinks my meds need to be adjusted. I’m coming up on a year since they’ve been changed.”

“Huh?”

She pats her fingers to her throat. “Thyroid, remember?”

“Oh! Yeah, my bad,” I say, and then my worry from before turns to full-blown anxiety. “You’re okay, though?”

She touches her pinkie to mine, our eyes locking. “I promise, I’m fine.”

“You’d tell me?”

“You’re the first one I’d tell.”

I exhale heavily. “Okay.”

“Also, speaking of telling someone first,” she starts before licking her lips. “I think I want to move out of my parents’ house. Will you help me find a place?”

“Yes. My house.”

She snorts. “Boon…”

“I have a room. I’ll even bust out a wall so I can get to you easier.”

“No privacy, huh?”

I wave her off. “Privacy, srivacy. Who needs it?”

She sets me with a look. Not an upset or annoyed one, but a “Come on. Someone has to be rational here.” expression. “Really, Boon? We’re like two weeks in. We are nowhere near ready to move in together,” she informs me. She’s probably right.

For me, it feels like I’ve been with her forever. We talk constantly, and the stolen kisses and sneaky touches are perfection. I haven’t slept with her in a hundred days, and I still want to talk to her. That has to mean something. I like the thought of rolling over and her being in my arms in two seconds, though. It would be amazing—pulling her into my arms, kissing her, and falling completely into her.

“Doesn’t it—” I stop myself, and she tilts her head to the side. “Never mind.”

“No, what?”

“No. I’m not saying that. For some reason, I get explosive diarrhea of the mouth when it comes to you.”

She sputters with laughter. “That’s mighty graphic.”

“You make me mighty stupid.”

She beams. “Not stupid. Cute.”

“Ha, whatever,” I say, still feeling stupid.

“Were you going to ask me if it really feels like we’ve only been together for two weeks? That it feels like longer?”

I meet her gaze, my heart skipping a beat. “Exactly that.”

“I do. It does. But you’ve come off a bad relationship, and I was infatuated with a guy who didn’t even care if I stubbed my toe. I don’t want to rush this and get to the finish line yet. I want to enjoy the run, enjoy us, if that makes sense.”

I hold her gaze. She’s right, but I’d run over that finish line with her and with my arms in the air because I won the ultimate prize.

Her.

“Fine. But I better have a spot for my shit at your new place.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll knock out a drawer so we can connect both drawers together,” she teases, and I grin.

“Tease me all you want. You know you like the idea of me being there.”

She pauses, her eyes moving along my face. “I absolutely love the idea.”

Looking into her eyes, I see the world in a whole new light. I may sound like a sappy slow song, but I am digging this chick for real. Like, really for real. I can’t stop thinking of her, of us, and I want so desperately to fall into her, lips first. Before I can say so, though, someone joins our little circle.

“Hey, Mom is looking for you,” Shelli says, and I move over a bit so I’m not so close to Posey. “You okay?”

Posey looks at her sister as if she weren’t just talking about loving the idea of waking up with me. “Yeah, I needed to cool off.” She takes her cup of water, downing it quickly.

Shelli looks at me and then back to Posey before moving in, wrapping her hand around her sister’s waist. “Are you sure?” she asks.

I try not to watch, ordering a beer.

Posey waves her off. “I’m fine. Just feeling a little ick.”

“Go back upstairs. Get some rest.”

“I will. Come on,” she says, wrapping her arm around Shelli. She looks over her shoulder at me. “We’re gonna head back to the table. We’ll talk more about that formation tomorrow, okay? I’m not worried. You’ve got this.”

I nod. “Thanks, Coach.”

Shelli looks back at me, and I swear she sees right through us.

As they walk away, I lean on the counter, tapping my foot to the pipe at the bottom of the bar. I absolutely hate this. I hate not being able to be with her. I almost want to go up to Mrs. Adler and tell her we’re together, but the unknown terrifies me. I don’t know what will happen. Will Posey’s parents be okay with us being together?

I go back and forth with how I think they would take it. A part of me wants to believe they wouldn’t care since, according to Posey, they only care about Shelli. But I’ve been on the road with her mom for ten days, and yes, Mrs. Adler is totally engrossed in Shelli, but she also mothers the living fuck out of Posey. Posey is a grown woman, but Mrs. Adler acts as if she is two. It’s cute, sweet even, which makes me wonder if she won’t think I’m good enough for Posey.