D A L L A S

"Don't look now, but the guy to our left with the brown hair is checking you out."

Spencer whips her attention towards the left of the cafe, leaving me to facepalm at the one trait that she didn't leave in high school. Her subtlety.

"Spence," I hiss through a tight jaw. "I told you not to look!"

"He's staring at you." She gives me a subtle eye roll and picks her soda up from the white linen-covered table, pinching the straw between her lips with a disappointed expression.

"He wasn't. He was staring at you. I swear."

"Meh, I don't care." She picks up her fork and pushes a crouton salad around her plate. "It's not like I'd wanna look for potential romance in another state."

"No," I agree, leaning back in the steel chair. "But a little fun might not hurt."

"That's not really me anymore, Dallas."

She doesn't say it in a way that leads me to believe that she's disappointed. She just states it as a fact and I have to admit that my best friend has made some major changes in her life. I'm proud that during her breakup she didn't turn to alcohol and meaningless sex. I mean, a lot of women do and that's their business. But not for Spencer. It would have pushed her down a dark hole.

Spencer's been here for almost a week now. Drayton leaves tomorrow and he has a few things that he needs to take care of during the day today but he'd asked if he could steal me for the evening onwards, meaning Spencer would be left alone at our place.

I felt a fraction of guilt for abandoning her during her stay. But Drayton moves tomorrow and a night to ourselves is something that I couldn't pass up. Spencer hadn't been bothered of course, claiming that she'd love having the entire house to herself.

"Excuse me?"

Spencer and I both glance up from our salads that we'll most likely end up contradicting with burgers and fries in less than an hour, only to find the boy with wild dark curls and pale skin with a hint of sunburn red, that we'd been discussing before, standing beside our table. "You're Dallas Bryan, Yeah?"

I give him a small nod and unintentionally glance over at Spencer, who's looking at me as if to say, I told you so.

"I'm a fan. I watched you in the Jason Derulo music video a few months back." His hands slide into his slim jeans pockets as he rocks back on his heels. "It was gorgeous."

"Oh. . . Thanks." I return his flirtatious smile with a brief regard as I lean over and grasp Spencer's hand. "This is Spencer. My girlfriend."

His brows furrow as his glance swaps between our hands and faces.  "Aren't you engaged to Drayton Lahey?"

"Ugh." I lean back in my seat while Spencer smothers a cackle with her hand. "If you knew I was engaged why'd you come over here and chat me up?"

"Why wouldn't I? You're hot."

"Leave."

I don't even bother to glance in his direction again as he sulks back to his table. That is one thing that's been an adjustment in LA. I thought the males could be grotty in Archwood. The men here, while some are wholesome additions to society, others are just downright disgusting and have NO boundaries.

"Our old lesbo relationship act won't work anymore," Spencer chuckles, trying to take a sip through her straw but the constant bout of giggles won't allow it. "I mean honestly. You're in the spotlight now."

"You're exaggerating my status, Spence. I've been recognised twice. Twice." I hold up two fingers to drive home the fact that just because I've worked with some incredible artists, that does not make me an A-list celebrity.

"Yeah but Drayton has already blown up." She pushes her unfinished salad into the centre of the table and rests her elbows on the surface. "He's only going to get more famous and you're his fiancée. Comes with the territory."

I feel as though I've just been transported into an out-of-body experience.

How is this my life?

Spencer's cellphone starts to ring and when she fetches it from her back pocket and reads the screen, her brows raise with a surprise.

"Hey Nathan," she greets when she holds it to her ear. I give her a questioning glance but she just shrugs her shoulder and swivels in the seat so that I get a nice view of her side.

"Ummm, towels? I think I left all that sort of stuff at Grayson's." She taps the surface of the table with her fingers as she speaks. "Sorry I didn't even think about that sort of stuff."

. . .

"Oh no, you don't have to buy new towels!" She laughs lightly and I'm becoming increasingly curious about this conversation. "No really, it's fine. I can get them!"

. . .

"Um, I mean if you're sure?"

"Any colour Nathan," she laughs again and it's becoming a lot more light and airy. A laugh that I've heard before, that's for damn sure.

. . .

"You've done all of that already?!" Her hand slaps down on the tabletop, her frame hunching over in shock. "Wait wait. Why'd you give me your bedroom?!"

. . .

"I didn't know the size difference was that big. But thank you. You didn't have to. Lyds and I are sharing my old room right now. That's not exactly massive."

Alright. I'm about to snatch the phone out of her hand.

. . .

"Oh so you're going to paint the walls?" Her fingers handle the ends of her long dark hair which is curled to absolute perfection. Her coils are tight and bold and the woman at the salon who specialises in Afro-textured hair gave her a beautiful shimmering bounce.

"I honestly don't mind what colours the walls in the bedroom are Nathan. It sounds like a lot of work."

. . .

"I'll be comfortable no matter what. I swear."

. . .

"Okay, sounds good," she laughs and slowly begins to turn back around. "Okay. Yeah, see you then."

I catch the small grin on her lips as she hangs up the phone. It's gone by the time her eyes meet mine.

"What was that about?"

"Oh, Nathan was just getting a few things organised for when I move in." She shrugs with a flippant wave of her hand.

"It sounds like he switched rooms." I narrow my eyes at her. My brother is sure seeing to it that she's comfortable. Which I appreciate. It seems logical that Spencer and Lydia would share the bigger room. But still. It all seems so. . . Extra.

"Yeah I mean, he's just making sure that Lydia and I will be comfortable."

"Do you guys talk on the phone often?"

"Ummm." she shakes her head with thought brewing in her distant gaze. "Well, he's called a few times since I've been here. Just to ask about. . . ya know, house stuff."

"Right." I decide to drop it.

Call it a gut instinct or a woman's intuition, but I can't help but feel that there's more. I already know how Nathan feels— or felt— but I've never even spoken to Spencer about how she'd possibly feel about Nathan.

With the exception of one brief conversation when we were younger and she was at our house while he and his friends threw a football around the back garden with no shirts on.

"Nathan has a really good body."

I'd given her a revolted look and she'd never bought up his appearance or anything similar, ever again.

But I attempt to remind myself that if something were to happen between the two of them, I couldn't stop it. Nor should I want to get in the way of their happiness. Despite how weird it would be, it's their business.

"Are you sure you'll be okay alone tonight?"

Drayton shakes his head a little with a small grin as he carries our small overnight bag past me and into the garage. Spencer and I stand beside the internal access door at the back of the house and she mirrors the same look that Drayton just had; amusement over the fact that I concern myself with her wellbeing.

"I think I'll be fine in this gorgeous, well-secured house for one night." She pulls me in for a quick hug. "What are you guys doing tonight anyway?"

"It's a surprise." I glare at Drayton when he comes back in and stands beside me, pulling me into his side.

"I know you love my surprises, baby."

I roll my eyes but don't argue. They don't ever end badly, that's for sure. The rose gold rock on my finger makes me smile when I think about the last surprise he'd managed to pull off.

We finish up our goodbyes, leaving instructions and codes for the security alarms and whatnot before we hop into Drayton's enormous beautiful truck and take off for the night. Before we get onto the highway, we swing through the centre of town and get some take-out. It's only four in the afternoon but Drayton informs me that where we're going won't have anywhere to get food. Which is why he'd packed a bag of snacks and breakfast savouries in the truck bed. I'm even more curious about where this mystery night will be spent now.

"We're camping aren't we?" I stare at him from the passenger seat as he lifts his soda from the centre cup holder, keeping his eyes on the road while he sips from the straw.

"Stop asking, woman."

I pop a few fries in my mouth and then lean across the centre console, turning his black cap around so that it sits backwards. "I know it's camping. What else could it be if there's going to be no food around."

Averting his attention from the road for a brief moment, he flashes me a teeth-bearing grin. It's all that I'm going to get apparently. He reaches across the console and rests his free hand on my thigh, the other gripping the steering wheel.

"You wanna pass the time?" I ask, turning the stereo up. As childish as it might seem to some people. We use a variety of different games when we're in the car for long journeys.

"For sure." Drayton's hand gently squeezes my thigh and when I look over at him, I'm hardly surprised to see that he's gesturing towards his crotch with a devious grin.

"No!" I shake my head, waving my hands back and forth to dismiss his thoughts from forming. "Nope. Last time we did that, we got pulled over. It was humiliating."

"That cop was just jealous."

Despite the fact that I can only see his side profile, I feel the heat of his smile. The glow in his expression is the telltale sign that his thoughts are with memories of one of our more wild moments.

After a small ad break in the radio station a new song comes on and I quickly turn the dial up, clapping with excitement. "It's your song."

"100 days have made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face."

"Come on babe!" I point at him as I do a little dance in my seat. "Sing it."

He shakes his head with a little grin but I can see that he's on the verge of a full-on performance. I turn the stereo up again and start lip-syncing with a passionate performance. "Come on. Serenade me."

When the chorus comes on, he throws his head back and belts it out so loudly that I almost get a fright. But of course, I can't miss the chance, so I unlock my phone and start filming on Instagram while he passionately sings at an impossibly loud and off-tune volume. Bless his heart, he just can't carry a note to save himself. 

"I'm here without you baby! But you're still on my lonely mind! I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time! I'm here without you baby! But you're still with me in my dreams! And tonight it's only you and meeeeeeeeee!"

I can't stop the hysterical laughter that has me curling over in my seat but when the next verse comes on, he stops singing and points at me. "Take it, baby!"

"The miles just keep rolling as the people as the people leave their way to say hello! I've heard this life is overrated! But I hope it gets better as we go!"

Drayton hollers as though he's just witnessed the most renowned performance of the century— although, as much as he can't sing, neither can I. When the chorus comes on, we practically scream it in unison. Hand actions are used, my eyes are closed and the passion is real.

"I'm here without you baby! But you're still on my lonely mind! I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time! I'm here without you baby! But you're still with me in my dreams! And tonight it's only you and meeeeeeeeee!"

We both come undone in a bout of uncontrollable giggles. My laugh has become so wild that it's silent, save for the occasional snort that comes out my nose and I'm worried that if Drayton laughs any harder, he'll have to pull over.

It feels so good. It feels good to know that while life has changed and we're both in serious careers and about to be married, we can still be us. We can still laugh until it hurts and we can laugh as though we haven't a care in the world. I couldn't want anything more in the person that I'm going to share my life with forever.

About half an hour into our drive we turn onto a gravel road. We're definitely some way out of the city and we continue down the narrow road for what feels like hours. It's dark by the time we approach a fenced area which stretches as far as I can see. The gate sign reads 'Pod Paradise'.

The dark doesn't allow us to see very far. The only light we're offered is from the headlights in front of us. But when we begin to slow down and the car beams shine on our destination, I jump in the seat with excitement.

"I've always wanted to stay in one of these."

Drayton pulls the truck up beside a large clear dome which leads me to believe that there are probably more spread out on this vast space. I'd assumed we'd be camping but this is one hundred times better and I don't waste a second getting out of the car and skipping towards tonight's accommodation.

"Yeah, I've got the bags," Drayton calls out with sarcasm. "I'm good."

Ignoring his playful jeer, I cup my hands over the big clear bubble and look inside. It's impossible to see a single thing through the thick glass and I wonder if the view will be just as marred from inside as well.

I don't have to wait long to find out, because Drayton comes sauntering over with the luggage over his shoulder and a small key in his left hand. Waiting patiently while he unlocks the glass door is almost impossible but he pushes it open and I dash in, my question is answered immediately.

From inside the dome, everything is crystal clear and it's somewhat of a relief to know that the tinting outside means that we have privacy. In the centre of the round room is a double bed that looks exquisitely comfortable, I can barely wait to get in and snuggle down. Apart from a small side table shelf and soft sinking carpet, there's nothing else in here.

"Where are we supposed to pee?" I ask as Drayton drops the bags beside the bed. He picks up a bucket that I hadn't noticed him carrying and shakes it with amusement.

"Right." I attempt not to wince. It's just one night.

"Don't look like that, Cheer." He drops it on the floor and leaps backwards onto the bed, resting his head on the pillows and crossing his legs at the ankles. "I've seen you pop a squat while you're half cut plenty of times."

I roll my eyes with a smile as I kick off my flip flops and let my feet sink into the plush carpet. This is one of the cutest dates that we've had so far, and there's been a lot of them. Drayton loves to spoil me.

He stretches his arm wide and gestures for me to snuggle into his side, so I crawl on to the bed and use his shoulder as a pillow, feeling his rock hard body beside me. It's warm weather and it feels as though this dome has been collecting the sun all day so we don't really need the comforter.

"What made you think of doing something like this?" I murmur, staring up at the stars that litter the dark night above us. It's captivating. I feel transported into a sense of total relaxation.

His hand softly brushes up and down the length of my arm, his steady breathing elevates my head in secondly successions. "I just thought we should have a night together with no distractions at all. No television, no other people, nothing but us." His free hand comes across his chest and his fingers lace with mine, his thumb grazing across my knuckles. "Plus, this is nicer than a tent. Just the stars and my universe."

"Damn, you're smooth, Lahey." I glance up at him and even from this angle he looks like the most perfect human that I've ever laid eyes on. He meets my lip-biting grin with a broad smile. He really knows how to talk me into a state. "Can you imagine how different things would have been if you'd never hit my car with your bike on that first day of school."

"We'd have still been together eventually," he answers without missing a beat.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because I hit your car on purpose."

"What?!" I abruptly sit up, leaning a flat palm on his chest so that I can stare down at his seemingly casual expression. "You hit my car on purpose?!"

"Yeah." He starts to sit up as well, laughing.

"Why?!"

He leans against the headboard, lifting my hand and pulling me over him so that I'm straddling his lap. "Because I wanted to talk to you after you threw that ball like a fucking boss. I just, I dunno. I wanted to know you."

My fingers toy with the hem of his t-shirt, his hands resting on the outside of my thighs while I process this outstanding information. "Why didn't you just talk to me? I mean hitting my car? That's so extreme."

"Yeah I don't really know what the hell I was thinking." His expression becomes far off for a moment. "Teenage boys. Idiots."

"And all these years, you never told me."

"I didn't give it much thought after a while. I couldn't tell you while I was still trying to win you over and then once we were dating, I just. . . forgot about it."

I giggle, disbelieving of this revelation. "You are something else."

His hands encircle my waist, caressing and causing a tingle up my spine as his expression becomes more lustful. "I don't regret it, Cheer. I'd do it again." He lifts a hand and wraps it around my nape, pulling me into a dizzying kiss. "I don't think you realise how crazy I was about you from the beginning."

I inch forward so that I'm pressed closer to his body and throw my hands around his neck, pressing our lips back together in a rush of need and excitement. He's so impulsive and insane. But thank God. I wouldn't have him any other way.

"I love you Drayton."

His strong arm wraps around my waist and he throws me down onto the bed so that I'm staring face up at the sky before he situates himself between my legs and hovers an inch above me. The abrupt action causes a surge of excitement in my stomach.

"I love you baby."

• • •
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