My eyes widened as my heart hammered. I spun around, searching the room for her. I raised an eyebrow when I found her by the punch table, sipping innocently, and rimming the edge of the cup with her tongue. She shrugged her shoulders, struggling not to laugh.
What the hell?
As soon as the first notes played, I shook my head. Whoops and hollers sounded all around me, and a small clearing opened up. I beckoned for her to join me, but it was her turn to shake her head. Apparently, I was doing this one on my own.
“Hell yes! Let’s go, Banks!” Chris jumped in beside me.
I couldn’t say no. So I loosened my tie, rolled up my sleeves, and broke it down, Backstreet Boys style.
Was it original? Nah.
Was I the only one? Thank God no.
Was I sexual? Not at the moment, but after watching the way Sierra’s eyes were locked in on mine as I danced, I wanted to be.
Was I everything she needed to rock her body? I sure as shit wanted to be.
Thanks, Backstreet Boys. I was definitely glad you were back.
The moment the song was over, Sierra launched herself at me. “That. Was. Amazing.” She was breathless and giggling, which made the whole thing more than worth it. “Jenna told me she made you guys learn all the moves this summer while I was gone, and I didn’t believe it. But that was… God, that was so much more than I expected. Nick Carter who? He’s got nothing on you, Jeremy Banks. You’re the only boy-bander I’ll ever need,” She beamed at me for a moment before Chris whisked her away to do the Macarena.
I hoped she felt that way for the rest of her life. Then it hit me—I’d almost missed this chance. She’d been so close to coming to the dance with Danny. I’d almost lost her. I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—let that happen again.
Just as I was about to ask Sierra if she wanted to get out of there, the DJ announced it was time for the last dance. Talk about perfect timing.
Sierra was across the gym, and she looked up, searching for me. Our eyes instantly locked. My head cocked to the side, and she smiled hesitantly then beamed when I lifted my hand and beckoned to her. We both moved at the same time, meeting in the middle of the room just as Kenny Chesney’s “You Had Me From Hello” started playing.
I couldn’t have picked a more perfect song. Because it was true. Sierra had had me at hello, and she’d had me ever since. It had taken me a long damn time to realize it though. Which was why I was fixing that tonight. All I needed to do was get her out of there and alone. Because she deserved that. She deserved everything.
My arms slipped around Sierra’s slender frame, and my hands rested on the small of her back. She fit in my embrace perfectly, as if she were meant to be there. As her head rested against my chest, I wondered if she could feel my heart pounding.
This was it. I couldn’t wait any longer. The urge to lay it all out on the line for her was so powerful, I thought I'd burst if I didn't get it out soon. I just had to tell her how I felt and wish like hell she felt the same way. My lips brushed the top of her ear, lingering for a moment. She shivered underneath my touch. A good sign, I'd hoped.
“Sierra,” I whispered.
Her head lifted, her eyes wide with expectation. “Jeremy,” she breathed.
My name had never sounded sweeter. If I could record her saying it, I’d listen to it on repeat every night before I went to bed. Who needs the sound of a babbling brook when you have the girl of your dreams whispering your name with astounding affection?
I swallowed hard. “I have to tell you something.” I paused as her chest rose when she inhaled deeply. “I—”
Right when I was about to spill it, someone tapped on my shoulder. Once again, our moment was interrupted. My head fell to the crook of her shoulder, and her annoyed sigh filled my ear as she dropped her hands from my back. That made two of us.
When I looked back up, Danny Moyer was watching us curiously.
“Mind if I cut in?” he asked, a cocky grin forming on his face, which was begging to be punched.
I glanced from him to Sierra, whose eyes were pleading with mine. Pride because she didn’t want him swelled in me. If I had my way, she’d never want anyone else but me ever again.
“Yes,” I answered. “I do mind.” Without another word, I whirled her away from him.
“Thank you,” she said, flashing me a smile before wrinkling her nose in disgust. “He’s such an asshole. Now, you were saying?” she asked as she slid her hands up until she linked them around my neck.
I grinned down at her. “Yes, what was I saying?”
“Something about a sexy blonde in a super-hot, green dress?” she teased.
Just as I was about to respond, the last notes of the song played and the lights in the gym turned all the way up. Mr. Turoff was talking into the microphone, something about having a good night, being safe, blah blah blah. All I knew was I’d waited too long, and I couldn’t tell her at that moment.
I kissed her temple before pulling back and looking down at her. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
Her eyes searched mine. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
As I took her hand and led her out of the gym, I wished later was right then.
THE ENTIRE WAY TO Ryan’s beach house, I was on edge. Pins and needles. Jeremy had been moments away from telling me something that seemed so important, and right when he’d been about to say it, Danny had interrupted. I wished looks could kill, because I’d shot that jerk my most heated glare, hoping he’d spontaneously combust on the spot. And then Jeremy had told me that we’d talk later.
Later?
I had been two seconds away from freaking out and telling Jeremy that later was now and I couldn’t wait.
Really, Danny? You wanted to cut in? What an asshole. He’d dumped me before the dance and then expected me to save my last dance for him? No freaking way. If anything, I should’ve thanked him. His being a jerk had gotten Jeremy to ask me. A total win for me.
The house was pumping with music, and the sounds of partying echoed all around us as we walked inside. Jeremy’s firm grasp on my waist electrified all my senses. His lips found my ear, and I shivered at the sensation of his warm breath tickling my skin. I was so in love with that signature move.
“I promise, babe. We’ll talk later.”
Whoa.
Record. Scratch. Stop. Could we rewind? Or perhaps call “time” Zack Morris style? I needed to relive that moment all over again.
Babe.
It was a far cry from Sullivan, and I wanted to turn around and, in my best Meg Ryan move, tell him to take me to bed or lose me forever. Okay, so not quite that dramatic. We could start with maybe a kiss, but the sentiment was all the same. Instead, I nodded as disappointment filled me. I didn’t want to be around all of those people. I wanted to be alone with Jeremy.
Finally, someone—I’m pretty sure it was Chris—suggested Seven Minutes in Heaven. I rolled my eyes at the juvenile game. Weren’t we in high school? Still, I sat in the circle nonetheless. The pairings entered the closet then came back out with red cheeks. I never could tell if they were flushed with embarrassment or heat, but this game was pretty voyeuristic. The same could’ve been said for Spin the Bottle, but at least, in this one, you had some privacy.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard my name being called. My eyes widened as I shook my head. “Oh, no, I’m not—”
But then the next name was called and my protests were silenced.
“Jeremy. You’re up, too.”
My heart stopped. My eyes raced to meet his, but he was seemingly unaffected. He simply shrugged his shoulders, stood, and wiped his hands on his pants. Whoops, hollers, and catcalls all rang out as he helped me up and led me to the closet where Ryan had claimed all the magic was supposed to happen.