Page 55 of First Down Promise

“In that case…” She backs away from me and reaches for a pair of black velvet pumps with a round toe, chunky heel, and ankle strap.

I throw my arms around her waist. “You’re going to be the most stunning girl there,” I say into her hair, and she relaxes against me. “Stick with Dane. Don’t want anyone hitting on you.”

But no one would dare mess with Pete’s sister. Just me. I glance toward her bedroom door, my shoulders loosening a little that Dane will be there to keep an eye on her.

“Ugh, but he’s such a menace,” she argues with a soft laugh.

“But he’s a safe menace.”

Abby

“Hey, stranger.” A deep voice hums from behind me. I glance to my side, and Dane rests his forearms on the metal railing separating the bar area from the dance floor. The DJ booth sits on the opposite end beneath a giant Josh’s Bye Week Bash sign, where Josh is jamming with the DJ. Dane shifts to face me, keeping his elbow on the railing. His long-sleeved dress shirt is partially unbuttoned to show some of his pecs, but the jeans he paired with it are quite casual for Dane. “Does Pete know you’re here?” he asks with narrowed eyes and takes a sip of his beer.

“Why? Am I past curfew?” I clapback.

His lips twitch into a smile, and I hear the rumble of his chuckle over the music. “No, just surprised you’re here. Having fun?”

I shrug, returning my eyes to Josh. I slip my fingers down my glass, letting the condensation coat my fingertips. “I mean, I don’t really know anyone except for you, I guess. And Josh obviously invited me.”

“That was nice of him,” Dane deadpans.

“Ugh. What? You always seem like you have something to say, but you never say it.”

He raises his eyebrows at my outburst, and it’s the liquor giving me the courage not to take his crap tonight.

“I think you’re the one hiding something.” His eyes flicker toward Josh. “Like how you’ve been in love with him for years.”

My heart leaps into my throat. “Wh-what?”

“Oh, come on, Abigail.” My shoulders tense at the use of my full name because he sounds like my father whenever I got into trouble. “It’s hard to miss how you look at him when he walks into a room. Or leaves.” His piercing blue eyes meet mine, but I quickly drop my gaze to my glass. “Tell me I’m wrong, Abby. If I am, then I told Coop to move on for nothing.”

I snap my head up and study his completely neutral face. “What about Coop?”

“God, you’re just as oblivious to Coop as Josh is to you,” he says under his breath.

“Coop likes me?”

“Did.” Dane finishes his beer and runs his finger along the rim. My stomach sinks a little. Coop’s my friend, and the last thing I’d ever want is to hurt him without even realizing it. “I set him straight. Come on, Ab. Any of us would have taken you out if you showed any interest. Well, until you joined the squad.”

“Even you?” I challenge.

“You’re not really my type. Kind of like darker hair, if I’m honest,” he says with a little smirk, then clears his throat. “I would have taken you out if you wanted me to, but your heart’s always belonged to Josh.” My cheeks burn that my crush might have been obvious this whole time, but my foundation should hide the redness that must be coloring them. “He can’t keep doing this random hookup shit,” he adds under his breath.

“That’s a little bit of the pot calling the kettle black of you, don’t you think?” I say before his words fully sink in. He raises his eyebrows, but I speak again before he can fire back. “Wait, what about Josh?”

Dane nods toward the crowd on the dance floor. “This party. He always takes a girl home after to the point it’s become a joke, but he’s not prowling like usual.” I scan the crowd and watch Josh again. He’s just with the DJ, banging his head to the music. “Unless he finally woke up.” I glance back at Dane, and he looks me up and down. I cross my arms over my chest and tap my elbow with my index finger.

“What are you not saying, Dane?”

He splays his long fingers over his empty beer and pushes off the railing. “I’m getting another one. Oh, speak of the devil.”

I turn around, and Josh is suddenly there and fist-bumps Dane.

“Just wanted to come say hi,” Josh says. He changed into a simple designer shirt, jeans, and expensive cowboy boots before the party. In the dim lighting, his eyes sparkle, and my stomach does that stupid little flip it always does when he looks right at me.

“Hi.” My voice squeaks, and Dane smirks. I know I’m not smooth, Dane.

“Having fun?” Josh asks.