Chapter Twenty-Four
Jett
I’d been working for Wren for a few weeks and the pay was decent. But the perks were the best part. Wren loaned me his 1965 vintage Mustang to drive Adelaide to prom. It was black and sleek, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I felt like a badass when I got behind the wheel. The dude had stepped up for me, offering me a job and insisting I take his car tonight.
Addy had told her mom that she was sleeping at Coco’s with all the girls after prom, but she and I were going to camp out down by the water when we left the after-party. The thought of spending the night with her had my adrenaline pumping, and my dick was on high alert. She was ready, and God knows I was ready. The timing felt right, but I wanted it to be special for her.
Shaw, Jax, Coco, Maura, Gigi, and Ivy had all helped me set up a little campsite down by the water at our private spot that was not so private anymore. Hell, it was fine. They all wanted to help. Gigi had brought a tent that we’d set up, and Coco contributed a bunch of battery-operated candles and lights for the tree beside the tent that she’d hooked up to a few remotes for me to use when we arrived. I hadn’t seen it lit up at night yet, as we’d gotten things together this morning, but seeing as she’d brought around forty large candles, and several strings of lights, I imagined it would light the place up once it was dark. Maura brought a speaker for me to play some music and Ivy had gathered some blankets and pillows from home. Shaw and Jax stood there like the dumb asses they were most of the time, but when the girls walked away Shaw handed me a box of condoms and Jax pulled out a bottle of Axe cologne.
“Nobody likes a smelly lover, Jett,” he’d said, and we’d had a good laugh.
It was a little odd that everyone seemed to know what we were planning to do, but to hell with it. They were just trying to make it special for us, and I didn’t give a shit as long as Adelaide was happy.
I pulled up to her house and made my way to the front door anxious to see my girl all dressed up. I’d grown close to Clem and Mr. Edington as he’d come down to the motor shop a few times when I was working, claiming he needed a tune-up on a brand-new car that clearly didn’t need any work. But he’d chat with me about school and football, always making plans to come to TU to see me play at a few games.
Adelaide still hadn’t decided where she was going to school, and she all but begged me to tell her what I thought she should do. To tell her it was okay to break her mother’s heart and go to the school that she wanted to. And as much as I knew that’s what she should do, I’d be damned if I’d be the one to say it. She had enough people in her life telling her what they wanted her to do. I wasn’t about to be that guy. She needed to start making decisions for herself. Decisions that made her happy.
“Looking fine per usual, Jett Stone,” Clem said when the door flew open. Her auburn hair was piled on top of her head, and a few freckles peppered her cheeks, making her look even younger than she was.
“Right back at you, Clem.” I stepped inside, just as her father came down the stairs.
“You look very sharp, son,” he said, and my chest squeezed. Something about a man I admired calling me son made me a little soft. And it didn’t hurt that he was the father of the girl I loved more than life itself. I pushed away the thought that I’d be breaking his trust by spending the night out by the lake with her. But Adelaide had come up with this idea. I’d gone along with it happily of course, but I wanted the ball to be in her court. I’d quickly come to learn that the ball was rarely in Adelaide’s court. It was time to rectify that.
“Thank you, sir.” I shook his hand and he pulled me in for a hug.
“You look very nice, Jett,” Adelaide’s mother said as she came down the stairs. “Addy will be right down.”
Her gaze locked with mine, and I saw something there. Guilt? Empathy? I wasn’t sure, but it was new. And it was different from the usual cold stare I’d always received from her.
“Thank you,” I said as I looked up to see my girl coming down the stairs. Her dark hair fell all around her shoulders in waves, and she wore a light pink fitted dress that hugged her curves just right. Thin straps kept the dress in place on her shoulders, and it ran all the way down to the floor. Her tanned skin sparkled, and her dark eyes locked with mine.
I knew in that moment if I didn’t spend the rest of my life with this girl, I’d never recover. She was everything that had been missing from my life, and now that I’d had a taste at happiness, I couldn’t imagine living without it.
“Wow,” I said under my breath, clearing my throat because I could feel her mother watching me. “You look gorgeous.”
“You don’t think the light pink is a little bland? It definitely wasn’t my pick,” her mother said, and everyone turned to look at her.
“I think it’s perfect.” Ellis shook his head and turned back to his daughter.
“I think it’s elegant and beautiful.” Clem’s smile spread clear across her face.
I chuckled just slightly before my gaze locked with Adelaide’s again. “The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
She smiled and walked right into my arms when she got to the bottom of the stairs. I didn’t care if her mom was standing right there, or that we had an audience. I just wanted to wrap my arms around her and keep her close.
“Thank you. Your mom and Gram are meeting us for pictures, right?”
“Yep. They were already on their way when I left to come here.” I grinned, and she interlaced her fingers with mine.
“You should drive with us to the photos, Addy. God knows you can’t ride on a motorcycle in that dress. It’ll be filthy,” her mother said.
“I have a car,” I said, trying to hide the irritation from my voice. Obviously, I wouldn’t pick her up on my bike when she was wearing a formal gown.
“Darn. I like the back of your bike.” Adelaide glared at her mother. She’d already known Wren had loaned me his car, but she was making a point to have my back just like she always did.
“All right, we’ll meet you over there,” her father said.
Adelaide bent down to grab her duffel bag for the sleepover she was supposed to be having at Coco’s and I took it from her hand and slipped it over my shoulder. And I didn’t miss the heat in her eyes when I did it.
“Oh my gosh. This is the car?” Clem shouted as they all followed us outside.
“Yep. It’s a loaner.”
“Very James Dean of you,” her sister said as she ran around the car to check it out.
“Why don’t you ride with us,” I said, winking at my girlfriend. I knew how important Clem was to her, and I didn’t mind having her tag along at all.