Page 31

Sipping my beer some more, I walk to a nearby booth and sit in front of a giant screen playing some early footage from the new underwater dungeon on a loop. Elena can’t know anything just from that. And even if she did, she wouldn’t do anything with that information.

Would she?

My father said something ugly once yet true about my mother.“She built a house of cards in her mind, son. I should’ve seen how unstable it was. I should’ve known it would tear a hole through our lives when it fell down.”

I get the same feeling now. Just waiting…

But when my phone vibrates, my worries sink away. I’m glad now I gave her my cell phone number.

Dakota: A limo company just called me saying they’ll be here in five! Was this you?

Jack: I hope no one else is sending my favorite streamer limos.

Dakota: You’re crazy, Jack.

Jack: I am. And I’m going crazier thinking of you in that dress. Did I make a good choice?

Dakota: Did you choose it yourself?

Jack:

Jack: You don’t need to be so shocked.

Dakota: It’s beautiful. Seriously. And it touched me.

Jack: Let me see then.

Dakota: Can’t you wait?

Jack: I’m done waiting for you.

I text, heart pounding hard.

A minute later, a photo arrives. My breath actually catches in my throat. I stare in awe at the picture. She’s standing in front of her bedroom mirror, one foot angled to emphasize her leg, the dress hugging her perfectly.

It’s an emerald-green color, the same as the Cove, with small, silver scale like beading interwoven into the fabric. It looks even more gorgeous on her than I knew it would. Her face is bright and vivacious, framed in subtle makeup that brings out her natural perfection.

Jack: You look devastatingly beautiful. It’s going to take everything I have to keep my hands off you.

Dakota: I’m just waiting for Jackson Cross to look at me and have no idea who I am.

I grit my teeth. I can’t blame her for this. We haven’t spoken on the phone. Haven’t had a voice chat. It’s like I’ve been trying to keep the two worlds separate.By changing an entire event just for her and mentioning her name in a public announcement…

Maybe I’ve just fallen. Hard. Maybe this is what it’s like.

I quickly snap a selfie, raising my beer in a toast, then send it to her.

Dakota: I’ll have to have some champagne in the limo to catch up.

Jack: As long as you don’t blame our bad decisions on the liquor.

Dakota: There will not be any poor decisions tonight. Only good ones.

Jack: Does that mean you want me on my best behavior?

Dakota: Hell no. It means I refuse to feel guilty about any of this.

Jack: I love that energy. Now, show me that ass in the dress. I want to see how the fabric hugs your hips.