Player Loves Curves Box Set #4-6 by Hope Ford
Dusty
Ever since thenight at my mother’s house, Serenity has been pulling away. She’s refused to be seen with me in public at all and even stopped returning my calls. Then out of nowhere, she leaves a recording on my voicemail that she doesn’t want to see me again.
I try calling her, I go by her house and her work, but she’s nowhere to be found. Sitting in my car outside of Serenity’s house, I call my mother.
She starts rambling as soon as she picks up the phone, but I interrupt her. “Mom, Serenity broke up with me. Do you know why she would have done that?”
Mom doesn’t even miss a beat. “Why would I know anything about your girlfriend? Plus, I mean that’s good anyway. She wasn’t good enough for you.”
I clench my eyes tight together. I’m hoping and praying that my mother didn’t do anything, but a part of me knows otherwise. “Did you say something to her the night we were at your house? While I was outside talking to the gardener?”
She stutters, “Well, we talked yes. We couldn’t very well just stand there and look at each other.”
I grit my teeth together. “What did you say to her, Mother?”
She sighs loudly. “I told her the truth. You’re too good for her, son.”
As soon as the words leave her mouth, it’s like an awakening. I should have known. I should have made her stay that night. I knew something was going on with her, but I didn’t want to push. “You’re wrong, Mother. If anything, she’s too good for me. But I love her and I’m going to marry her, if she’ll have me after all this. If I’ve lost her, I won’t be able to forgive you.”
I hang up the phone and bang my head on the steering wheel. Where the fuck is she? There’s one place I haven’t checked, so I put the car in reverse to pull out of her driveway. I start to drive across town. If she thinks I’m going to let her end this, she’s sorely mistaken. This is not the end. If I have anything to do with it, this is just the fuckin’ beginning.
* * *
Serenity
Sitting in my chair,waiting on the instructor to get here and class to start, there’s a commotion in the hallway that gets even louder when the door opens and in walks Dusty Burgess. My heart starts to hurt in my chest just seeing him. I don’t cry though. I don’t think I have any tears left.
I put my head down and look at my notebook, staring at my notes from the last class. When he stops next to me, I can feel his heat, even though he’s not even touching me. “Can we talk?”
I still don’t look up at him. “We don’t have anything to talk about.”
He squats then, forcing me to look at him. I can feel every eye in the room on us. He reaches for my hand and holds it tightly. “We do, though. I love you, Serenity. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. All that matters is me and you.”
I wipe at the tear on my face. “I can deal with the stupid hate magazines and all that, but I’m not going to come between you and your mom, Dusty.”
He brushes his hand through my hair. “I talked to my mother. I love you and I want to be with you. Only you.”
I start to cry then, happy tears, and he pulls me out of my seat and into his arms. I put my hands behind his neck and pull him down to meet me. “I want to be with you too.”
The class starts cheering and clapping, but I don’t care who’s filming or taking pictures. I kiss him then, and as he wraps me in his arms and gives me a panty-melting kiss, I can’t believe I was willing to give this up.
When we finally break apart, he tells me again, “I love you, Serenity.”
“I love you too.”
“Do you two want to take this outside?” a voice rings out above the applause.
I look at my professor and back to Dusty.
He shakes his head. “It’s fine. I’ll be outside when class is over.”
The woman in the desk next to me pats my arm. “Go ahead. I’ll send you my notes.”
I thank her and grab up my stuff and follow Dusty out the door. He turns to me as soon as we’re out, pushing me up against the wall. His hand trails down my arm and the other goes behind my neck. “You didn’t have to leave. I would have waited on you.”
I shake my head, unable to even form a complete sentence. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him tight. My body starts to tremble and he pulls away just enough to look down at me. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, but he’s more stern this time. “No more of this. We talk things out. No more keeping things from each other.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I almost lost you. I almost gave you up,” I tell him in a soft voice, filled with shame.
He puts his hands on each side of my face, forcing me to look up to him. “You were doing what you thought was right and I could spank that ass for it. But what you need to know, pretty girl, is that you are what’s right for me. Always and forever, I choose you.”
And then he kisses me.
