Whatever It Takes

Tattoos

I bounced my leg, trying to calm myself down. Tonight had been going well with Dovey, and I was doing everything I could to stifle the hope that had been growing in me. We were friends, and we were having fun together. That's what I should focus on.

But, God, she did not make it easy with how she looked at me or bantered with me.

I glanced around, wondering where she was, as it had been a while since I saw her. I finally caught sight of her, and I furrowed my brows.

Dovey was standing by the front door of the Hideout, searching furiously through her bag. I glanced around, ensuring that no one was watching me. I was relieved when I noticed how distracted and drunk everyone was. I stood and quickly strode over to Dovey, careful not to scare her when I walked up.

"You okay, Bird?" I asked gently.

She snapped her head up, her curls tossing up and over her shoulders. I swallowed hard – that alone made me fall in love with her all over again. It was going to take at least three decades to get over this crush. She ran her hands through her hair and gestured frantically at her purse.

"I can't find my keys!" she seethed, not necessarily angry with me, but with the situation. I set my hands on her shoulders, calming her. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and expectant. I smiled kindly.

"You gave them to me – your bag was too small," I reminded her. Her eyes widened and her shoulders relaxed. She smiled nervously and sighed.

"Sorry – I completely forgot," she admitted. I ran my hands down her arms, reassuring her,

"No worries – glad to help," I replied. I finally dropped her arms, wishing I could still touch her. I cleared my throat, wanting to keep talking to her. "Why...why were you looking for your keys?"

"I think I want to go home," she replied, running her hands through her curls again.

She glanced at the door, and I started steeling myself to be brave and make my next move. But before I could, she looked back up at me, her eyes big and nervous. I swallowed hard again.

"Do you think you could take me home? Just so I get home safe," she asked. I stared at her, my ears ringing. Had that really happened? Did she really pull off what I was about to ask her? She looked down at her feet. "Never mind, I can just walk—"

"No, no, no!" I squeaked, too excited. I cleared my throat, setting my hand on her back and guiding her to the door. "I didn't really drink – I can take you home."

She sighed, relieved, and leaned into me as I walked her outside. I felt my heart pick up, and I slid my hand to the small of her back. I glanced over my shoulder – Steve was wrapped up in a conversation with Jonathan, and I realized that I was going to be able to spend time with Dovey without him and his stupid haircut interrupting us.

"Thank you – I just needed to get out of there," she explained. She was still leaning into me, and I thought that I was going to pass out. We got to my van, and I opened the door for her, helping her in. I raced around to my side and started the van up once I got in.

"Why did you need to get out of there?" I asked quietly as we made our way back to her house. She looked over at me, her eyebrows raised. "When we were leaving the bar, you said how you needed to get out of there."

"Oh," she answered. She looked back out the front window, leaning back in her seat. "Sometimes I just want to leave a place, you know? Like I just want to get back and be somewhere I know and feel comfortable in."

"I get that," I replied. I looked over at her, and she smiled brightly. My heart caught. This was going so well.

"Well, thanks for saving the day," she said. I nodded, looking forward and trying to focus on the ride home.