Warmth (Cheer Legacy Trilogy #1)

14.

"You the man, Jesse!" Some guy yells at him as we try to leave the gym. 

"Thank you!" Jesse grins. He's real happy that no one is shunning him. 

As expected, Cecelia is announced Homecoming Queen, and surprisingly, Luke is Homecoming King. I'd thought Philip had it for sure.

I tug on Jesse's tux sleeve. Did I mention how gorgeous he is in a tux? He looks grown up, like a man with a powerful presence. Forbidding and strong and...damn, I want him. He looks at me and smiles like me being here makes his day. "I need to find Luke," I tell him, and the smile disappears. 

"What?" he blinks.

I point at Luke grinning sardonically at me to the side. "I came with him, I need to say goodbye."

He nods. "I'll go with you."

We weave our way through throngs of dancing bodies, and Jesse shifts around so that no one bumps into me. Aww. Luke meets us halfway, still grinning. He bats his eyelashes at Jesse. "Hey Parker, wanna go out with me? I didn't realize what a hot babe you were."

Jesse rolls his eyes. "Dude."

I grin back at Luke. "Luke, I'm..." I gesture at Jesse, and Luke nods, waving a hand from me to Jesse. There was a whole conversation right there, but only Luke and I knew what we were saying. Here's a translation: 

Me: Luke, I'm back with Jesse.

Luke: Go and get it on already.

I roll my eyes at him. "See you, Luke."

He chuckles. "Enjoy your night!" he hollers after us as we leave the gym. 

"What a douche," I mutter, but I'm smiling. 

"I'm jealous," Jesse sighs. "You guys have your own sign language."

I roll my eyes. "Jesse, it's not very hard to figure out what Luke is saying. It revolves around either getting high, getting drunk or getting it on." I pause. "Well, most of the time."

He barks out a laugh at that. "Yeah, true." Jesse leads me to his car and opens the door for me. "My goddess."

I grin. "What do I call you?"

"Whatever you want," he kisses the tip of my nose. 

"Okay. Thanks, 'whatever you want,'" I laugh. 

He tweaks my nose. "Cheeky." He walks around to the driver's side and gets in. He doesn't start the car, instead, he sits staring straight ahead in silence. "Pippy."

"Yeah?" I say, watching him. I admire the bridge of his nose, the shape of his lips, the way the color of his eyes dance and change as outside lights shine. His tan is perfect, and I want to touch his strong jaw, run my hands through his dark hair that complements my fair hair so nicely. 

"I booked a room for us after I asked you to be my homecoming date," he exhales in a rush. "But if you don't want to, just say the word and--"

I put a finger to his lips. "I need you," I say simply. 

He turns his head, his glowing cobalt eyes blazing with a heat that makes me shiver. He smiles softly against my finger, the gentleness at odds with the fire in his eyes. "No turning back," he murmurs. 

I drop my hand and nod, looking straight ahead the way he was just a few seconds ago. "No turning back," I agree. 

We sit in heavily charged silence, the car so filled with static electricity that I feel like my hair should be standing straight up. We reach the hotel and he opens my door again, offering me a hand. My heart is thudding loudly in my chest, beating so fast I'm sure I'll have a heart attack. My hands shake from nerves and anticipation.