“Perfect!” She dropped my hand, heading straight to a change machine. She reached for her back pocket, but I stopped her before she could pull out her wallet. She glared at me as I put my own card in the machine, getting us enough change to play all damn night if we wanted to.

“Dean,” she chided. “I can pay for my own.”

I furrowed my brow, shoving the quarters into my pockets. “I know,” I said, giving her a handful. “But this is my treat.”

“I thought this wasn’t a date.” She popped her hip, the determined and confident pose drawing a smirk across my lips.

“I thought that wasn’t even on the table.” I stepped closer to her, unable to resist the blush on her cheeks.

“It’s not.” Her voice came out a whisper as she looked up at me.

“Then it’s not,” I said, despite the fact that it sure as hell felt like she wanted it to be one.

You’re in charge, Amber. You lead me and I’ll fall in line.

I’d learned enough from spending my life helping take care of Tessa—my baby sister had been the one to teach me about patience, perception, and understanding when it came to girls before I’d turned twelve. Though I really wished she would’ve taught me about reading a girl’s mind, because I would’ve loved to know what Amber was thinking right this moment.

Something softened in Amber’s gaze. “Okay then,” she said. “You ready to lose?”

“Ha!” I laughed. “Which game do you think you could possibly beat me at?”

She glanced around the area. “All of them.”

“You’re on.” I retook her hand, trying like hell to ignore how great it felt, or how she didn’t take it back until we reached the first game.

Three hours, countless games, and a shit-ton of quarters later, we’d lost count of who was in the lead.

“I’m totally winning,” she said as I guided her out of the arcade and into the cool night air.

“What?” I gaped at her. “No way. I was up by five wins the last time we took a tally.”

“Please,” she said, rolling her eyes. There was no annoyance in her tone. In fact, I hadn’t heard or seen her this happy in months. Even when she was locked in—which was normally her bliss—this…tonight…she was different.

Freer. Wild. Close to the girl I’d first met all those years ago.

“Omigod it smells so good out here.” She moaned the closer we got to where all the food trucks were lined up, and I both loved and hated how much that sound drove me crazy.

Careful, I warned myself. The way my entire being was tuned in to her…fuck, it was like I was in—

No. I couldn’t be.