So on Thursday night, between our home games, I took her out. The guys agreed to stay home and look after Huey, so it would just be me and Nova. Watching my best friends kiss her, running their hands all over like they knew what she liked—it made me so fucking jealous. I wanted to know what her skin felt like when I pressed my fingers into the soft roundness of her hips. I wanted to know what it would feel like to have her hair brushing over my shoulders as we kissed naked.

But first, I had to show her that I was in this shit for the long haul, despite the drama that seemed to follow me around like stink on shit.

First step, a proper date. I paced up and down the living room, the guys sitting around with a beer in their hands watching basketball, Huey propped on the couch between them. I lifted my phone and took a photo. Fuck, Rigby had been right. This would work out best for us all, but especially Huey.

Rigby looked behind me and let out a low whistle. I turned, and Nova was there. She looked beautiful. I didn’t know shit about makeup, but she was glowing. She had on a sweet little dress that floated around her thighs, a denim jacket and a pair of white sneakers. I’d told her it was casual and damn, my girl came through looking like a wet dream. The perfect girl next door.

I shook myself out of my stupor and strode over, pulling her into my arms. “You look beautiful.”

She grinned up at me, and I felt that smile all the way in my chest. “Thanks. You didn’t tell me much about where we were going, so I hope this is okay?”

I nodded. Honestly, the sight of her long, smooth legs had burned out a few of my higher thought processes, at least temporarily. “You’re perfect. Are you ready?”

“Uh-huh. Just one second.” She walked over to the guys, kissing Huey first, murmuring something softly to him, then leaning in to kiss Rigby and Devan. I could see the heat in the other men’s eyes, could see them holding themselves back from deepening the goodbye kiss.

I appreciated those fuckers so much.

When she strolled back over to me, her hips swaying enticingly, I told myself we had to go on a date. I couldn’t just take her back up to my room. Then I repeated it until we were in my car, and she was buckled in.

“Where are we going?”

I gave her a cocky smirk. “It’s a surprise.”

She huffed. “I’m obviously a fan of those.”