“Do I bring my vibrator on the date?”

Myla’s hand flew to her mouth as she tried to not spit her lemonade out everywhere. After swallowing and laughing for a few seconds, she choked out, “Fuck it—why not? With all the pent-up feelings and attraction you two have built up over the years, I will be shocked if you don’t fuck him tonight.”

“But is it too slutty?” I asked while running the flat iron over the top portion of my hair to battle the frizzies. I was losing—my hair was not cooperating.

“Totally slutty, but subtle enough.” Jessica was sitting on my floor, painting her toenails. “You don’t have to take it out of your purse, but have it just in case you want to use it.”

“I’m really starting to get nervous.” My hair was not doing what I wanted it to, my makeup was still not perfect, I had no idea what I was going to wear, and the car was going to be at my place before I knew it.

“You’re going to have the best time.” Karla topped off my wine glass before filling hers with the bottom of the bottle.

“Just think about it—how perfect would it be if you guys got married?” Myla was probably already starting a Crosby-Bates wedding Pinterest board.

“This is date one, My. Let me get through dating him before you start planning our nuptials.”

She threw her phone down on the bed, huffing. “Fine. I’m just so damn excited.”

“Where is he taking you?” Karla asked.

“The Gramercy Tavern. I’m so excited to try it.”

“So fancy,” Jess remarked before blowing on her wet nails.

“What are you going to wear?” Myla asked.

I shrugged. “Will said to wear a dress and heels.”

“Little black dress with heels—you can’t go wrong with that,” Karla advised.

I dove into my closet to find a little black number to wear. Finally, I found the dress I had in mind. I slipped it on and grabbed my leopard-print pumps. Walking out of the closet, I modeled my outfit for my girls.

“So, what do you think?”

They all started clapping.

“It’s perfect!” Myla was so adorable bouncing on my bed with her little baby bump.

“Are you sure? I really want everything to be perfect.”

Jessica got up, checking out my necklaces where they hung on the rack. “You’re stunning, he’s crazy about you, and there is nothing for you to be worried about.”

* * *

“I can’t believe we are finally doing this.” Crosby took my hand, leading me into the busy restaurant.

“It’s been a long time coming.” Ten years in the making and we were finally there, about to have a real first date.

“Good evening,” the host greeted us.

Will gave the guy his name and we were escorted to our table, a dimly lit booth in the back. Perfect.

I was a ball of nerves. I couldn’t believe that after all this time, we were finally sitting across from each other in a horseshoe-shaped booth sipping on whiskey gingers. It wasn’t that we hadn’t ever been out together before—we had—and it wasn’t that we couldn’t have amazing conversation—we did. It was all the pent-up frustration and chemistry that we had been forced to stifle for too long; it was all coming to a head, and I was about to burst from attraction and eagerness.

“You look incredible, Jordan.” Crosby’s fingers rolled over my forearm, sending goose bumps over my entire body.

“Myla and the girls helped me get ready—I don’t girl very often.”

Crosby sneered at me. “Myla can be a fucking gobermouche.”

“Wait, excuse me—did you just use that word? Like no one knows what that word even means.”

He pulled me closer to his side so we were almost touching. “I have word of the day emails, babe. I’m not just a dumb jock that protects the net. I actually read quite a bit.”

Thank God for horseshoe booths.

“I just still can’t with you and your nerdy side. But I do have to agree—Myla does stick her nose into everyone’s business. Sometimes, like in this case, I am glad she is like that though.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now if it wasn’t for her pushing me to talk to you after the game the other night.”

“I am so glad you listened to her.”

“As am I.”

His lips landed on my cheek. “I’ve wanted this for so long.” His confession soaked into my heart.

“I’m so glad these feelings aren’t just one-sided.”

I let myself take in his features. I could tell he hadn’t shaved in a few days, and he had the beginnings of a gorgeous beard.

“I feel like I know you so well, but not at all.” His fingers laced into mine as he shifted to look directly at me. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

“Ummmm, let’s see.” I hated being put on the spot like that. “I don’t remember the last time I was on a date, as embarrassing as that sounds.”

Crosby chuckled. “That makes two of us. It’s been fucking years for me.”

“Now you tell me something,” I playfully demanded.

He took a deep breath. “I feel like this is something that should be out in the open right away, but I don’t know how to say it.”

I could tell he was trying to choose his words very carefully. “Just say it. I am the last person you should ever worry about being judged by.”

He sighed. “Okay, here it is: I am a very aggressive lover…like, I am into a lot of kind of extreme stuff.”

Excitement shot through me. “Wait, hold on.” My hand flew to his arm.

“I knew it would scare you off. Fuck.” He ran his hand over his face.

“That is actually the opposite of what I was going to say.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Is that so?”

I nodded. “I think we might be compatible in that regard, sir.”

His voice was low and rough as he said, “Sir—I could get used to that.”

I kissed his cheek. “That’s exhilarating.” I bit my lip. “Can I confess something?”

“Please do.”

I pulled my purse closer to me and grabbed the black silk bag from within it. “This may or may not be a vibrator.”

He growled a little. “You’re quite intriguing, little girl.” A sly smile peeked through Crosby’s short beard.

“Oh yeah? Why is that, sir?” I played with the red straw in the rocks glass in front of me, trying to calm my shaking hands. Just the sound of his voice did something to me that I could not control, and frankly, I didn’t want to.

Crosby’s eyes narrowed, pulling me even closer to him in the booth. “Because I never knew this side of you existed. You always came across as sweet and wholesome to me. It’s almost like walking into the nerdy girl’s closet and finding a cavalcade of whips, chains, and handcuffs. It’s fucking hot as all hell.”

I bit my lip, letting my mind play with the image of Crosby handcuffing me to his bed. “People are always shocked when they figure out how much of a freak I really am, but it is also a side of me that I rarely reveal to anyone.”

“I am glad you’ve opened up this is side to me, sweetheart.” His voice was gravel soaked in honey as his green eyes flamed with passion.

“As am I.”

Will grabbed my hand, starting to draw circles on my palm with his thumb. “I've been looking for you for a long time.”

I sighed, leaning back into the cushioned booth. “I’ve been right here this whole time.”

His eyes met mine, and they were filled with sincerity as he spoke in a low voice. “Trust me, I know. I am finally seeing it, truly and completely seeing you.”

Our server came over to get our order. Right as Will was about to order for us, I stopped him. “Why don’t we blow this joint, grab some pizza, and head back to your apartment? This place is not either of our cup of tea.”

Crosby threw his menu down and pulled out his credit card. “You heard the lady.”

“I’ll be right back with this.”

The server huffed off and Crosby grabbed my hand. “Are you trying to make me fall for you on night one?”

I quickly pecked his cheek. “Maybe.”