I pull back to look at him. He doesn't look nearly as sure as he sounds. He looks worried. Really worried. Maybe that's what quiets my own panic. He's freaking out, but he's trying to keep it together for me. I need to do the same for him.
I inhale a deep breath and exhale slowly.
"Come on, princess," he says, snagging my shorts off the floor. "Let's get you dressed."
My legs are still weak, so he has to help me into them. There's no hiding the fact that they're the same tiny pair I was wearing on stage last night. If my dad saw videos of the concert, he's going to know. But I guess there's nothing I can do about that now. He basically just caught us fucking. We have bigger problems.
As soon as we're dressed, Kingston pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. "It's going to be okay. I love you."
"I love you too," I whisper. We're way past denying it, trying to fight it, or pretending it isn't true. I'm in love with him. So much so that I'm not even afraid of it anymore. I'm more afraid of what happens if my dad hates him.
"Fuck." His body shudders against mine before he tips my head back, meeting my gaze. "Say that again."
"I love you."
His forehead drops to mine, his breath shaking on his lips. He looks like he desperately wants to be inside me again right now. "You're going to say that again when I'm inside you later, Evie. You're going to scream it."
I whimper, clinging to his shoulders.
He presses his lips to mine in a hard kiss.
"You ready?"
"No. Yes." I huff a breath, my soul shaking. "Yes."
I am so not ready, but there's no stopping this now.
We find my dadon the back porch, staring at a palm tree like it holds the answers to the universe.
"Dad?" I whisper, my voice cracking.
"Hey, baby girl."
"I'm so sorry!"
My dad turns to face us, his gaze running over me and then over Kingston. I can't read his expression, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
"Ah, hell, Evie," he finally rasps, stalking forward to pull me into his strong arms. "I'm the one who should be apologizin'. I just waltzed in like I own the goddamn place. Olivia's been warnin' me for years that I need to learn to knock."
I cling to him, my heart pounding a million miles a minute. "You never have to knock."
"Yeah, I do." He tips my chin back like he always did when I was a kid, afraid to meet his gaze. "You're a grown woman now, baby girl. You deserve your privacy."
I burst into tears. I don't know why. It's the way he's looking at me like he's proud of me and sad at the same damn time.
"Hey, now. None of that." He wipes my eyes, grinning at me. "You still have to introduce me to this hockey star who stole your heart. I'd like to pretend none of that other shit happened if you don't mind."
"P-please," I sob, crying and laughing at the same time.
Dad glances over my shoulder at Kingston, then back at me. "He's the one, huh?"
"Yes," I whisper.
He nods, smiling. "I knew it when I saw the way you were looking at him at the game. I had to come see for myself if he was worthy of you."
"You should be in bed!" I cry. "Mom is going to be so mad."
"Who are you tellin'?" He grins at me. "She's mad as a hornet right now. I snuck out."