Free Don't Let Go by Michelle Lynn

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    “Are you going to come?” He turns his head my way and smiles as though there wasn’t an awkward silence a moment ago.
    “I don’t know. Their music is okay but the lead singer is so incredibly…what’s the word?” I jokingly look up at the ceiling and scrunch the side of my mouth up.
    “Hot?” Brady asks.
    “No, that’s not it,” I say, still pretending to think.
    “Talented?” He smirks over at me.
    “Nope.” I smile.
    “Amazing?” He laughs.
    “He’s kind of…kind of a stalker,” I joke, trying to conceal my giggle.
    “From what I hear, he sees what he wants and goes after it,” he confirms.
    “What do you think he wants?” I question.
    “I heard that he is completely infatuated with this incredibly beautiful girl. Hold on…I know her name…just give me a minute.” He taps his finger to his lips as though he’s thinking hard.
    “What a lucky girl”.
    “I know, right? I mean Brady Carsen is like the best catch.” He uses his best girl voice. “I think her name is Sadie. Yeah, that’s it, Sadie Miller. Do you know her?” He leans over the table toward me.
    “Yeah, I do. What on earth would he see in her? They are so different, surely his friends would disapprove?” I continue to joke, but Brady’s face drops.
    “Are you kidding me? Sadie walks into a room and every guy turns. From what he told me, she is not only gorgeous but smart and funny. The complete package with an amazing body to boot. As far as his friends, he could give a shit what they think and he wishes she would, too.” His brown eyes seem to have gotten a little darker as they pierce into me from across the table.
    I don’t know what to say. Thankfully, “Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh fills the room and Brady takes my hand.
    “The last song of the evening and how fitting it is…my lady in red.” He nudges his hand on my back and leads me to the dance floor. He wraps his arms around me, resting his hands on the small of my back. I don’t know where to place my hands, so I ultimately rest them around his neck. We sway back and forth to one of my all-time favorite songs.
    Brady holds me close to his chest and my eyes automatically close, letting the beat of the music move my body. He softly sings the words in my ear as he leads me around the floor. His cheek presses against mine as though we are the only two people in the room. My heart beats out of control with his warm hands around me and his soft breath on my neck. I swear I feel his lips graze slightly against my neck and I ache for them to meet mine. I want him…I want him to be mine.
    As the song comes to an end, Brady doesn’t sing that last line, telling me he loves me. Instead he hugs me tightly, lifting my feet from the ground. “Thank you for the most incredible date I have ever been on.” He kisses my cheek again before he releases me.
    We leave the bar and surprisingly, the waitress looks at me as well as Brady and tells us to have a good night. The car is silent on the way home, but Brady holds my hand, rubbing his thumb across my finger. When he glances over at me, we exchange smiles. The ride back to my dorm feels too short. I don’t want to say goodnight to him, but I will never ask him to stay. The thought of him leaving me tomorrow after I sleep with him is unbearable.
    Brady parks the car in front of the dorm and his eyes move my way. For a brief moment, I think he is going to ask me to go home with him, but he opens the door and steps out. I watch him as he walks around the car before he opens my door. My body protests leaving the safe Camaro cocoon with him, but I get out and accept the hand he offers. He entwines our fingers and we slowly walk toward the doors. Emptiness fills my stomach with every step.
    When we get to the door, Brady asks for my keys. I hand them to him and he opens the dorm doors, motioning for me to enter before him. He turns me into the mail locker alcove to conceal us from passers-by. He leans me against