Free Let Me Love You (Love #4) by Megan Smith Page A

me?”
    My eyes go wide in surprise. I don’t think this is a good idea but for some reason I do it anyway. I place a hand in Eli’s and let him lead me off towards the dance floor and I pray Cooper doesn’t freak the fuck out when he finds us.

 
    When I come back to the booth it’s empty. I scan the crowd and spot Eli and Jaylinn dancing. I can tell it’s friendly by the way Jaylinn is keeping a safe distance but it pisses me off anyway. Who the hell does Eli think he is asking my girl to dance? She’s not your girl Cooper.
    As Jaylinn dances seductively around Eli’s body, her eyes connect with mine and it strikes something in me. My stomach clenches and my hands ball into fists. I stalk off towards them, ready to claim my girl back. Eli had asked me about Jaylinn earlier when I’d mentioned that I was going to bring her tonight and I told him that things were complicated but I really didn’t think he’d try and make a move on her. I know he was kidding around and shit when he said he bang her but maybe it wasn’t so much of a joke after all.
    Jaylinn’s eyes follow my every movement, all the while keeping up with Eli’s dance moves. I’m just about to them when Jaylinn stops right in front of Eli and places a hand on his chest and sways her hips all the way down his body without sitting on the ground. Suddenly it feels like my body is scorching,pumping hot lava through my veins.
    I stop directly where I am and watch as she sways those perfect hips back up his body. Her eyes are still fixed on me, even when Eli puts his hands on her hips and pulls her body closer to him. His head turns towards her ear. He must say something because Jaylinn licks her lips and nods her head. Eli turns in my direction, giving me a head nod and acknowledging that he knows I’m aware of their dancing and then he spins Jaylinn gracefully into my direction. My arms open and Jaylinn lands right up against my chest. I inhale deeply as the smell of her perfume swirls in the air around us.
    “Jay,” My voice comes out husky.
    “Baby,” Jaylinn purrs.
    Her body starts to sway to music and I feel myself doing the same. The song slowly comes to an end. Cole stands and walks to the mic, “We’re going to slow things down for a few minutes and play a favorite song of mine. There’s a couple in the house that knows this song fairly well and I think it’s appropriate that I play it for them.”
    Jaylinn’s head snaps to the stage, seeking out Cole. “Are Mason and Hailey here?” She asks, standing on her tip toes and looking around.
    I cup the side of Jaylinn’s face, completely forgetting the fact that I was beyond pissed seeing her dancing with Eli. While I was gone I had walked over and asked if Manny could get a message to Cole for me. I requested that he play the song that meant just as much to Jaylinn and I as it does Mason and Hailey. I know Jaylinn was upset that I was blowing her off but it’s what I needed to do, I just have to make sure she knows she a huge part of my life and always will be.
    A piano is rolled out on the stage and Cole takes a seat behind it. He hits the first few keys to “Changed By You” by Between the Trees , and Jaylinn looks to me with a sea of emotion in her eyes and I’m drowning in it.
    Her arms slowly reach up around my neck and I bring her body flush against mine. She lowers her right hand and places it on my chest, just over my heart, and rests her head on my shoulder.
    Our bodies sway back and forth as a hold her close. “I know this is Hailey and Mason’s song but the words are fitting and I need you to understand how I feel about you.” I kiss her cheek. “You’ve been there for me when my life felt out of control back in school. Classes and baseball were taking up all my time but you were always there. Half the time I never even acknowledged that you were there, but I knew. You never missed any of my games, not even in high school, unless you had one of your own. Even now when