“Relax, Lola, it was just a hypothetical,” I say, sitting up and shoving the covers off me.

  Lori seems to get distracted in her outrage by gawking down at my bare stomach. I flex my abs a little and tease her. “You’re staring like a perv, Archibald.”

  Lori’s eyes dart back to mine. “That’s because I’m not used to seeing you shirtless and wanting to…”

  I bounce my pecks. “Test the goods.”

  “If we have to abide by your rules, you’d better cover yourself, Barlow.” She pulls off my T-shirt and throws it at me.

  The T-shirt hits me in the face and when it slides off, the tables are reversed because now Lori is in my bed with her black bra on and I have to muster all my self-control not to close the distance between us and forget all about my stupid rules.

  My gaze must convey some of my thoughts because Lori blushes.

  “What are you doing, Archibald?” I ask.

  “Returning the favor?” she says, smiling coyly. Lori inches forward on the bed.

  “How altruistic of you.”

  Lori nods and leans the rest of the way toward me. Her lips brush against mine softly. I drop my hands, clenching the sheets so hard I’m afraid I might tear them.

  She plants tiny kisses across my jaw and down to my neck. Normally, I’d be all over this and we’d be ripping each other’s clothes off, but now I’m fighting my body and aim to keep my hands to myself.

  “Lori,” I pant, “we can’t.”

  “If I remember correctly,” she whispers against my ear, “kissing is allowed.”

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Good.”

  Her lips meet mine again and this time I have no strength to resist.

  I grab the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. I rub my thumb on her cheek and kiss her jaw, her neck, and her mouth until she goes limp in my arms.

  When I pull away, I straighten Lori up—all her bones seem to have melted, saying, “Should we call it even and get dressed?”

  Lori smiles and I know I’m a goner. “You play dirty, Barlow.”

  “Oh, I play dirty? Miss Killing You Softly?”

  She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Can I borrow a hoodie? I only have my tank top from last night.”

  That might actually help me keep my sanity.

  “Sure.” I gesture to my right. “Mi closet es tu closet. I’ll go make some coffee.”

  When Lori walks into the kitchen, she finds me seated at the table, cradling my phone.

  “What’s with the phone rocking?”

  I look up and the breath gets knocked out of me. She has no right to look that stunning in an oversized hoodie. But with her legs bare, long hair falling on her shoulders, eyes still a little sleep-puffy, and a bright smile stamped on her kissed-up lips, she’s beyond beautiful.

  “Yeah,” I say. “’Cause I just realized we have a bigger problem to solve before lunch with my mother.”

  Lori frowns questioningly.

  “Remember that delightful story you spun Aiden about how we first kissed on a night you supposedly got stood up by a blind date and I was out having drinks with my sister?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Jessica is going to know that’s not true.”

  For a moment, Lori stares at me blankly, then sinks into the chair across from me. “And she’s coming to lunch, too, today?”

  “Probably. But even if she isn’t today, she will eventually.”

  “What do you propose?”

  “We have to bring her into the loop.”

  “You mean to tell her everything?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh, gosh.” Lori covers her face with her hands.

  “That’s why lying is never a good idea.”

  Lori pokes her face out from behind her palms. “And she’s going to cover for us?”

  I sigh. “For the right price.”

  Lori slides off the chair and sits down on my lap, planting a quick kiss on my lips. “You mean actual cash?”

  “I wish. No, it’s going to be much, much worse.”

  “Like what?”

  “For starters, she’s going to saddle me with all the family duties we usually try to offload on each other.”

  Lori pats my shoulder mockingly. “You’re old enough to bring out the trash.” Then she steals a sip of my coffee and adds, “I’d better go home and feed the animals before they revolt. What time do I have to be ready?”

  My parents live in the suburbs north of Chicago, so Lori’s house is on the way to theirs. “I’ll pick you up at noon.”

  “Perfect.” Lori drops a kiss on top of my head. “Now be brave and give Jessica a call.”

  22

  LORI

  A firing squad of four awaits me at home. Leia, Han Solo, Ben, and Chewie are sitting in a tight line across the floor just behind the front door.

  “Hello, sweeties,” I greet them, pretending I didn’t abandon them last night.

  The cats narrow their eyes to various degrees of indignation and one by one turn to sit facing the other way.

  “Well, I guess you’re not interested in getting breakfast, then.”

  Now they get up, tails raised straight up into the air, and stroll toward their bowls, regaling me with the sight of their displeased kitty butts.

  I hang my coat on a bookshelf, drop my bag on a pile of books, and hasten into the kitchen.

  After a quick search of the cabinets, I fill each of the four food bowls with the sourpusses’ favorite salmon meal. As much as I’d prefer to keep them vegetarian like me, the one week I tried, they went on a hunger strike, and I had to relent. Now they’re pescatarian and happy.

  As they eat, I stroke Leia behind the ears. She must’ve forgotten how offended she is with me because she purrs right away. I relax. If she’s forgiven me, the rest will follow suit. Their feline society is very much a matriarchy.

  Next, I grab the hens’ pellets and go wish a good morning to my chicks. They don’t hold grudges like their quadruped counterparts and happily flock by me, pecking the food straight from my hands. They’ve already laid eggs as well. I collect the eggs, go back to the kitchen to wash them, and use a pencil to write today’s date on each before I store them in the fridge.

  Ben jumps on the counter, then lifts on his hind legs to drop his front paws on my chest and butt his head against my chin. He’s the cuddliest of my four furry babies.

  “Yes, sweetie, I’ve missed you, too.”

  I pick him up and carry him upstairs with me. I deposit him on my bed and enjoy the cuddles while staring at the ceiling a little dazed.

  Jace is in love with me.

  It’s a thought that both terrifies and thrills me. Thrilling because Jace is wonderful and being loved by him feels like the greatest gift in the world. Terrifying because a small part of me still can’t believe it. He’s the one person in the world who knows me, truly knows me, he’s seen all the ugly and still loves me. Has been doing it quietly for all these years while I wouldn’t shut up about Aiden.

  I groan. Oh my gosh, poor Jace, the years of pining I’ve put him through. And I never knew, never suspected. He’s been so good at keeping his distance. Now I understand all the barbed wire and Mr. Frost act, he was just trying to protect himself.

  But now he isn’t any longer. He’s mine if only I want him to be.

  The thought makes my heart skip a beat. I never saw it coming, but now that it’s here, I can’t deny the feelings creeping up inside me in response.

  I replay last night’s events in my mind. The way he kissed me was like nothing else mattered in the world. I roll in bed unable to suppress a smile as a warm fuzz spreads all over my body. Jace can make my skin burn even when he’s not in the room. If this isn’t being in love, well, then it’s pretty darn close.

  I allow myself a few more cuddles with Ben, then I kiss the top of his head and move into the bathroom to shower.

  I don’t stress about what to wear to lunch. A pair of navy chinos and a cozy sweater will do. Jace’s parents are pretty laid back, and I’ve known them since the first weekend Jace and Aiden invited me to spend in Chicago with them.

  The drive from campus took a little over two hours, hardly an adventure, but I’d hoped to crash at Aiden’s place, fantasizing that would be the night we finally kissed. Instead, his brother had randomly decided to come home from Madison. With the spare room in Aiden’s house suddenly taken, I ended up bitterly disappointed and sleeping in Jessica’s room at the Barlows’, which was pretty much always available. Jessica went to UC San Diego for college, so it wasn’t like she could drive home on a whim. Still, Julia, Jace’s mom, made pancakes the next morning, sweetening the deal. Now that I think back on it, I remember Jace wouldn’t stop smiling that morning as I had breakfast with his family. He must’ve been so happy to have me there. And I never saw it, I never saw past the cocky act and the barbed wire. I’ve been such an idiot.

  That weekend was also my first trip to Chicago, and it left me jaw-slacked and in love with the city. I’m from Sarasota, originally, and I wanted to spend my college years somewhere with seasons and as far away from home as I could. Urbana is a nice, quaint town, with a spectacular winter. But Chicago is a proper city and next-level gorgeous. And I know it’s weird that I prefer to live in a city as opposed to open country considering my tendency to rescue all kinds of animals. But if I lived on a farm, I could adopt a million strays, and that would probably turn me into a full-time vet, which I wouldn’t want because the only thing I care more about than rescuing pets is taking care of my patients. In a way, urban living forces me to keep a balance between the humans and animals I help, which has worked great so far.

  A pang of worry courses through me as I imagine Jace having to adapt to my messy lifestyle. If things progress between us, would he ever be able to accept my baggage of weird hobbies and strays? Well, he’s walking into this with his eyes wide open. It’s not like I have any secrets from him. Over the years, Jace has been my confidant. I never opened up to Aiden the same way. With Aiden, I’ve always kept up the I-want-you-to-be-my-boyfriend-one-day filters, whereas Jace has been getting the raw, unembellished version of me since the start.

  I’ve just finished drying my hair when a text pops up on my phone’s screen. It’s from Jace.

  From Jace:

  I’m outside

  I hurry down the stairs and tip-toe across the entrance hall to make sure the cats don’t spot me leaving again so soon. I put on my coat, grab my bag, and exit the house. On the landing, I close the door behind me as stealthily as I can and, equally carefully, slowly turn the key into the lock.

  Then I spin toward the street and spot Jace waiting for me in his black Mercedes. A glint of sunlight on the driver’s window masks half his profile, but that doesn’t stop the fluttering that explodes in my belly as I take him in. How did I tune out his raw sex appeal for all these years? It’s like I’ve been wearing a blindfold all this time, and now that it has come off, I can’t help but look at him in an entirely different light.

  I hurry across the street and mount shotgun. “Hey.”

  Jace smirks. “Why did you leave your house looking like a thief fleeing a crime scene?”

  “I was trying not to get caught leaving again by the cats.”

  Jace’s eyes widen. “The worst part of that statement is that I know you’re being 100 per cent serious.”

  “How did things go with Jessica?” I ask.

  “She basically owns us now.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “We’re going to have to volunteer at her free clinic.”

  “Don’t we already volunteer there?”

  “Yep, but one of her regular doctors is going on maternity leave next month, which means we basically won’t have a life until next September.”

  I shrug. “As long as we can take our shifts together, I’m cool with that.”

  “I knew you’d be a glutton for punishment,” Jace says as he starts the engine.

  I don’t mind volunteering. Plus, Jessica’s free clinic is doing super important work to guarantee excellent healthcare, even to the less privileged. And if Jace and I are there together, it won’t feel like work at all. A few more hours at the clinic is not what worries me.

  “But your sister is sworn to secrecy?” I ask to make extra sure.

  “Yep. She’s going to give me a hard time about it forever, but Jessica has sworn she’ll cover for us.”

  I let out a relieved breath.

  “Especially since I’ve mentioned to her we might be catching feelings for real.”

  “And what did she say about that?”

  “Told me I was cute and cooed over me like a mother hen.”

  “Oh, poor baby…”

  Jace flashes me a crooked smile before concentrating back on the road. “Oh, you think I’ve had it bad? Wait until my mom starts treating you as her best chance at getting grandbabies…”

  “Are you suggesting I shouldn’t encourage the baby talk? Like saying I’ve walked past a baby store the other day and saw this cute pink onesie and”—I theatrically put a hand over my chest—“my heart swelled at the idea of holding tiny feet.”

  Jace stops at a red light and looks at me with pure terror in his eyes.

  “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” I say. “Plus, we’re not having babies any time soon, given we’re on a sex ban.”

  Jace laughs and shakes his head. “Maybe don’t mention that either.”

  I make a zipper-over-mouth gesture. “Come on, your mom loves me. We’ll be fine.”

  We arrive at the Barlows’ house, and Jace parks in the driveway. He kills the engine, and we get out of the car. I follow him up the porch steps to the front door. His parents live in a two-story, farm-chic townhome in Long Grove, a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago famous for its restaurants, historical sites, and quaint charm.

  Jace opens the unlocked front door without ringing the bell and calls, “Mom, Dad, we’re here…”

  I follow him in and, as soon as I close the door behind me, I’m greeted by a scruffy white furball with a black patch right between his eyes.

  “Oh, Crasher!” I kneel to pet the dog. He leans into me and yaps happily as I scratch him behind the ears—a valiant move on my part considering there’ll be hell to pay when I come home smelling of dog. “Hi, sweetie, where is everyone?”

  “They must be out back on the veranda,” Jace says. He kneels to collect a tennis ball from the floor and bounces it twice, completely losing me Crasher’s attention.

  The dog eyes the ball eagerly.

  Jace scoffs. “Oh, so now you remember about me?”

  The Border collie mutt barks in response.

  “All right, buddy, fetch.” Jace throws the tennis ball, bowling style, gently rolling it on the floor down the long hall so as not to break anything with a flying projectile, I assume. Crasher darts after the ball, his nails making scraping sounds on the hardwood floor.

  With the dog distracted, Jace guides me through the open space living room and kitchen, and out onto the veranda. This is my favorite room at his parents’ house. The walls are made of glass and can be closed off in winter. While in the summer, they keep it mostly open as a sort of large covered patio.

  Today, with the sun shining high above us, the room is flooded with light. Julia, Jace’s mom, is putting the final touches to the table setting. She has a candlestick in one hand and is holding a flower vase in the other.

  “Mom.”

  At the sound of Jace’s voice, she unceremoniously drops both objects on the table and turns to us. “Jace.” Julia gives her son a quick hug and a peck on the cheek and then focuses on me. “Lori,” she says, her voice both surprised and happy as she pulls me into a bear hug. Then she pulls back, planting both her hands on my shoulders. “You always were part of the family, but now it’s official.”

  Julia Barlow is one of those warm, nurturing people you can always count on. She has a soft, motherly smile and gentle eyes, but she can be blunt as hell when necessary. She’s also a brilliant artist with a knack for portraits. Paintings of the family and of strangers adorn the entire house.

  “Aw, there you are,” Jace’s father’s voice booms across the room as the man himself emerges from the basement stairs, carrying two bottles of wine.

  His wife lets me go and turns to him.

  “Hunter.” I wave.

  Jace’s dad smiles as he approaches. “Hi, Lori.” He leans over and kisses my cheek.

  “Hi, Dad,” Jace says.

  After the greetings, Jace and I help to finish setting up the table. And when everything is perfect in Julia’s eyes, she disappears inside the house to bring out a tray of hors-d’oeuvres, which she offers us. “I made these to snack on while we wait for Jessica. She’s always late.”

  Then, pointing at one side of the tray, Jace’s mom adds, “This is the vegetarian side, dear.”

  “Thanks.” I grab a carrot tart and pop it into my mouth. Even if Jace and I have been dating for less than a day, being at the Barlows’ already feels like being with family. They’ve known me forever and I probably see them more than my own parents.

  Two goat cheese croquettes later, Jessica strolls onto the veranda.

  “Took you long enough,” Jace says, once his sister arrives.

  “I think what you meant to say was: My dear sister, I so look forward to our co-volunteering in the free clinic where we will spend hours together side by side helping the less fortunate.” The threat to tell on us not too subtle in her tone.

  “That’s exactly what I meant to say,” Jace agrees with a grin.

  “Thought so.” Jessica’s smile is as sweet as it’s evil.

  “Are you getting more involved with the clinic, son?” Hunter asks.

  Jessica doesn’t leave him time to reply. “Devi is going on maternity leave next month, and Jace and Lori have offered to cover for her.” With that, she turns to me. “Lori, you are a sight for sore eyes. I’m so glad I can openly call you my sister now.”