“Graduation.”

  “Hopefully working.”

  “So, you won’t leave for the summer?”

  She shakes her head. “No. I’ll be here,” she says, putting her cup down and then pulling her hair up. “Well, if I get over myself and go home to see my family, and then I’ll be in Nashville for a week.”

  “You should. I know your mom would love it.”

  “She would. Are you going home this summer?”

  I bite the inside of my cheek. “I guess that depends on this.”

  She pauses in the middle of fixing her hair. “This?”

  “Me and you.”

  “Us…is this?”

  “It is,” I say, holding her gaze. “I won’t want to leave you if we’re still together.”

  She nods slowly, licking her lips. “I wouldn’t want you to go either.”

  I reach out, pinching her chin. “Which is why I told my mom I probably won’t be coming home.”

  Her lips curve. “You told your mom about us? ’Cause I have not told my parents.”

  “No, I haven’t. Just that I’m dating someone incredible.”

  She chuckles. “Don’t set me up for failure, Owen.”

  I give her a look. “I’m not.”

  She pulls her gaze from mine, and we continue eating in silence, just the roar of the waves crashing against the shore. The sun shines on us a bit, and I love how her eyes sparkle. Her makeup is light, and again with the scrubs. I’m unsure if she wears anything else. I’d love to see her in some shorts or maybe even some nice tight pants. Anything to show off her curves.

  When her phone starts to ring, she makes a face. “Oh, my dad is calling. One second,” she says as I take a bite of my burrito. I nod as she answers. “Hey, Dad. Yeah, fine. Actually, in about thirty minutes. Yeah, full day. Then work. Oh, really? That’s awesome. Tell them I’m so proud. I’ll text them both too. It’s super cool. Yeah, for sure,” she says, and her eyes are full of such happiness. I don’t know how she has been so closed off from them, but I’m thankful that’s changing. I know how much she loves her family, and they love her even more.

  When she grins widely and laughs, I smile at her. I reach over, cupping her thigh, and she leans into me, kissing my jaw. I flash her another grin before returning to eat. I love burritos.

  “I’m not sure yet. I don’t know, Dad. I just don’t want everyone to make the trip for it. It’s so pointless. I know. I don’t know. Okay. Yeah, I know. I’ve been talking to Mom about it. I want to see everyone too. Let me figure out my life. I know. I’m sorry I’m so wishy-washy. But, um, Dad, can I call you back? I’m actually out with someone, and I’m being rude on the phone. Yes, the someone is a guy,” she says, grinning at me, and I wink. “No, I will not tell you about said guy. Because! It’s new. I do think you’ll like him. I like him. No, I haven’t told Mom yet. Thanks. Okay. I miss you too. Love you.”

  She hangs up and exhales. “Sorry about that.”

  “Didn’t your dad hate me?”

  She laughs, hard. “He did, but so did I.”

  “Because you wanted me so bad. Totally different.”

  She snorts. “I guess. I’m actually kind of nervous about him finding out about you.”

  I make a face. “Why?”

  “Because he doesn’t like guys, especially after all that crap with Taco.”

  I hate Taco, and I don’t even know the fucker.

  “I know he’s worried something will happen to me.”

  “Not when I’m around,” I promise. “And you can tell him I said that. Or I will, at graduation.”

  “Ruthless,” she says, resting her chin on my shoulder.

  “Yup.” I turn to kiss her just as the door slides open and Dart announces himself.

  “Keep it in your pants. I’m out here now.”

  I kiss her anyway, and when I pull back, she’s grinning. To Dart, I say, “Fuck off. What are you doing up?”

  “You two are loud as hell. Woke me up.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Angie says, giving him an apologetic smile. “Want some churros?”

  He nods. “I do, actually.” He sits down and then points to Angie. “Did you like your plant?”

  She beams. “I did! It’s amazing! I almost didn’t want to leave her.”

  Dart blinks and looks at me. “Wow, you’re dating a crazy plant lady.”

  I nod. “A hot, crazy plant lady.”

  “The best kind of plant lady,” he says and then gets up. “I gotta take a shit.”

  I laugh as Angie shakes her head, and Dart heads inside. “He’s a character.”

  “He’s a mess,” I interject, finishing off my burrito.

  She wipes her hand on a napkin and then makes a face. “I need to wash up.”

  “Come on,” I say, and together we clean up everything and head inside. As she throws our trash away, I put our drinks on the counter and look toward the bathroom to see that Dart’s still in it. “He’s in there. You can use mine.”

  “Okay,” she says, following me through the living room. We walk into my room, and she points to the beds. “You weren’t kidding. You have two beds in here.”

  I nod as I look toward my brother’s bed. It doesn’t have bedding on it, and the whole half of the room looks bare, while mine is all set up with bedding and pictures of my family. “Yeah.”

  “Why don’t you push them together to have a huge bed?”

  I shrug. “Just in case Evan comes back, I want his space to be ready for him.”

  “That’s sweet,” she says, reaching out to hold my bicep. “I don’t think he is, though.”

  “I don’t either,” I agree on an exhale. “But just in case.”

  We share a grin, and I take her hand, putting it in mine and pulling her to the bathroom. Before we can get there, though, she stops me. “You play?”

  I don’t have to look to know she is pointing to my guitars. “I do. I don’t sing, though. Evan is the singer.”

  “I didn’t know that!”

  “Yeah. All of us play guitar. Posey and Quinn play other stuff too.”

  She walks over to the three guitars I have hanging up and runs her fingers along them. “These are beautiful.”

  “Thanks. They are all my dad’s that he’s given me.”

  She looks back at me. “You should play for me.”

  “Maybe I will when you don’t have class in ten minutes.”

  She looks at her watch and makes a face. “I could skip.” But even I don’t believe she’d do that. She makes another face. “I’m lying. I gotta go.”

  “I know you do,” I say, hooking my thumb to the bathroom.

  She heads in there, saying, “But I do want you to play for me.”

  I watch as she starts to wash her hands. “Only to serenade your naked body.”

  She side-eyes me. “That’s unfair.”

  “Is it?” I ask, grinning at her. “You want something from me, and I want you to embrace your incredible body.”

  She shakes her head. “If you think the only thing I want is to hear you play the guitar, you’ve got another thing coming. I want you just as much as you want me, Owen.”

  “Oh, I know you do,” I say to her, and she laughs, shaking her head. “What?”

  “You’re so full of yourself.”

  “Am I? Or did I feel the heat between your legs and hear your vagina screaming my name?”

  She snorts, choking on her laughter. “I can’t stand you!”

  I reach for her, bringing her into my arms and close to my body. “If you couldn’t stand me, you wouldn’t be in my arms, looking into my eyes, and being all mine.”

  She reaches up, cupping my cheeks and running her thumbs along my cheekbones. “Fine, you’re right. But still, you drive me crazy.”

  I kiss her nose. “Good thing you work for a mental health department.”

  We dissolve in laughter until our lips meet.

  Then the laughter is gone, and heat explodes between us. Since I don’t trust myself, I pull back first and kiss her nose once more. “Have a good day at school, gorgeous.”

  She flutters her lashes at me. “I’m not going to make it with you.”

  I nod, blowing out a long, loud breath as I put space between us. Her laughter runs down my spine as I pull her to the front door. Once she’s out of it and I close it, I lean my head into the door. “That makes two of us.”

  I push off the wall, and when I turn, Dart is staring at me. “What is wrong with you?”

  I shake my head. “I told her I wouldn’t have sex with her until she embraces her body, and I’m worried I might die before that happens.”

  He makes a face. “The fuck? Who says that?”

  “I do,” I groan, falling into the couch. “I want so badly for her to realize how perfect she is.”

  “So, tell her. And if she doesn’t believe it, fuck her until she does. Stop being a fucking weirdo.”

  “Thank you for that amazing motivational speech.”

  He salutes me. “Anytime. I’m going back to bed.”

  Thank God, I mutter in my head as I press my face into the pillow. When my phone sounds, I lift my head to see it’s my mom.

  Mom: I enjoy being texted after I go to bed for things I shouldn’t be trying to find when I should be sleeping. Nevertheless, I found them, I bought them, and I picked them up. I’ll bring them when I come to watch a game.

  I don’t care that Angie didn’t want me to get her those plants. I wanted to. She may be annoyed, but I know she wants them. I can’t get over how happy they make her, and I can’t wait to give them to her either. I’m beyond ready to see the excitement on her face. To be on the receiving end of that kiss. It’s gonna be killer.

  Me: LOL, my bad. But awesome. Thanks. You’re the best mom ever.

  Mom: I am, and I hope I get to meet the girl I’m getting these for. Plus, send me money. These were not cheap. But, just in case, I bought myself some too because, obviously, they’re cool.

  Me: WTF, Mom? You don’t even like plants.

  Mom: But these are a must-have, apparently. Maybe I’ll get into them.

  Me: You’re a nut.

  She sends me the total, and I send the money right away before writing her back.

  Mom: Am I? Or am I smart because this will give us something to talk about if she’s nervous when she first meets me?

  I roll my eyes; they’ll get along perfectly. They don’t need something to talk about, but I don’t say that. Also, I’m just like my mom. Some say I get my cockiness from my dad, but my mom is a badass chick.

  Me: We’ll see. She’s being a weirdo.

  Mom: Hey, the best of us are weird.

  She’s got that right. I grin as I lay my phone down and close my eyes before nuzzling my nose into the pillow. I know for a fact that I’m getting in too deep, too quick. That’s usually why I don’t hang with girls; I fuck them and leave them. For one, I’ve never really vibed with anyone the way I have with Angie. And for two, I know myself. I love love. I love the feeling it brings me, and I love spoiling the person I care for. I’m already feeling things for her, and all I want is to further those feelings in the bedroom. I want her, desperately, but I know good and well she can’t love me back until she loves herself.

  The problem is, I don’t know how in the hell I’m supposed to keep my hands, tongue, and dick away from Angela Paxton.

  But I will.

  Chapter Twenty

  Angie

  * * *

  I think back on all those times I’d watch Owen with girl after girl and think how he must be such a horndog and probably addicted to sex. I mean, he was and still is a walking sex god. He just exudes sexiness. I was actually surprised when we started dating that he didn’t push to get in my pants sooner. He had chances. While I know my opinion of him has changed and I now know he is a nice guy, that doesn’t mean I was convinced when we headed back to my place it wasn’t for sex. I even asked my place or his, and it wasn’t to hang. I wanted to do the deed, but instead of getting it on like Donkey Kong—in the dark, like I had planned—we watched Netflix until we fell asleep.

  It was completely not what I was expecting, but it was nice. I hadn’t fallen asleep with a guy in a very long time, but when I woke up, I decided that Owen was the best to sleep with. He’s so big and warm that I didn’t need a blanket. He also likes to cuddle and I love to cuddle, so it was nice to be held all night. Also, the first thing he said to me?

  Good morning, gorgeous.

  Swoon! But that wasn’t even the best part; he took me to get breakfast before school. It was so nice and fun to be with him before I headed off. When it was time for me to go, he only kissed me goodbye. He didn’t convince me to skip school and go to bed or anything along those lines. He only kissed me. That was it. It was all very surprising for me.

  But now that it’s been three weeks, I’m absolutely dumbfounded. I honestly didn’t believe Owen when he said he wouldn’t take me to bed until I would do it with the lights on or whatever he meant by what he said. But apparently Owen Adler has the patience of a saint. Or he knew he’d be gone for eleven days and wasn’t worried one bit. As for me, I’m dying. When we work out, he’s only in shorts with that ass all thick and yummy. I haven’t stayed at his house—or him at mine since that night—and it’s all becoming too much. I want him. Bad.

  Especially when he’s looking at me on FaceTime in nothing but a pair of boxers as he inhales some pasta and breadsticks. “How’s school?”

  “Good,” I say, eating my own pasta. We decided to have a dinner date over FaceTime. It’s silly, I know, but it’s nice not to eat alone. I miss him. A lot. “Everything is getting a little harder. I’m more overwhelmed by the case load since I feel as if I do nothing but deal with data at work, but then I need data for my papers. It’s insane, but I’m still carrying a 4.0.”

  “’Cause you’re wicked smart,” he says with a wink. “For real, though, that’s awesome. Way to go.”

  “Thanks,” I say with a small smile. “I’ve been watching you play. You look great out there. Even if y’all keep getting your asses handed to you.”

  “Yeah, it’s all shit. New rumor is they’re going to replace our coach.”

  “Ack, that’s not fun.”

  “Nope. I like him. He’s a good guy, but they’re looking at this younger dude.”

  I nod. “Still, that’s frustrating.”

  “It is, but whatever. I’m just gonna keep kicking ass.”

  “That’s all you can do, I guess.”

  “For sure. Dart is irritated, and Thatcher is over it. We’re all trying to stay positive, but we’re so out of play-off position, it isn’t even funny.”

  “I remember when the Assassins didn’t make it out of round one of the play-offs. It was awful. My dad was pissed and felt like shit.”

  “Yeah, I don’t like it at all. Didn’t expect my rookie year to suck.”

  “But aren’t you like third in the league for goals?”

  He nods. “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter when my team isn’t doing well.”

  My heart hurts for him. He wants so badly for everyone to be successful. He’s such a team player, when really, he doesn’t have to be. He is one of the best players on the ice, but you’d never know off the ice with how it’s never I but we. “I’m sorry.”

  “It is what it is. I get to see you in two days, so I have something to look forward to.”

  I beam at him. “I can’t wait.”

  “Me either,” he says, taking a bite of his breadstick. “Have you been following the lifting plan?”

  I nod happily. “I have, and I’m proud to say, I’ve gone up ten pounds on all my lifts, and I’ve lost fourteen pounds!”

  He grins, smacking his leg loudly. “Fuck yes, Pax!” He’s so animated with his hands. “Show me. Get up. I wanna see the bod.”

  “Stop!”

  “No, come on! Show me!”

  I bite my lip, and I kinda wanna show him. I put the phone on my nightstand and stand in front of it, pulling at my scrubs to show how much extra fabric I have now. “And look!” I say, flexing my bicep. “I’m basically stronger than you now.”

  He nods. “Absolutely. So much stronger.”

  We share a grin as I sit back down, putting him back in his place so we can eat.

  “And not to say I told you so, but I told you so.”

  I scoff. “Shut up.”

  “You know I’m right. All you had to do was ease back on the cardio and eat.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say, rolling my eyes.

  I love his smile and his little dimple. I adore his face. With so much joy in his expression, he says, “So, we’ll celebrate.”

  “Celebrate?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What? Me losing weight? That needed to be done.”

  He gives me a look of exasperation. “You worked hard. I want to celebrate you.”

  “That’s silly and unneeded.”

  “Anyway,” he says, ignoring my comment, “get out your sexiest dress, Ms. Paxton. I’m taking you somewhere special.”

  I scoff though panic sets in. “I have nothing but scrubs and sweats for the gym.”

  I refuse to tell him that all the regular clothes I have do not fit me. I couldn’t even squeeze into something and hope for the best. Everything I used to wear was very revealing, and if I put any of it on now, I’d look like a busted can of biscuits. No way am I subjecting him or myself to that. The thought of it alone is giving me anxiety.

  “Then go shopping.”

  I give him a look. “I’m broke. And, no, I don’t want your money.”

  He laughs. “I can Venmo you right now.”

  “No, sir. Thank you. We can go through a drive-through or go to the pub if you insist on going out.”

  “So you can wear scrubs? No thank you. I want you to get gussied up and go out. Kick your heels up.”

  I make a face. “I haven’t worn heels in over a year.”

  “Which is a shame because your calves are hot as hell.”

  “You’re ridiculous.”

  “And you’re beautiful,” he throws back with a wink. “Now, I’m Venmoing you.”

  “Owen Michael Adler, don’t you dare.”