Every second we’re not kissing.

Mm.

Shiver.

He reached out and touched my thigh.

It was brief.

It was sweet.

And another shiver.

“I get you’re shy,” he continued gently. “I get this is new, even if it feels old. But don’t get into your head about little things, honey. I’m just drivin’ you home, glad we’re movin’ shit in the right direction, lookin’ forward to taking you out tonight, and that’s all that’s on my mind.”

“Okay,” I said softly.

“That and to ask if you’ve had anything to eat.”

“Just coffee.”

“You want me to swing through someplace?”

I knew he was gorgeous.

I knew he was brave.

I knew he owned a Jeep.

I knew I wanted him.

I sensed he was nice, what with how cool he’d been through all of this (mostly).

But man, it felt great knowing he wasn’t just nice.

He was seriously super nice.

And I could murder a bagel, but I could do that mostly to draw out the time I spent with him.

He was busy, however, and that’d be uncool.

“I have stuff at home,” I told him, not exactly the truth, since I made a grocery list the day before, but I didn’t go out and get any of it.

I still could scrounge something up.

“Right,” he said, then he asked, “You tell your dad he’s on his own tonight?”

Ugh.

Another joy killer.

“No,” I answered and explained, “The less time I give him to hassle me about it, the better. I’ll tell him later.”

“Right,” he muttered.

Okay.

Well, there was something to talk about.

Not that I wanted to talk about it.

But it was something we should discuss.

“We need to talk about him, Axl,” I noted.

“We will tonight,” he agreed. “Or maybe tomorrow. Maybe the day after.” He paused. “What I’m saying is, it’d be good to have some time with just us before I get aggravated about your father.”

Oh boy.

“Okay,” I gave in, but importantly pointed out, “Though, just to say, when we talk about it, like you said, he is my father.”

He glanced at me then reached my way, not to touch my thigh, with his palm up. Thus, I knew he wanted my hand.

I gave it to him.

Then he rested our clasped hands on my leg and said, “It won’t be you I’m aggravated with. It’s important you get that, Hattie. I told you when I was bein’ a dick to you, I understand the pull a parent has, even when you wish they didn’t have it. Yeah?”

I had not forgotten what he’d said about his dad.

But I also kinda did.

“Do your parents live close?” I asked.

“Cherry Creek.”

“Oh.”

Yup.

That was close.

And a ritzy neighborhood.

The monogrammed notepad was even further explained.

Axl kept going.