Zoey watches Chunky but hisses at me, “I just found out about this an hour ago!”

I laugh, knowing Zoey too well. “That means that you’ve had an hour to obsess over whether he would show and what to do about it. Don’t tell me you haven’t been thinking about it.”

Zoey stops and blinks like an owl realizing for the first time that it can spin its head fully around. “I didn’t . . . haven’t . . .”

“You really didn’t think about it?” I pry, not believing her. But then another idea strikes me. “If not a plan, what were you thinking about, Zoey?” Her cheeks pinken, and based on that alone, I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but I have to hear her say it.

I know it’s greedy, but I want to be something she dedicates that sexy mind to figuring out, thinking up imaginary situations and playing them out like movies in her mind, replaying our conversations and kisses, and getting to know me on her own terms by filing my information in her mental filing cabinet. I bet it’s one of those giant ones with an antique card catalog behind double brass doors.

Finally, she looks up at me, her eyes screwed up with courage. “You. I was thinking about you.”

There’s so much she doesn’t say, but she doesn’t need to say it. Instead, I pull her close again and kiss her tenderly because I need to taste the courage on her lips. “Thank you.”

Zoey smiles hazily but then finds her prickly grit and pushes me off. “Don’t get all cocky. I was mostly imagining how stupid you’ll look when you get hurt after I warned you, threatened you, and basically begged you to leave me alone for your own good.”

I mock flex, acting nonchalant and macho. “I’m not exactly known for doing things for my own good,” I start, keeping up the machismo act before breaking at her concerned look. “Nah . . . you know me. I get my annual physical, drive the speed limit, eat healthy. Hell, I even put up the basket at the grocery store. I’m a good guy, if I say so myself.”

But staying away from Zoey doesn’t feel good. It feels wrong. I want to be with her, closer to her, inside her in so many ways. I slip my hand around hers, and shoulder to shoulder, we watch Chunky running around.

“I think you’re a good guy too,” Zoey says after a bit, so I know she’s been thinking about us. Her decree sounds promising, but it’s not until she puts her arm around my waist and snuggles into my side that I breathe. I take the win, staying close as we slowly work our way over to Sebastian.