I’d been correct when I’d assumed that Hailey wouldn’t let the invitation to dinner go unanswered. I hadn’t expected her to have Sean ask Alex about it, though.

“He’ll probably be on his best behavior since he’s not drinking tonight.” Alex reached over and laced his fingers through mine so he could hold my hand.

“How do you know he’s not drinking?” I asked, watching Alex’s thumb smooth over the back of my hand.

“We’ve got a fitness test tomorrow,” he said. “And I’m sure he doesn’t want to fail it.”

“How’s that going to go for you?” I asked, glancing at his knee. It was wrapped in a brace, and it still looked painful even though Alex was barely limping anymore.

“No test for me,” Alex replied. “Just physical therapy for a while.”

“I can’t believe you hurt it during a practice,” I teased.

“Yeah, yeah.” He grinned. “At least I got out of that softball commitment, though. Now we have Tuesdays and Fridays.”

“And we’re spending it at Hailey and Sean’s,” I replied with a sigh.

“It won’t be that bad,” he said, laughing a little. “We’ll have dinner and then leave.”

“I don’t understand how you’re still friends with him.” I leaned my head against the headrest. “He’s a terrible person.”

“I’m not,” he said, glancing at me. “But Hailey is your friend, so I thought you’d want to go.”

“Oh,” I murmured in surprise.

“I had no idea what an asshole Sean was before their party,” Alex said. “But I don’t usually make a habit of hanging out with douchebags. It’s not really my thing.”

“Right,” I murmured, thinking back to the way he’d handled the man who’d groped me at Hailey’s party.

We pulled up to the house a few minutes later, and as soon as Alex turned off the truck, I reached for my door handle, but I didn’t get very far, because Alex was pulling my hand in the opposite direction.

“Hey,” he said quietly, smiling at me. “Come here.”

I leaned toward him and let out a small sigh as his free hand brushed my hair away from my face.

“I’ve missed you,” he said against my lips.

The kiss was short, but it held the same impact as the last one we’d shared at my house. I wouldn’t have been surprised if little cartoon hearts had floated out of my ears and fluttered around my head as soon as he pulled his lips from mine.

“I missed you, too,” I replied, leaning forward to brush my lips against his again. “Why don’t we skip this, and we can go back to my apartment—”

My words were cut off by his groan, and I laughed.