There’s nothing this kid loves more than donuts, and I thank God I had the forethought to get them. She’s gone in the blink of an eye, leaving Jessica and I alone.

I reach out, wrapping my hand around her wrist and pulling her back up onto the bed. A soft laugh escapes her before the moment shifts. I need to kiss her, to know that what we shared wasn’t nothing.

“Tonight, I’m sending her to my sister’s and then I am going to make love to you,” I tell her.

Her finger slips against my lips. “Is that so?”

I raise one brow, challenging her to rebuke me. “Is that a no?”

“What about Amelia? About all the reasons we have?” she asks.

What Oliver said about which one being worth more is ringing in my head. I’ll lose her again, but isn’t loving her again, no matter the time I get, worth it? Looking at her, there’s no question anymore.

“This is between us. I know it’s not forever, so we have to be careful.”

“We don’t have to tell anyone,” she agrees.

“This is just for us. We’ll take what we can, and no one will ever know.”

She watches me, looking for something, and then nods. “Okay. Tonight.”

My lips touch hers, and I can’t remember the last time I looked forward to the night.

“You owe me,” I tell Stella as she moves around her loft, putting things away.

“My debts are all paid up to you, dear brother. I can’t take her tonight because I’m busy avoiding your father.”

Yeah, sure, he’s my father.

“Stella, I swear to God, I ask you for nothing, but I’m asking now.”

“You ask me for shit all the time,” she points out.

I was banking on her helping me. She always helps, especially when it comes to Melia. Of course, the one time I decide to throw caution to the wind and let my dick decide the direction, this happens.

“Okay, but you bailed on her the other night.”

She drops the shirt she was folding, glaring at me. “Are you kidding? I was stuck in a storm! I didn’t bail on her, and I swear to God, Grayson Parkerson, if you even insinuated that to her, I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life.”

My sister, who weighs a whole buck twenty, couldn’t do anything, but the look she’s giving me does inject a healthy dose of fear.

“I would never.”

Her heavy breath falls from her lips in a rush. “Good. I’m sorry I can’t take her. You know I love having her.”

“What plans do you have?” I ask.

“None of your business. What plans do you have?”

“None of your business,” I echo.