I was supposed to be on a date tonight with Jacob. Having fun. And instead I was alone eating ice cream. But I knew one way to not feel alone. I opened the gallery on my phone and looked at the pictures Sophie had taken of me. The kiss thief would definitely respond to one of these. I clicked on one of the modest ones of me in a bathing suit again and hit send. “Your turn,” I texted. I wanted to play 21 questions again. This time I’d be focused. This time I’d get information.

I waited for him to respond.

And waited.

But he didn’t take the bait. I was getting used to talking to him every day. And I felt off-kilter from his silence. Especially after that kiss yesterday.

I sighed. Alone tonight with ice cream seemed to be my fate. Maybe I didn’t just need ice cream though. I grabbed two bowls, scooped in some ice cream, and headed to my mom’s office.

“Mom?” I knocked on the door of her office.

“Come in!” she called.

I opened the door and walked in. It was more of a library than an office, really. The shelves were lined with books she’d written and books she and my dad loved. And she had a desk in the center of the room.

She looked up from her computer and smiled. “What’s this?”

“Figured you could use some writing fuel.” I handed her one of the bowls.

“Thanks, sweetie.”

I walked over to one of the bookshelves.

“You used to love climbing on that ladder and being pushed along the bookshelf.”

I smiled. “I remember.” I put my hand on one of the rungs of the ladder. I used to make Axel push me on it too.

“Is everything alright?”

I turned around. “Remember when you told me you kissed a guy after your first kiss with dad?”

“Um...yes. I did say that.”

“Did you like that guy?”

She took the slowest bite of ice cream ever and then shrugged. “Yes.”

“So you liked two guys at the same time?” I felt all twisted up inside about liking Jacob, my kiss thief, and Axel. I didn’t want to admit to my mom that I might actually like three guys at the same time. I was still hoping Jacob was my kiss thief. But if my mom liked two guys at the same time and everything had worked out okay for her...then maybe it would work out okay for me too.

“Scarlett, where is this coming from?”

“I just need to know, Mom. Please. You liked two guys at the same time?”

She nodded.

“And which book did you write about that in again?”

She pointed to the shelf behind me. “The Hunted series.”

“Can I read it now?”

“Absolutely not.”

“But, Mom.”