But I don’t let him. I step forward, grab him by his T-shirt and pull him in. I kiss him, and at first he sort of gasps in surprise.

But then his lips soften against mine and we sort of settle into the kiss. His hands find my waist and I weave my fingers into his hair.

When we break apart I say, “I think I am falling for you too.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sara

My phone blares. I jolt awake. I pick it up from my nightstand, catching the time off the clock: 3:30 am.

I tap Ignore.

Next to me, Robbie mumbles, but doesn’t wake up. Since Tiffany is out of town visiting her boyfriend, I invited him to sleep over. Nothing happened, I mean, we kissed more of course, and cuddled. But nothing else physical. And we didn’t even talk about what we were, what this meant.

I snuggle back up next to him. Maybe I will just enjoy this moment, and figure out all those questions tomorrow. How very unlike me.

It is silent for a moment, and then my phone starts ringing again. I swear to God.

I tap the green button and hop down from my bed. “Braden, it is three o’clock in the morning. Stop calling me.”

“Saaaaara,” he whines. “Why don’t you answer my texts? What if it was about the app?”

“Is it?” I ask.

“No,” he says. “But—”

“Braden, I will talk to you tomorrow.”

“No, we have to talk now. C’mon, I’m right outside.”

“You’re what?”

“Just let me in, and we can talk it out.”

“Go home, Braden.”

“I’m not leaving until you come out.” He pounds on the door, and I think I can hear him both on the phone and in real life.

“Sara!” he yells. And yes, I can definitely hear that without the phone. He is not outside, like downstairs, he is right outside my suite door. He must’ve walked into the building behind someone.

Jesus. I throw on my robe and head outside.

The front door is practically shaking from his incessant knocking.

I yank it open. “Go home.”

Braden is wearing a suit. Or at least the remains of it. His tie is undone, and his shirt is half-buttoned.

“I’ve been thinking,” he says, leaning against the door frame for balance. “And I have decided we should get back together.”

“We should what?” I recoil, my muscles tightening. Fight or flight.

“You and me.” He gestures sloppily. “We should start dating again.”

“No, I heard what you said... What do you mean, you decided?”

“Well...” He looks around, as if trying to figure out how else to explain what’s happening. “I decided I can forgive you for embarrassing me at the fundraiser. I still think the benefits of our relationship outweigh the negatives.”