She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. Our tongues tangle, and I can taste the sweet alcohol lingering between us.

“Mmmm.” I pull back and nip at her bottom lip. “Could blow off the party early.”

“Can’t,” she says with a smile.

“Why’s that?”

“I have a little surprise for you.”

“A dirty surprise?”

She laughs and wrinkles her nose. “Definitely not and when I tell you what it is, you’re going to regret saying that.”

“Alright, I give.”

She checks her phone. “Ah, perfect timing. Come on.”

I follow her back into the house and toward the front door. It opens and Heath steps through.

Chloe turns to check my expression, which has to be shocked because I’m totally blown away.

“How? When? What?” I ask as Heath steps to me. We hug and then I pull back and look him over. I haven’t seen him in months. I get home once or twice a year because the flights are so expensive, and driving takes damn near forever. “Damn. Little bro, you got tall.”

Chloe steps forward and hugs my side. “Hey, Heath.”

Heath gives my girl a once over and blushes. “Hey, Chloe. Thanks for getting me out here.”

“Were you at the game?” I ask him.

“Yeah, got in this afternoon. After the game, I went by to talk to Coach Meyers. He’s going to let me skate with the guys tomorrow morning.”

“That’s awesome.”

He nods.

I squeeze Chloe and look down at her smiling face. “You did this?”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“Thank you.” I take her mouth. My heart beats so wildly I think it might bust out of my chest to get to the owner. And she fucking owns it. “Fuck, I love you.”

Heath groans. “Can I at least get a beer before you two suck face?”

“No booze for you.”

“Lame.”

“Come on, let me introduce you to some people.”

Chloe

Watching Nathan and his brother together makes me happier than I imagined. And I imagined it being pretty great.

“Guys, this is my brother, Heath.” Nathan introduces him to everyone, and the pride in his eyes is easy to see.

“Baby Payne.” Joel stands and shakes Heath’s hand. “Let’s get you a beer.”

“Negative,” Nathan says.

“Come on,” Heath whines.

Joel adds, “One beer isn’t going to hurt him.”

“Oh, okay. Let me just give Michelle a call and see if she wants to join him.”

“Leave my little sister out of this.” Joel puffs out his chest, and I bite back a laugh.

Nathan hands me the flask discreetly. “Shit. I gotta stay sober and look out for him, don’t I?”