Coop looked at her. “I’m hiding for as long as I can.”

She sighed. “Some parents get to be proud of their kids.”

“Some kids don’t have Coach Kinne wanting to punch them out.”

She patted his arm. “I’m sure he won’t touch your handsome face.”

“I’m more worried about my ass, I mean my butt.”

“If it gets ugly between the two of you, I can always step in.” Assuming she was still someone Keith listened to. Or cared about.

twenty-three

Thaddeus knew he had it bad. The make-out session with Unity had changed everything for him. In those few minutes of mind-blowing kissing, he’d let down his guard and now he couldn’t put it back up. Ironically, his guard was the only thing that would stay down—just thinking about Unity got him hard in about two seconds, a situation made all the more awkward when he was at work. Worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Their quick daily texts were a poor substitute to seeing her in person. Or even talking on the phone. But he refused to act like some lovesick kid. He was a man who knew how to handle himself and act with restraint.

All of which sounded great, but didn’t explain why he was pacing in his living room when what he really wanted to do was call her and ask if he could drive over to see her.

“Note to self,” he muttered. “Next time, find a woman who lives on my side of the mountains.”

His phone buzzed. He lunged for it, nearly slamming his shin into the coffee table. Yup, he had it so bad.

Are you still at work?

He studied the text, grinning like a fool because it was her. God, he was an idiot. No. I came home early. “Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you and getting a hard-on. I literally had to stay at my desk for an extra ten minutes before I could leave.”

I thought maybe we could hang out.

He glanced at his watch. It was nearly four. By the time he got out of Bellevue and onto I90, it would be close to four thirty.

I could be there by six or six fifteen.

I’m glad you said that because I suddenly thought how awkward this would be if you had a date with someone else.

He read the text, but had no idea what she was talking about. Before he could ask, his doorbell rang.

He crossed to the foyer and opened the door to find Unity standing in the hallway. She had a covered casserole dish in one hand and a large tote bag slung over her shoulder.

“Surprise,” she said softly, looking both happy and nervous. “Good idea or bad idea?”

She was here? He stared at her for a second before smiling and pulling her inside.

“Great idea, but I would have come over there.”