“That’s cool.”

“She’d like you.”

I’m not sure what makes him think that, but it makes me smile. “I’m sure I’d like her too. Especially since it sounds like she enjoys picking on her big brother.”

He grins. “What about you? Any boyfriends?”

“A few in high school, none that lasted very long.”

“How come?” He touches a strand of my hair that’s splayed out near his hand, wrapping it around his index finger.

“I was a little bit fickle and I had a habit of jumping in before I got to know them, and once I did…”

With a smirk, he pulls my hair lightly. “You didn’t like what you found.”

“Something like that.”

“Is that why you threw up the block downstairs earlier when I kissed you?”

I feel the blush creep up my neck and my ears burn. “Let me explain—”

“Nah, it’s cool. I don’t usually jump into things so quickly either. I mean, I’ve hooked up with girls and done the one-night stand thing…” He stops and makes a face. “I’m doing a terrible job of explaining, but what I’m trying to say is that even though we don’t know each other very well yet, you seem like a cool chick. I feel so comfortable with you, like we’ve known each other a really long time.”

“Same.” I scoot closer to him, prepared to kiss him and make up for pulling away earlier. I may not be ready to have sex with him, but kissing… I want more of that.

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. I breathe him in. He smells like laundry soap and chlorine and something that’s just him.

He pulls back and I tilt my head up and lean in. “I’m really glad I met you,” he says and bops me on the nose. “Ready to sleep?”

I pause and he climbs up the bed and pulls down the covers. I get underneath and he goes to turn off the light and then gets in on the other side. He pulls off his T-shirt and tosses it on the floor, then lays down.

My eyes have barely closed when he says, “Tell me about these times you allegedly saw me last year.”

“I thought you wanted to sleep.”

“Bedtime stories, babe.”

“What do you want to know?” I ask with a laugh.

“The usual stuff. Where were we, who were you with, how hot did I look, what were you wearing?”