“It’s the neighbor’s dog.”

I look up to see Cole standing on the porch. Dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt, black fitted joggers, and a Swifts hat sitting backward on his head, he looks like an athletic ad heading my way.

I’m not prepared.

My legs weaken at the sight of him—at the smile he displays just for me. He pats Ethan on the shoulder as he struts across the yard toward me.

“Hey,” he says, stopping just inside my personal bubble.

I want to kiss him. Everything inside me wants to feel his breath against my lips again. My fingers itch to touch him, and my mouth goes dry just thinking about being covered by his.

Cole must read my thoughts because his smirk deepens.

“Hi,” I say after an awkward and obvious pause.

He chuckles. “I’m glad you came. I was starting to think you were going to bail.”

“She was!” Ethan shouts from his wrestling match with the dog.

His voice snaps me back to reality.

“Ethan, let that dog go. You’re going to be filthy, and we haven’t had dinner yet.” I step to the side of Cole. “Ethan, now.”

He releases the dog with more than a little disappointment. “It’s just a dog, Mom.”

“I know and I’m sorry. But we have to go into these nice people’s house and sit at their table, and you don’t want to smell like a dog.”

“It’s better than what Cole used to smell like after a game.” Cole’s mother stands on the porch, practically beaming. I recognize her from around town. She wipes her hands on a white dish towel. “Hi, Palmer. Hi, Ethan.”

I heave a nervous breath. “Hi, Mrs. Beck.”

She waves the towel through the air. “I’m Casey.” Her attention shifts to Ethan. “Do you like cookies?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Casey looks at me quickly for approval. I nod. After a quick wink, she turns back to my son. “Well, follow me, and we’ll wash your hands and spoil your dinner.” She smiles. “How does that sound?”

“Awesome!”

Ethan runs across the yard and up the stairs without a second thought, leaving me alone with Cole.

“Is that why you’re so rotten?” I ask Cole, grinning.

“What do you mean?”

“Your mom spoiled more than your dinner, didn’t she?” I laugh. “She spoiled you.”

He feigns surprise, making me laugh harder.

I’m relieved that things are so easy. My shoulders release some of the stress and worry they’ve been holding for, well, basically my entire life, and I breathe in the tranquility of the Beck homeplace.

“It’s so nice out here,” I say, taking in the trees and grass. “It’s like a nature reserve or something.”

“It’s very different from how I grew up, that’s for sure.”

“Why did they move here? Ohio seems so random.”