A flood of euphoria fills me from head to toe as I look up at him. He wants to kiss me. While I’ve had men want to kiss me before, it’s not been like this. It’s never felt so honest, so genuinely like they are so into me that they just want to kiss me. Not get me to bed, not manipulate the moment in some way. Just kiss me.

I smile. “That’s funny.”

“Why is it funny?”

“Because that’s basically all I’ve thought about since I left you on Sunday.”

His smirk melts me. My knees may no longer be attached to my body, but I can’t take my eyes off his to check.

“That’s all you’ve thought about?” he asks. “If that’s all you’ve been thinking about, I didn’t do a very good job.”

The tiny sliver of air between us grows hot, amplifying every move that either of us makes.

“I thought you did a great job,” I say, licking my lips. “But if you’d like a second chance to—”

“This internet freaking sucks!” Ethan’s voice reaches the foyer moments before he does. “Mom?”

Ethan enters the room just as Cole takes a giant step back. Ethan grins.

“What are you guys doing?” he asks.

I look at Cole, my heart beating too hard to select words to respond with. Without missing a beat, Cole smoothly turns to Ethan.

“Hey, buddy,” he says. “I was telling your mom that the bowling alley is packed. We can still go down there, but there was no parking when I drove by.”

Ethan makes a face. “My friends are all online and want me to play with them.” He looks at me. “Is that okay?”

“Well, you are the one that invited Cole for a corn dog . . .”

“Like you care.” Ethan laughs. “I’ll still eat with you. But maybe we can just hang out here and I can play my games? Please?”

I turn to Cole. “What do you think? This was a thing between the two of you.”

He acts like he’s warring over the decision. “I’ll be a bit devastated, but I guess it’s okay.”

“Awesome!” Ethan fist pumps. “Holler at me when dinner is ready, okay?”

But before I can answer, he’s already closing his bedroom door.

“He invites me over and then leaves me with you?” Cole laughs. “That kid is my favorite kid ever.”

I laugh too. “I don’t mind him myself.”

“What do you want to do about dinner? You haven’t eaten, have you?”

“No. I can just make something here.” I head into the kitchen with Cole on my heels. “I don’t know what we have, but I’ll figure it out.”

“Isn’t there a place we can order from?”