I reach for him and grab the waistband of his sweats. Then I tug him until he’s hovering over me.

“Did what work?” I whisper.

He leans down and wraps me up in his arms. He rolls me on top of him, then presses my body against his so hard that it’s difficult to breathe.

But I don’t mind. Not even a little bit.

Cole nibbles my bottom lip until I giggle and then slides his tongue in my mouth. He rolls me onto my back and kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before.

And I kiss him back. Of course I do. How could I not?

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE PALMER

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

PALMER

No. He left before Ethan got up,” I say to Val. I wave at the trashman as I pull into Skoolie’s. “We thought it was best if he didn’t do a walk of shame in front of Ethan.”

I laugh at the idea. It doesn’t seem like that is what it would be at all. But after spending the night wrapped around each other—and in and on and under each other, kissing and talking and laughing like teenagers—it seemed like the best solution for him to be gone before Ethan woke up.

Thank God Ethan is a very deep sleeper.

“So, now what?” Val asks. “You just see him when you see him or what?”

I pull into the driveway. A bubble of anticipation mixed with a dose of anxiety rises in my stomach.

“Well, no,” I say. “He’s actually coming over again tonight. Ethan will be gone, so we’re going on a date, I guess, and having a conversation.”

A conversation. I take a deep breath.

If I don’t consider it too deeply, I think it’s going to be fine. Maybe he just wants to clarify boundaries or check in on how I’m doing since he knows that this thing we’ve been doing wasn’t necessarily on my radar. Not with him, anyway.

But who am I kidding? Of course I overthink it.

Tonight could go so many ways. In a fantasy world, I’d love for him to tell me he wants a real relationship with me. He did mention having an affinity for Bloomfield.

But is that even possible? Is it too far-fetched to hope for the conversation to go that way? Am I setting myself up for heartbreak?

“Why didn’t you just do that in the middle of the night? What better way to have a state-of-the-relationship thing when his thing is . . .” She laughs. “Okay. I get your point. Probably better to do it tonight.”

I laugh and park my car next to Kirk’s. “For sure. We need a little time apart this morning to clear our heads.”

“You mean you need some time to clear your head.” Val sighs. “Don’t do this, Palm. Don’t overthink it.”

“Too late.”