“But,” she starts to say, and I pull her tighter against me. “He’s never had a friend sleep over.”

“Sweetheart,” I say. Rolling her to her back, she opens her legs for me, and I lean down and kiss her.

“We are not even dropping the puck, Stone,” she says. “Can you imagine Michael catching us?”

“Chances are, he’ll know exactly what we're doing. He caught his parents in the act two or three years ago.”

“Oh my God,” she says, and I bury my face in her neck and turn to the side. It takes her a while, but she finally falls asleep.

`*`

“Are you sure you have everything?” Caroline asks Dylan for the tenth time, and he looks at me for help.

“Mom, I have everything, and if I need anything, I’m going to ask Allison or Max,” he says.

“You can call whenever you want,” Max says by the door.

“We are going to pick him up at around ten,” Caroline says and then looks at Dylan. “We have church.”

“Kiss your mom,” I say, and he comes over and hugs her around the waist, and she whispers to him. Then he walks to Michael, and they walk out with Max looking at us.

“I’ll send you texts,” he says and looks at Caroline. “It’ll be okay.” Then he leans in and pretends to whisper, “I’d feel bad, too, if I had to be alone with Justin.”

I push his shoulder while Caroline laughs. “Get out.” Shoving him out the door, I can still hear the sound of his laughter through the door after I slam it shut.

“What are the chances that we don’t go out for a date?” Caroline asks, and I see her fidgeting with her fingers.

“Zero,” I say. “Go get ready.”

“But …” she starts to say.

“But nothing. Go get dressed. I’ll use Dylan’s shower,” I tell her. “Be ready in an hour.”

“Now that Dylan is gone, we can shower together.” She tries not to laugh, but she sees me glare, and the laughter escapes her mouth. She turns and walks to my bathroom and closes the door.