He laughs now, and I hear him walking around. “I guess you can say I forgot it.”

“You didn’t forget it.” I walk to the futon and sit down, folding my legs under me. “You left it here.”

“I did,” he says. I hear covers in the background and wonder if he’s sliding into his bed. I wonder what his house looks like. I know from just the lobby that it must be gorgeous and also worth a fortune.

“Why?” I ask. Getting up, I walk to the table to get his sweater and bring it back to the futon with me, putting it beside me.

“Would you have taken it if I had handed it to you?” he asks, and I don’t have to answer. “Exactly.”

“So you just left your phone here?” I ask, shaking my head.

“Yup, the passcode is one, two, three, four,” he says without skipping a beat. “I want to have you and Dylan over at my house.”

“What?” I whisper.

“I want you and Dylan to come and hang out here tomorrow after work,” he says. “I can throw a couple of steaks on the grill, and we can watch a movie.” My stomach does this weird thing where it feels like it’s sinking but then flutters. “Or we can go out. It’s up to you.”

“Justin, I—” I start to form the words.

“Caroline, there is something here,” he says softly. “You can pretend it’s not, but tonight when I kissed you.” His voice goes even lower. “It was everything.”

“I just don’t think …” All these reasons are there, practically written on the wall, yet nothing comes out of my mouth.

“Stop thinking,” he says. “Tomorrow, I’ll come get you guys. We can go out for breakfast before work, and then you let me spoil you by making you dinner and taking care of you for once. Come over and sit down. I’ll get you some wine if that will help,” he says, chuckling, and I laugh also just a little. “Come on, sweetheart, say yes,” he whispers. “Take a chance on me. I promise you won’t regret it.”

I want to say no. I should say no, but I close my eyes, and whisper, “Yes.”

“Thank you,” he gushes. “Thank you. Now, go to sleep, and I’ll be there in the morning.”