Now, he looked amused. “How do you suggest we do that when we’re going to be in the same room more often than not?”

“We both know there are ways to avoid someone even if they’re standing right next to you.”

This got her another long look from him, and she lifted her chin. “I suggest we start right now.”

When he didn’t respond to that, she picked up her glass of wine and drank it all. Liquid courage and all that. “I’m going to take your silence as agreement.” She set down the now-empty glass. “So, let’s call this happy reunion over and done so you can let me get back to my life.”

“It’s seven o’clock, and you’re in your PJs drinking wine and eating ice cream by the gallon. And your Netflix screen is flashing ‘do you want to keep watching’ messages.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Maybe my social life is so full that this is the first night I’ve been alone in forever. Maybe I just want to Netflix and chill without talking.”

He just looked at her for a long beat, not saying a word, but she could once again see a tiny smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. This time, the expression was devoid of sarcasm and far more genuine. Warm, even. Which led to other thoughts about that sexy mouth of his.

Wait. Stop. Dammit. Note to self: no more wine while Diego’s in town!

Instead of leaving, he took the few steps to close the space between them, making her suck in a breath because there’d always been something about being this close to him, something that constantly had her body humming just beneath her skin with anticipation and hunger and need.

She’d told herself it was because he’d been her first love, and a girl never forgot that guy. But why in the world did she still feel it? Managing to not take a step back—or let’s be honest, a step into him—she kept herself still except to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. “What?”

“We’ll play this your way,” he said quietly. “We’ll do our best to avoid each other.”

“Good.”

He nodded once. “But—”

“No buts,” she said quickly.

“But…” he went on, undeterred, “if you ever want to Netflix and chill without talking with a warm body next to yours, let me know.”

She was still staring at him in utter shock when he gave a quick shake of his head like he was amused and also annoyed by both of them, before walking out and quietly closing the door behind him.

Chapter 3

Diego might have lived in San Diego for the past few years, but he still had friends in San Francisco. He’d grown up here, in more ways than one, and sometimes it was the early connections one made that stuck more than others.

Wes had been Diego’s childhood best friend. He now ran a mechanic shop in the Castro district, and it was he who’d lent Diego the Harley. After coercing Diego into buying him a late dinner, Diego had taken the Harley on a long drive throughout the city. Because, for some reason, he’d thought that going down Memory Lane would be a good idea.