“Not anymore. I’m back.” Cooper appeared in the doorway behind Simon, throwing his arm over his brother’s shoulders. “Just another lady friend calling to congratulate me and say they’ll write me while I’m gone. Ah, the ladies. They can’t help themselves.”

Simon grabbed Cooper’s arm and pulled, twisting his body so that in a matter of seconds he had the youngest Hamilton brother in a headlock. Cooper grunted and tried to pull free, but Simon was a few inches taller and wider through the chest. “If only the ladies could see you now.”

“You’re just jealous.” Cooper’s voice was strangled and tight. “’Cause no girls ever pay you any attention.”

Simon finally let him go. “I only need one to pay me attention. She’s all that matters.” Our eyes met for the briefest of seconds, and my heart jumped. No. It wasn’t a jump. More like a tiny fraction of a . . . shift. Because Simon making my heart jump while I was standing there with Jamie’s arm around me would be weird. Plus, I knew who Simon was talking about. Jamie had told me all about his dinosaur-bone-digging girlfriend, Karen. She was the she. Not me. My heart was just being stupid. I leaned closer into Jamie’s side. “Hey, come talk to me,” I said to Jamie.

He followed me into the living room. Once we were alone, I leaned up and, with a hand on either side of his face, pressed my lips against his. He was surprised at first, I could tell, but he quickly warmed to the kiss, pulling me closer with an arm across the small of my back.

“What was that for?” His words were soft, close to my ear.

“I don’t know, I . . . Dave called me your girlfriend earlier. I mean, I know he was joking, but you didn’t correct him.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Is it too soon? I know it’s only been a couple of weeks.”

I bit my lip. “And four days.”

He still held me close, my hands pressed against his chest. “I can tell you this,” he said. “I don’t want to be seeing anyone else.”

I shook my head. “I don’t either.”

“So . . . we keep dating, then. Only each other.” He smiled.

This. This was what it felt like. Not stupid little heart jumps over weird, unintentional eye contact. Chloe was right. I had landed the big fish. There was no way I was screwing that up. I leaned up and kissed Jamie again. “Yes. Good plan.”

Jamie: Dude. I need help.

Simon: Are you texting just me?

Jamie: I want you to keep this between us.

Simon: Okay. You have my attention.

Jamie: I need help with Lane.

Simon: Explain.

Jamie: We went out last night. Dinner and then to the bookstore.

Simon: And?

Jamie: She’s a book person.

Simon: Okay.

Jamie: I’m not a book person.