Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71303 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71303 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Somewhere deep in the back of my mind, a little voice tells me that I’m manufacturing reasons to keep seeing these guys, but I tell that voice to be quiet.
Instead, I listen to Cam when he says, “You know you want to,” and to Wyatt, when he brings the back of my hand to his lips and presses a kiss there, his beautiful blue-green eyes on mine the entire time. It’s a potent reminder of how good those lips can make me feel.
Goldfish lets out a short bark, reminding us of his presence. His tail is still wagging as he trots in circles between our legs.
“Goldfish thinks you should go out with us again, too,” Cam says.
“I guess I can’t argue with Goldfish.”
I’m rewarded with two wide smiles and then two kisses, each brief but tantalizing.
“Let us know what night you’re available,” Cam says, and then my handsome neighbors disappear the way they came.
We end up going out again two nights later.
I don’t want to lie to Jessie about what I’m doing, but I don’t want her to know I’m dating the men either, because she might think something could come of it. Instead, I tell her that Cam and Wyatt are helping me with a work project, something that sounds so boring she doesn’t bother to ask any questions.
In reality, the night is anything but boring. After delicious wood-fired pizza at a trendy eatery, they take me to an arcade, where I spend nearly two hours feeling like a kid again.
I lose track of all the games we play, but there’s auto racing, air hockey, and several times when I barely notice what game we’re playing at all, because one or the other of the men has their arms around me at a machine. Those are the best games.
After an epic skee-ball tournament, we take our game credits to the redemption shop and pick out silly souvenirs.
“I feel guilty coming to these fun places without Jessie,” I tell them as we walk out to the car, both of their arms around me in the dark parking lot.
“I’d love to come again with Jessie along,” Wyatt says, “but it’s also nice having time alone with you.”
There is something refreshing about going out and having fun without having to worry about Jessie’s enjoyment of an experience. It’s probably something I should have prioritized earlier on for myself, but I never realized it was something I needed until now.
After Wyatt’s mention of alone time, I’m fully expecting that they’ll drive me back to their house for “dessert,” but instead, Cam turns down my street and pulls into my driveway.
“The date’s over?” I’m unable to hide my surprise.
He puts the car in park and turns to face me, taking my hand. “We are very much looking forward to another night like the one we shared last time, but we worry that it might have been too much too fast.”
“We want you to know that this is serious,” Wyatt says. “We’re not just fooling around.”
I feel like leaning fully into the kid I got to be at the arcade tonight and showing my disappointment by pouting, but instead, I tell them I understand. Because I do.
Maybe it was too much the other night, as amazing as it was. I’m frustrated, because I want more from them, but I appreciate their restraint. Maybe this means they do see me differently than the other women they date, but I try not to overthink it.
When they walk me to my door, I don’t think about anything at all, except how good their kisses taste and feel, and how I can’t wait to see them again.
CHAPTER 33
STELLA
The next time I hear from Jessie’s dad, he surprises me by saying he’s planning to visit her in person on the weekend, if the timing works for us.
“Sure,” I text back.
“I’m hoping we can all go out together?” he writes. “Maybe to a park if it’s nice.”
I suspect he isn’t sure whether he’ll be comfortable being alone with her. Kids change so much so fast at her age. Not that long ago, she could be fussy and sometimes unreasonable, and maybe he’s worried that he’ll need help to deal with her.
But I find out that’s not the reason he asked me to come along.
While Jessie plays on the playground at one of the nice parks nearby, Brandon asks me to sit with him on a bench.
“I wanted to talk to you privately about something,” he says. There are kids yelling and having fun all around us, and we’re far enough away from the play structure that Jessie can’t overhear.
“If you’re open to it,” he says, “I’m seriously considering moving closer to you.”
“Oh, that’s a surprise.”
“I understand that you had to leave, and I’m glad you got away from a bad situation with your parents, but I didn’t realize how much I’d miss you.”