Page 8 of 27 Kisses

He laughs, and I tell my dick to stand down. “No. An actual TARDIS—I mean, not actual actual— It’s for a wedding.”

I snort. “Why would someone want a TARDIS in their wedding?”

“No clue.” He stares at me, and I should look away before Mrs. Weppler sees us mooning over each other. “God, I miss you so much.”

“You know where to find me, Garrett. This isn’t the big city.” I clear my throat, but my voice still sounds rough. “I miss you too. Something fierce. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.” He grabs his empty cart and stares off. “I don’t want to argue.”

The silence is heavy with all the words he’s not saying and the effort to hold them in. Words we’ve said over and over. “Dinner?” I ask.

He hesitates, and I curse myself for hoping.

I shake my head. Not needing to hear the words. “It’s fine?—”

“What time?”

“Six?”

He smiles, and I can’t help the corresponding grin on my face. Now who’s the lovesick fool?

“I’m afraid I have ulterior motives,” I say before we give ourselves away.

“God, I hope so.”

And just like that, I feel lighter. “Not that. Well, not just that. It’s Lanie.”

“Lanie?” He straightens, concern etched in the lines of his forehead. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine, love.” But I can’t keep the worry from my voice. How much should I tell him? “Sorry to scare you. I’m just not good at this part.”

“What part?”

“Being both a mother and a father for her. She needs her ma—” I shake my head. Garrett used to blame me for the car accident. I’m the one who survived, so I did a fair amount of blaming myself. But we’ve worked through our issues.

Jane’s wedding. Garrett and I working through our issues. Over and over again.

I shut those thoughts down.

“You’re doing fine, Aidyn.” Garrett touches my arm. “What’s going on?”

“I’m probably overreacting. You know how I get.”

He doesn’t laugh. “Tell me.”

I sigh. “I had to ground her last week. I blame the boyfriend.”

“Is she fighting you on it? This is the guy from her math class, Riley, right?”

“It is. And she’s doing what she needs to do. It’s just…” I blink rapidly. Why am I such a mess?

Garrett steps closer and places his hands on my arms. I should push him away—anyone could see us. But I can’t.

I clear my throat. “Lanie wants to learn how to drive.”

Once the pie is in the oven, I take off the oven mitts and lean against the counter. The encounter with Garrett is still on my mind. The strength of his hands on my shoulders. Anchoring me while my lovesick heart soared. Emily and I were in love. It was sweet and romantic and wonderful.

Loving Garrett is different. He’s like a tornado. Powerful. Passionate. Real. Tearing my world apart and torching it in the process. The need to be with him, to have him, burns through me with a ferocity that scares me. What if it burns away just as quickly?