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After walking Danae and Jason out to her car, I come back inside to an interrogation. “Sooo, how was it?” Sam asks, eyes sparkling. “Obviously I need to know everything.”

“It was good,” I say, walking past Sam.

“By the looks of your hair, I’d say it was more than good,” Sam replies.

I freeze and resist the urge to smooth down my hair. I’d already smoothed it down in preparation for Sam and Jason’s return.Is she just messing with me?

Sam sashays by and taps the back of my head, where the longer hair of my faux hawk ends. “You missed a spot,” she says with a smirk.

I can’t help it. I reach a hand up to rub the back of my head. Sure enough, I find the piece that was sticking up out of place. The memoryof Danae’s fingers there starts to heat my blood again, so I turn toward the kitchen. “You’re so juvenile,” I call over my shoulder.

“It’s not my fault my maturity was stunted by childhood trauma,” Sam quips, halting my steps. I turn to face her. She looks like she’s joking, but I know that the jokes are sometimes real and sometimes covering a struggle underneath.

“Is being around Jason bringing up memories?” I ask quietly.

Sam shrugs. “A little. But not in a terrible way.”

I move toward Sam. “I can find another babysitting solution for when I want to take Danae on a date. You don’t have to keep doing it.”

“No way! You’re not taking my guy from me! I love that kid,” Sam says. “And I like that I can be there for him. Not that he’s opening up about deep things a lot—he’s too young and it’s all still too fresh for him to actively process his experiences. But I understand the small comments he makes and feel like I’m somewhat equipped to know how to respond. Like Danae has another person in her corner supporting Jason’s journey. That makes me feel good, like I’m doing something good with my life.”

I place my hands on Sam’s shoulders and bend my knees to meet her eyes. “You’re doing a lot of good with your life, sis. That kid is so lucky to have you as someone to look up to. I’m lucky to have you supporting me in my career and every aspect of my life. Danae is lucky to have your support. But I want you to be honest if you ever reach your limit, okay?”

“Deal,” Sam says, and I pull her into a hug. “But only if you tell me about kissing Danae.”

“You’re fired,” I joke as I playfully push her away from me. She raises one eyebrow.

“I amnotgiving you details. I’ll just say, I hope it was the last first kiss of my life. And it would be a last first kiss of epic proportions.”

Chapter twenty-four

Danae

GRIFFIN

Nothing’s wrong. Just can’t stop thinking about you. Or your perfect lips.

ME

GRIFFIN

You’re blushing, aren’t you?

ME

GRIFFIN

I only wish I was there to see it.

ME

I’m not going to answer a question today if you keep distracting me like this. I have things I need to accomplish.

GRIFFIN