Page 38

“What’s not to like?”

“This is the same woman you called a pesky know-it-all?”

I shrugged. Her intelligence was one of the many things Ilikedabout Andi, not exactly a deal breaker. Pretending it had annoyed me had been the best coping mechanism I had at the time.

“Well, I guess one of the keys to happiness is a bad memory. She seems lovely. At least when she’s not wiping the floor with you.”

Chapter 9 – Andi

Feeling giddy after spending the afternoon with Ty hadn’t been in my plans. Sure, I liked him, probably more than I should, but the effervescent lightness was unexpected. New and delicate, like bubbles I didn’t want to pop.

Hearing the little girls call him coach made all my eggs drop out of my ovaries like an elevator gone bad. And I didn’t even think I wanted kids. But he was adorable with them, and it was fun to see a different side of the gruff, competitive man I’d grown to admire.

Tamra: How was the MEAT up? Tasty?

Melena: It’d better not taste like defeat. We still need to WIN on Thursday. Keep your panties on.

I chuckled as I read through their comments. Tamra’s opening salvo on our group text shouldn’t have surprised me. But Melena piling on did. Usually quiet, I’d been able to prick her into pushing back a few times, but her normal policy with me and Tamra was calm acceptance.

I bit my lip, debating my response.

Andi: Innocent as pie. I’m still ready to dominate next trivia night.

Tamra: CHERRY pie? Just so long as you come out on TOP.

Melena: Don’t let lust win.

I’d typed out “What about love?” in jest before I could stop myself. My finger hovered over thesendbutton. Did I mean it? I believed in love, but my time with Ty was too new, too delicate to label. We’d barely scratched the surface of what it meant to be friends, let alone lovers.

Then again, I’d known Ty off and on for years. Hung out at his games when he and Jimmy played together. He’d been to our gran’s house for dinner more times than I could count when we were teens. True, he’d always been attached at the hip to Jess, and we’d never dated, but their relationship hadn’t stopped me from dreaming.

As an adult, he hit every note. Maybe grumpy and competitive at times, but those hints of sweetness were still there. Watching him with his niece reminded me of all the times he’d been kind to a younger me. At his root, Ty was a good man. Caring, hardworking, smart, and with a body that wouldn’t quit.

I could feel myself getting serious quickly. Probably too quickly. But did he feel the same?

I deleted my draft. Committing that much, even in text to my friends, didn’t feel right. Yet.

I gulped. It was theyetI mentally attached to my statement that scared me. Was Ty fundamentally decent? Absolutely. But he’d already demonstrated the ability to blow hot and cold with me. Mostly cold. Protecting myself a while longer, holding back until I was sure of him, made sense. Giving too much of myself too soon had only led to heartbreak in the past. Unequal affection was not what I wanted for my future.

Andi: A little lust never hurt anyone.

So false, but maybe something they’d buy.

Melena: Tell me that after you slip and fall on his

.

Playful threats aside, Tamra and Melena would have my back. I had nothing to fear. Except my own runaway feelings.

***

Shelly’s T-shirt on Monday morning proclaimedcleverly disguised as a responsible adultand I smiled at the sentiment.

“Good morning.”

The older woman looked up from a sudoku book. “Good morning, Andi. Have a nice weekend?”

I nodded, unable to help shifting a glance to Ty’s empty seat. “I did.”