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My phone buzzed with an incoming message, and I bit back the tiny thrill. It could just be Tamra confirming our next dance class. Or …

Ty: Congratulations on your win tonight.

Ty: But don’t get used to it.

I huffed out a quick laugh at his postscript. Always the competitor.

Andi: I don’t know, I think this is the beginning of a hot streak. Knit Wits seem to have lost their mojo.

Ty: YOU LIE. We have mojo to share. And I’ll prove it to you … Saturday?

I worried my lip, holding back the smile.

Andi: Saturday works for me.

Ty: Good. Prepare to be dazzled.

Anticipation rushed through me, thinking about all the ways I’d like to be overwhelmed by Ty. His hand stroking the nape of my neck. His thigh snugged up against mine in a booth, burning through my jeans with his heat. The sweet tickle of his breath along my cheek as he moved in to kiss me. I was halfway there already, wanting him so bad I could taste it. Taste him.

I shifted in my seat, pressing my thighs together, debating how to respond.

Ty: I didn’t sleep well without you this week.

Aw.He beat me to it. And chose the one response tailor-made to put me at ease. I’d been thinking of him, wondering if he’d been doing the same. Some of the uncertainty I’d been holding onto faded at his words. Ty was jumping in with both feet. Maybe it was time for me to do the same.

Andi: Me either. My bed has been lonely without you.

I hit send before I could call back the words, slow my roll. I had no chill when it came to Ty. It had gotten me in trouble before, but maybe this time I wasn’t alone?

Ty: …

My heart raced as I waited on his response. As the seconds stretched out, my inner critic took over.Foolish. I’d taken it too far.Always a smidge too much, the step that turned fun into scary. Mild flirting to something more serious. Weightier. Too eager. Opening myself up to rejection.

I bit my lip, worrying the soft flesh there as the dots appeared and erased, indicating Ty couldn’t settle on a response. As the minutes ticked by, I hardened my heart, trying to protect myself. Big, scary, Andi, with her emotions and demands. Ty had been timid before about revealing his own feelings. Had moving too fast pushed him away? I’d vowed not to minimize myself for someone else. If he wasn’t into me, I was better off alone.

Ty: We’ll have to see what we can do about that. I have no intent to leave you lonely.

I grinned, my shoulders sagging as I relaxed into my couch. Not exactly an offer to drive right over, but I couldn’t expect him to jump ten steps ahead like I was tempted to. Ty’s text reassured me that my worries were unfounded. Ty knew what he was getting into with me. I hadn’t hidden who I was, and he seemed all in. I couldn’t fault that he needed to be sure. So did I. We hadn’t even slept together. I had no intention of actuallysleepingthis time. As wonderful as it had been, snuggling in Ty’s arms, I wanted more than comfort from him. I wanted it all.

Chapter 12 – Ty

The days after jury duty passed in a blur of routine as I settled back into dispatch. Jeannie welcomed me with a fresh skein of ombre chenille yarn in a wash of blues and greens. Working the soft fibers as I answered calls gave me a fresh sense of purpose. My break had reminded me that while most of our work was invisible to others, an anonymous voice on the phone, the coordinating we did in dispatch had a positive impact. We made sure the cavalry arrived and provided virtual triage in the meantime. It helped that I had Andi sweetening my dreams at night. It was much easier to let bad calls go when I had something else to look forward to. Someoneelse.

I couldn’t shake the anticipation of spending more time with Andi. She’d thrown me for a moment with the blunt lonely bed text, but her honesty was refreshing. I’d expected her to make me work for an admission of loneliness, but instead she’d chosen vulnerability and volunteered her feelings. I’d had women aggressively flirt or straight-up proposition me in my soccer days, but I’d been loyal to Jess. Since our breakup I’d protected my heart and avoided getting in too deep with anyone new. Mostly one-night stands until my hiatus after Rosie.

Which was why Andi simultaneously exhilarated and terrified me. I was already foundering in the deep end, feeling more than I had in years. Playful competitiveness. Concern for her safety and comfort. Fear that things would blow up on me again. That I’d lose again.

When I pulled up to the gym Saturday morning, Jimmy’s car was already there. He’d given me his blessing. I wanted to ask his opinion on Andi, get more ideas for things to make our date special, but I was wary of flipping the switch from helpful friend to overprotective brother.

I needed to find my way with Andi on my own. If he didn’t ask, I wouldn’t tell. Rolling my shoulders to ease some of the tension there, I tilted my chin to acknowledge Jimmy warming up on the mats.

“Hey,” he grunted.

His face relaxed, he looked happy, if not well rested. I bit back a teasing comment about another late night with Melena. Opening up conversation about our love lives might lead to topics I was trying to avoid.

Chase ambled up a few moments later, and we worked through our lower body circuit, mostly in silence. The quiet fit our early-morning MO, and I relaxed. As much as I wanted to talk about Andi, discretion was the better part of valor when it came to Jimmy. He’d been dead serious with his threats in high school, and part of me couldn’t stop remembering the younger, scrawnier version of him threatening me every time thoughts of Andi bubbled up from my subconscious.

“You ready for your big date?”