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Welp, there goes my plan to keep it in my pants. I let out a giant sigh of relief as my heart floats around my chest like a big, dumb, happy balloon.

Sally didn’t like making out with me.

She fuckinglovedit.

Not only that, she ain’t afraid to tell me she loved it. Makes me wanna be brave too.

Fuck not going for round two. If she’s gonna give me the opportunity, I’ll take it. I’ll deal with the fallout later. This is a chance I have to take.

“You’re one hell of a kisser,” Sally continues. “I don’t know if it was as good for you—I feel like I might have unfairly put you on the spot or pushed you?—”

“Did you not feel just how much I loved kissin’ you?” I slowly sip my coffee, like I’m not talking about my bestfriend turning me on so bad that I came in my pants. “Trust me, I wasn’t pushed. You were better’n good, Sal. You were great.”

Sally’s cheeks flush pink as she smiles again. “Really?”

“Really. And I’d like to do it again. Whatever you want.”

Her eyes go wide. “Are you serious?”

“Long as that’s what you want too.”

“It is, yeah.”

“I have one condition.”

“Name it.”

“No more Beck Wallace. You want me to teach you how to stay out of your head, that’s fine. But you ain’t practicing it with anyone else.”

Once she goes back to New York, she can do what she wants. Out of sight, out of mind. While she’s in Hartsville, however, she’s gonna do me and me only.

Sally looks away, her eyelashes fluttering. “I’m fine with that. That’s…fine.”

“You sure? I don’t want to make you do something you’re not comfortable with?—”

“I’m sure, Wyatt.” She looks me in the eye. “I definitely want to do this.”

“Good. One more condition then.” My heart hammers. “You gotta promise me we’ll still be friends when this is over.”

Because it will end. It has to.

But I won’t think about that right now. Right now, I’m gonna pretend like January doesn’t exist. Like November and December are gonna last forever, so I don’t need to be scared of going all in. Sally’s here to stay.

“Aw, Wy, that goes without saying.” Sally reaches over and grabs my hand, her palm warm from being wrapped around her coffee cup. “You’re my best friend in the world. When I got home last night, I literally couldn’t sleep. I was so…excited. And happy. And I kept wondering if it was all so good because we’re already friends, you know? There’s a level of comfort there that I’ve never had with anyone else.”

I lift a shoulder, my heart doing that hammering thing again. “Whatever the case, I’d like to think we’re both adults. That we’re going in with eyes wide open. Keep talkin’ to me, yeah?”And maybe—just maybe—I’ll finally be able to really talk to you.

“Like I could ever stop.” Sally squeezes my hand. “Thank you, Wy. You really don’t have to help me practice being confident?—”

“But I want to.” The breeze blows her hair into her face. Letting go of her hand, I reach up to tuck the strands behind her ear. I hope she doesn’t notice that my hand’s a little shaky.I can’t believe this is happening.“Let me.”

Her gaze goes hazy, eyes unfocused. A flicker of heat ignites low in my belly.

“Okay,” she says softly.

I ain’t about to waste time. I got a little more than a month to show Sally how a real man treats her. Five weeks—but who’s counting?—to get my fill of her before I have to give her up.

Speaking of that, I gotta make sure we’re on the same page here. Sally’s just looking for a good time. A way to let loose. We cross any other lines, someone’s gonna get hurt.