Page 38

Chapter

Thirty-Five

JONAS

But the perfect afternoon does end. The Cubs lose, although the game’s still fun. We invite Hunter and Natalie back to my parents’ house for a bonfire, but they decline. We’ll see them tomorrow for the Wolves’ Family Day.

After we take the train back home, Hadley pops inside to change, and my dad and I get the fire pit out of the garage and get a decent fire going. We circle up some lawn chairs and watch the flames dance.

My dad clears his throat. “You wanna tell me what’s going on between you and that girl, son?”

I take a deep breath and stare at him across the smoke rising into the night sky. I can’t lie to my dad. “I like her. A lot. But I don’t think we want the same things.”

He nods and settles in his chair. “I trust your judgment. But so you know, I think she’d be great for you.”

His words wrap around me like the flames twining around the wood. Though I know Hadley doesn’t want anything from me long-term, his approval still warms my chest.

Our silence is broken when my mom, Emma, and Hadley come outside. My mom carries a platter of s’more ingredients, and reminds my sister that, due to sneaking the candy during the prep, she can only have one. Emma pouts darkly but grabs a roasting stick and stabs two marshmallows anyway.

Hadley, wearing black joggers and what might be my gray Harrison hoodie, sits in the camp chair next to me and smiles.

“I had so much fun today at the game.” She directs her words to my dad. “Thanks so much, Mr. Kaminski. I really appreciate it. I’m loving the full Chicago experience.”

It’s true Hadley might be a little spoiled. She grew up in different circumstances than I did. And she’s probably been to a million hockey games and sat in suites or in the family section down by the ice. But she still thanks my dad. My hands itch to touch her.

My dad, not big on words, nods. “You’re welcome.”

My stomach growls as the smell of Emma’s singed marshmallow wafts over. I stand and grab Hadley’s hand, pulling her up. I wish I didn’t have to drop it. “You want to make a s’more with me?”

“Of course.” She brushes off her pants. “As long as you’ll teach me.”

My mouth drops open, and Emma calls out, “What? You don’t know how to make a s’more? Even a kid can do it!”

Hadley doesn’t take offense but gives a pretty shrug of her shoulders. “Nope. My mom was a model. There was no camping or bonfires in my life.”

“You’ve never lived!” My sister calls out. She doesn’t get subtlety. But Hadley just laughs at her antics.

“You’re right, Emma, I haven’t. But Jonas is teaching me how to cook. So it’s high time I learned how to make s’mores, too.”

“Hads, I think even you can master this.” I can’t resist teasing her, and when her fist snakes out to lightly punch my shoulder, I wish I could grab her fingers and kiss them.

Instead, I hand her a roasting stick and the supplies.

“Here. You skewer the marshmallow like so” —I demonstrate— “and then you toast it.”

She follows me to the far side of the fire pit, downwind from the smoke, and watches.

“You want to put the marshmallow by the coals, so it gets nice and golden brown.”

“Unless you like ‘em burnt!” Emma stands by the table full of s’mores ingredients, sticky marshmallow clinging to her chin. Her mouth is full, and she grins.

My mom shakes her head. “Okay, babe, I’m cutting you off. The sugar high will make you crazy!”

“Nuh-uh!” Emma dances around the table, proving my mom right.

Instead of arguing with my sister more, she throws her head back and laughs. “Never a dull moment.”

I check our marshmallows, rotating among the coals. “Okay, we’re probably done.”

“That’s it?” Hadley’s brows rise. “It’s that easy?”

“Yep. Now we put everything together.”

Emma runs over to us with graham crackers and chocolate squares.

There’s a telltale streak of chocolate by the side of her mouth, but I don’t say anything.

She holds them flat and helps us remove our marshmallows from the skewers and sandwich them between the crackers and chocolate. She hovers to watch Hadley’s response.

Taking a big bite, Hadley moans, and it hits me below the belt. “Wow, you’re right, Emma. This is amazing.”

My sister beams and bounces on her toes before my mom herds her into the house. “Candy Queen, you need to wash your face and get ready for bed.”

She grumbles but complies. My dad stands from his chair, reminds me about fire safety, and wanders inside with them.

It’s only me and Hadley. So after glancing around, I sit and pat my knee. “Come’ere.”

Licking the rest of the marshmallow off her fingers, she smirks and settles on my lap.

I shift to take another bite of my s’more, but she swoops in and steals it from me.

If she wasn’t so cute, I’d dump her on the ground.

As it is, I wipe my hands on my shorts and avert my eyes as her tongue darts out to catch a graham cracker crumb.

“Your family’s great.” She sighs and leans against me, her back to my front, and stares at the night sky. “Seriously, I love them.”

“Me, too.”

“Your parents are adorable. How long have they been married?”

“Uh…” I do some quick math. I’m twenty-two, Katie is ten years older, so… “Thirty-three years.”

“Wow. That’s incredible. They must have been babies when they got married.” She tilts her head to stare at me, and I weave my hands through her long, silky hair. It’s like ribbons between my fingers, and she hums in pleasure.

“Yeah, they were high school sweethearts. Katie was born a year after their wedding. Then Alyssa and Lindsay each two years apart.” I drop my voice to a whisper.

“And don’t let on I know, but I was a bit of a surprise baby.

There’s six years between Lindsay and I.

I think they were worried I’d be lonely, so Emma came along three years after me. ”

“Whew. Five kids in thirteen years. Was your mom ever not exhausted?”

“Nah, she loves kids.” I take a deep breath, Hadley’s cotton candy scent surrounding me. I have to fight to stay focused on the conversation and not get distracted by her lips. “She’s from a big Irish Catholic family. I think she would have had more, but Emma’s accident kinda consumed everything.”

“She wanted more than five?” Shock tinges Hadley’s voice. “That’s crazy.”

“Maybe.” I give in and run my nose along her neck, and arousal builds low in my belly. “But we’re happy.”

“Oh, definitely.” She shifts and turns to face me. “I wasn’t criticizing. I have a hard time picturing…but your family makes it look nice. Amazing, even.”

“I am pretty amazing, you’re right.”

Playfully, she pushes my shoulder, then leans her forehead against mine. “I didn’t mean you . I was talking about the whole package.”

“But you mostly meant me.” I thread my fingers through the hair at her nape and pull her mouth closer.

“Yeah,” she breathes. “You make me think…”

“What?” I ask, silently begging her to put me out of my misery and kiss me already.

“Nothing.” Her throat bobs in a swallow. “Just that the future could be…good. Could have a lot of different options. Things I haven’t considered before.”

I don’t really know what she’s talking about, but I nod. “That’s great,” I say on a whisper.

Her lips find mine as the fire cracks and pops behind us. I taste the sweetness of chocolate and marshmallows on her tongue, and I want her so much, I’m dizzy with it. She’s intoxicating, like the strongest cocktail. And addicting, too.

There’s no doubt. I’ve fallen for Hadley, and one summer with her will never be enough.