Page 103 of While You Were Trending

“My legs are shorter,” I say.

“He can ride in the back seat,” Heath repeats.

“Flow too?” Declan asks.

“Sure. Better hope my cat didn’t hitch a ride though.”

“She does that?”

“Sometimes with glitter.”

And so that’s what we do.

Heath drives me back to the main house, Declan smushed with Flow in the back seat of the extended cab truck.

I don’t look at Declan again.

The embarrassment has sunk in even deeper.

And that’s probably a good thing.

Making out with Declan—that would be complicated.

And I need simple.

End of story.

19

MAKEPEACE (MAKEOUT) CLUB

Declan

I’m clearly not invitedin as Heath trots up to the house with Ginny, but Flow and I follow anyway, dashing through the storm from the parking area to the back door.

I lie to myself and say it’s because I want to see Mabel’s reaction to the cash, but my real motivation is making sure Ginny’s okay.

She hasn’t looked at me since Heath interrupted us, and that, more than anything, is what’s killed my boner so quickly.

We’re getting past the part where we can pretend I don’t still like her.

I like her.

I shouldn’t. I’m well aware that her desire to kiss me doesn’t mean she wants to date me.

I shouldn’t want to date her either.

I shouldn’t have kissed her.

I shouldn’t fall asleep here every night wishing I was out in the fields looking at the stars with her.

I shouldn’t want to help her pick which dress to wear every morning and then help her take it off every night.

I shouldn’t contemplate how easy those sundresses of hers would make a quickie in any of the nooks and crannies here.

I shouldn’t want to be the guy helping her see that, as her mug says, she is worthy and she is loved.

Even under the guise ofwhat happens at the winery stays at the winery.