Page 23 of Nothing At All

“Dad is grounded, stable and committed. And Dan is all of those things. He’s just . . .” I lifted a shoulder in a tense shrug. “Inexperienced.”

“You mean not grown up yet.”

“I mean not experienced.” A testy note entered my voice. Dan was plenty grown up, but I wasn’t going to argue the point with Samantha, who’d never spent any real time with him. She’d been with me that night at the bar when I first met him, but I hadn’t taken him to meet my parents or my friends from Atlanta so she didn’t know him.

“What kind of man has never had a girlfriend before?” Samantha waved an airy hand before digging up another palmful of popcorn. “The kind who’ll wonder if the grass is greener and go exploring.”

“He’s not like that.” Defensiveness sharpened my tone. Beyond my living room, the shower cut off, the drawer where I’d tucked Dan’s small amount of clean laundry closing with a soft thud. “Listen, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Without giving her a chance to reply, I stabbed a finger on the end button. Irritation simmered under my skin, not just at Samantha, but because now doubt poked at me and I didn’t want to wonder about him.

I simply wanted to live in the moment with him.

Steady footsteps heralded his arrival before he landed a slight swat on my ass. “Your turn.”

Dropping the knife next to the mangled romaine, I lifted my face to kiss him, holding his jaw in my hands, burying my uncertainty in the physical tug between us. I might marry him. I could. But I was still young and starting my career. I didn’t have to know where we were headed today.

And he wasn’t thinking forever. I was his first girlfriend. Of course he’d need time to figure out if I was the one.

Maybe even eventually see other people before he decided on me.

I knew at least one who would volunteer.

The thought washed a fresh wave of annoyance through me, and I shoved it down. He didn’t want her. Didn’t even think of her like that.

“Is this a salad or chiffonade?” He lifted a small shred of romaine, and I grimaced.

“I just chopped it up.”

“I can see that.” Affection curving his bottom lip, he nudged me toward the door. “Grab your shower. I’ll rustle up a dressing for this.”

“You’re the best.” Grateful to leave the salad to him – I simply had to face the fact he was better in the kitchen than I was – I kissed his jaw and escaped.

Hot water and being clean helped immensely, and I emerged from the spray more relaxed. A hint of spicy tomato and melted cheese drifted into my bedroom along with Dan’s low voice at the front door.

Pulling on leggings and a tank, I glared at the constant buzzing from his phone, still in his uniform pocket. “Dan. Your phone is going crazy.”

“Ptobably that group chat I’m in.” The muffled quality of his reply meant he’d walked to the kitchen. “Bring it in here.”

I tugged it free, the screen lighting up with a flood of notifications from a group he’d named Great Husbands.

And Nicole.

Mouth tight, I stalked to the kitchen. “Your wannabe girlfriend is texting you.”

With a stern look, he held out his hand. I smacked the device into his palm. Ignoring my attitude, he opened the text thread and handed it to me.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you?!!

You’re the best!!!

Hope you had a good day!

Anger rocketed up my nape to tighten my scalp. This heifer.

She’d punctuated the texts with a selfie, camera tilted to capture a glimpse of her cleavage.

I scrolled. She chatted him up like this every evening after his terse all clear text.