Page 76 of I Wish He Would

“I stared at his lips.” I pause. Maddy leans in closer. “And I told him I wanted this.”

She closes her eyes and shimmies her shoulders in a happy dance. “Ah, this is so much better than your first-date stories. What happened next?”

“He asked if I knew what he wanted. Then he said one simple word: you.” Goose bumps cover my arms again thinking about it.

Maddy gasps. “Then he kissed you senseless?”

“Yeah.” I close my eyes, remembering the way his lips felt on mine. Our first kiss was epic, but this one was world-rocking. Life-changing. The kind of kiss that ruins you of all other men because you know they’ll never live up to that connection. “I’ve never experienced that level of passion. That intense desire.”

My sister fans her face. “Are you trying to make me go into preterm labor?”

“You’re the one who asked.”

“You’re right.” She takes a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready. Tell me more.”

“It was almost like an out-of-body experience.” I press my lips together as I recall the after. “Then he asked me if I thought Bianca and Bradley saw.”

Her brows furrow. “Why would he say that?”

I shrug. “That’s what has me confused. How can he say he wants me, but then go right back to making it seem like he only did it to keep up our ruse?”

She balls her hands into fists. “Do you need me to go knock some sense into him?”

I place my hands on hers and push them back to her side. “Put the weapons down, Rocky.”

Maddy’s eyes narrow into slits. “I like him, but you know I’d go to pound town for you.”

I laugh. “That’s not what you think it means.”

“Yeah, it is.” She takes her fist and hits it against her other hand. “I’ll pound him into dust for you.”

There’s no use arguing with her, so I just shrug. “No pounding necessary.”

“Okay. I’m sorry, sis.” She wraps her arm around my waist. “Did you ask him for an explanation?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think I’m ready to talk yet.”

Maddy rubs my back, then steps away, her gaze trailing over my shoulder. “I don’t think a man looks at a woman like he is right now if he only sees her as a friend.”

My heart skips a beat in my chest. “What do you mean?”

“He keeps looking over at you like a sad puppy.”

I cross my arms, scared to let myself hope. “You think so?”

Maddy nods. “He can’t keep his eyes off you. I know it takes time for you to build up the courage to have hard conversations, but I really think you need to ask him why he said that.” She nudges me. “The answer is probably different than whatever your brain is coming up with.”

Tomorrow. I can give myself one night to sit in my feelings, gather the courage to have this conversation, and prepare for whatever he might say.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“Good.” Maddy rocks on her feet. “Now that that’s settled, I need to use the ladies’ room. I think this little guy is preparing for a future soccer career and using my bladder as the ball.” She pats her stomach and starts speedwalking away with her legs clenched together. “Love you.”

“Love you,” I call after her.

Then I make the mistake of looking over at Austin. He raises a hand, and I offer him a weak smile. But once Rhys spots me and starts pointing dramatically at me, there’s no turning back. Austin walks toward me, and I meet him halfway.

“Hi, Rhysie.” He clambers into my arms, and I hug him close. He clutches the back of my neck with sticky fingers. I kiss the top of his head. “What do you say we go look for a snack?”