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“I do too,” I confess, then inwardly slap myself for the admission.

“Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll still walk you home whenever you’re on the night shift. Though when the weather turns, at least I have wheels now to drive you when it snows.”

God help me. He’s already making plans for the winter.

I should tell him he doesn’t need to drive me home. That I’m perfectly capable of fending for myself. But I don’t.

By the time we reach Milo’s truck, I realize he seriously undersold the whole not-pretty-to-look-at thing. It looks almost brand new.

The truck is a deep blue, the paint polished enough that the parking lot lights gleam across the hood. There are a few scratches along the side and a small dent near the back bumper that give away its age, but otherwise, it looks like it’s been taken care of. It also looks like every penny Milo earned this summer went into this truck.

“It’s beautiful, Milo.” My gaze sweeps over the truck.

Milo shrugs, but there’s no hiding the pride in his smile. “Paige’s dad worked some magic on it.”

“Some?” Paige butts in with a knowing smirk.

“Okay, a lot.”

Kody laughs as Milo pulls open the passenger door. “Max has shotgun.”

“Great,” Sienna complains behind me. “That means I have to sit in the back with the lovebirds. Kill me now.”

“You love us,” Paige says as Kody opens one of the back doors for her.

“I tolerate you.”

“Same thing.”

Paige climbs into the back with Kody following right behind her, while Sienna circles around the truck and climbs in from the other side. Milo, meanwhile, is still holding the passenger door open for me.

“Your chariot awaits.”

I roll my eyes but grab the handle and climb inside. Milo closes the door behind me before circling around to the driver’s side.

“Ready to go?” Milo asks once he’s settled in behind the wheel.

“Yes! Let’s go already!” Kody shouts from behind us, followed by the unmistakable sounds of him and Paige going at it again.

“Yep, we should get moving before Sienna kills Kody. And judging by how clean this truck is, I’m guessing you’d rather not get blood on the upholstery.” But before I can reach for my seat belt, Milo does it for me.

I freeze as he leans across me, carrying the clean scent of soap from his post-game shower. I stop breathing when he pulls the belt across my chest and clicks it into place.

“Can never be too safe,” he says with a wink.

God help me. This is going to be a long ride.

As expected, not five minutes into the drive, Sienna starts grumbling about having to share the back seat with Paige and Kody.

“I swear to God, Cushman, if that hand travels even an inch onto my side, I’m cutting it off.”

“Can someone please turn her off? How am I supposed to make out with my girl if all I hear is Heartless complaining every second?”

“Don’t call her that,” Milo is quick to defend, giving his friend a scornful look through the rearview mirror.

“Sorry, Hartley. Didn’t mean anything by it,” Kody apologizes.

“Does it look like I care?” Sienna retorts, but by the way she turns her head to stare out the window, I know the nickname hurt her.