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“It shouldn’t. But I know it does. Neither of us are acting on what we want to do and say because we’re concerned about them.”
“What do you want to say to me?”
“That I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want you. You’re in the house, but you’re not with me. And I want you to be. In every waywith me.”
“I want that, too.”
“Then can we stop acting like teenagers who live with our parents and have to sneak around, and just be together?”
She thought about Natalie.
“Stop thinking about them,” Cody grumbled. “Do what you want to do because it’s what you want.” He held her gaze, his earnest and hopeful. “Unless it’s not.”
She stepped close to him and put her hands on his chest. “That’s not it at all.”
“If they want us to be happy, then they’ll be happy to see us happy together. Right? Or at least they should. And if they don’t feel that way, that’s about them, not us.”
“You make a strong case, Counselor.”
“I shouldn’t have to make a case,” he griped. “But I understand these circumstances are out of the ordinary.”
“I accept this no-holds-barred relationship agreement.” To prove it, she went up on tiptoe and kissed him like no one was watching. Except she knew all too well that Haley stopped short and stared at them, with Natalie not so far away that she didn’t see everything, too.
Summer closed her eyes and gave herself over to the kiss and the sizzling passion that exploded between her and Cody. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her close and held on tight. His lips moved over hers, his tongue diving deep into her mouth. They lost themselves in the moment, and Summer didn’t think but let all the warm and sultry feelings rushing through her take hold.
Then Haley snapped them out of it. “I knew it!”
Cody broke the kiss and stared over at Haley like he’d forgotten she was coming, but he didn’t let Summer go. Not even a millimeter separated them.
“Finally.” Haley beamed. “I knew you two liked each other, but then it seemed like you weren’t going to do anything about it.”
Cody brushed his thumb along the side of Summer’s face and stared into her eyes. “Not anymore. Never again.”
“If you two get married, Cody will actually be my brother then, right?”
Cody suppressed a grin. “Maybe. Someday.”
The way he said it made her think that “someday” wiped out that “maybe.”
And though it was early days, thoughts of a future with him bloomed so real and crystal-clear that a sense of wonder and anticipation swept through her. She kissed Cody again, just a brush of her lips to his, because she wanted to.
He leaned down and put his forehead to hers. “That’s better.”
She put her hand on his face. “I like it, too.”
Cody stood tall and took her hand.
Shock widened Natalie’s eyes. “What’s going on with you two?”
Cody didn’t hesitate to answer. “We’re together.”
Natalie went still.
Haley grinned so big her cheeks squished up her eyes. “She’s his girlfriend now. Officially.”
This time, unlike when Alex had talked about her being Cody’s girlfriend, he didn’t hesitate to confirm it. “Yes.”
Butterflies and joy exploded inside Summer.
