Chapter 22

“I don’t want to interrupt your family time,” she started, glancing over her shoulder toward the house before looking back at me. “But I wanted to stop by to see if you were interested in even seeing me.”

For a second, I honestly forgot how to breathe.

Jagger stood in front of me with that familiar little smile that always made me feel like she knew something I didn’t. She looked completely comfortable, like showing up at my house unannounced on Thanksgiving was the most natural thing in the world.

Maybe for her, it was.

For me, it felt like my entire evening had just shifted.

She reached down and intertwined her fingers with mine.

The second our hands touched, my mind became incredibly clear.

I wanted to tell her everything.

I wanted to tell her that I had missed her. That seeing her standing in my driveway had made my heart jump. That I had thought about her more than I wanted to admit. That part of me had been hoping she’d come back around, even though I’d convinced myself I was completely over it.

But instead of saying any of that, I swallowed the words.

I wasn’t ready to give her that much of me.

Not yet.

“Are you seeing anyone?” she asked.

Her thumb slowly stroked across the back of my hand, and I tried very hard not to let her see what that did to me.

“Kind of,” I admitted.

Her eyebrows lifted.

“Kind of?”

I shrugged, suddenly fascinated by the ground beneath our feet.

“It’s more of like a friends-with-benefits thing, though.”

The words were barely out of my mouth before I slapped my palm against my forehead.

“Oh my gosh.”

Jagger burst out laughing.

I covered my face, wishing I could disappear into the pavement.

“Why did I say that?”

“Because you’re honest?” she teased.

“I could have just said no.”

“You could have.”

“Or that I’m complicated.”

“You definitely are.”

I peeked at her through my fingers.

She was still smiling.

I couldn’t help laughing too.

For a moment, everything felt easy.

There was no Keegan. No complicated family situation. No awkwardness. No pretending that everything was fine when it wasn’t.

Just me and Jagger standing in my driveway, laughing like we used to.

“So…” she said, rocking slightly on her heels. “I could maybe take you out tomorrow?”

I dropped my hand from my face.

“Yes!”

Her smile widened.

“I would love that.”

I probably sounded way too excited.

Actually, I definitely sounded way too excited.

Jagger laughed softly. “Okay, then. It’s a date.”

“A date,” I repeated, unable to stop smiling.

“I’ll pick you up at five. Is that okay?”

I nodded quickly.

“Five is perfect.”

“Good.”

She squeezed my hand once before letting go.

I immediately missed the warmth of it.

Jagger stood there for another moment, and I could tell neither of us quite knew how to end the conversation. Finally, she smiled and motioned for me to come closer.

I stepped toward her.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around me.

She was warm and familiar, and for a moment I let myself relax against her.

There was something about being close to her that felt effortless.

Like slipping back into something I’d been trying not to miss.

When she pulled back, she didn’t go very far.

Her face was close to mine, and my heart started beating faster.

“I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Brees,” she whispered.

I let out a faint breath, suddenly very aware of how close she was.

She ran her fingertips gently down my cheek, her smile turning playful.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she giggled.

Then she turned and walked toward her dad’s truck, her brown cowboy boots clicking against the driveway.

I stood there watching her, still trying to process the fact that she had just asked me out.

Before she climbed into the truck, she looked back.

She winked.

My stomach flipped.

Then she climbed inside and gave me one last smile through the window.

The truck started, and a second later she tooted the horn as she backed out of my driveway.

I waved until she disappeared around the corner.

Then I stood there alone.

“Okay,” I whispered to myself.

I took a deep breath.

“Okay, Brees.”