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nervous laughter. Everything she does pierces my heart. It’s all I can do to stop myself from grabbing her face and kissing the hell out of her right here and now. Looking down at her, watching her laugh . . . God, I’ve never wanted to kiss a girl so bad in my entire life.
    “What?” she says nervously. She can obviously see the internal struggle behind my expression.
    Don’t do it, Will.
    I ignore my better judgment and step forward. Her eyes remain locked on mine as I cup her chin with my free hand. My bold move causes a small gasp to pass between her lips, but she makes no move to pull away. Her skin is soft beneath my fingertips. I bet her lips are even softer.
    My eyes scroll over her features, admiring their beautiful simplicity. She doesn’t shy away. In fact, she looks a little bit hopeful, like she would welcome my lips on hers.
    Don’t kiss her. Don’t do it. You’ll screw this up, Will.
    I attempt to silence the voice in my head, but it ultimately wins out. It’s way too soon. And it’s broad daylight. Her mother’s home, for Christ’s sake! What am I thinking?
    I slide my hand around to the back of her neck, then kiss her on her forehead, instead. I take a step back and reluctantly drop my hand. I have to remind myself to breathe. Being this close to her is suffocating, but in the best way.
    “You’re so cute,” I say, attempting to make light of the moment. I grab a few sacks out of the back of the Jeep and quickly head to the front door before she comes to her senses and punches me. I can’t believe I just kissed her on the forehead! I’ve only known the girl for two days!
    I set the bags down and head back to the Jeep just as her mother makes her way outside.
    I feel nothing but relieved over my decision not to kiss her when I realize we would have been interrupted. A humiliating thought.
    I reach my hand out to introduce myself. “You must be Layken and Kel’s mom. I’m Will Cooper. We live across the street.”
    She smiles a welcoming smile. She seems nice; not intimidating at all. It’s amazing how much Layken looks like her.
    “Julia Cohen,” she says. “You’re Caulder’s older brother?”
    “Yes, Ma’am. Older by twelve years.”
    She stares at me for a moment. “So that makes you . . . twenty-one?”
    I’m not sure, because it happens so fast, but I could swear she glances behind me and winks at Layken. She returns her focus back in my direction and smiles again.
    “Well, I’m glad Kel and Lake were able to make friends so fast,” she says.
    “Me, too.”
    Julia releases my hand and turns toward the house, grabbing the sacks in the entryway.
    Lake. She calls her Lake. I might like that even more than Layken. I reach in and grab the last two sacks out of the back of her Jeep.
    “Lake, huh? I like that.” I hand her the sacks and shut the back. “So, Lake,” I say, leaning against her car. I fold my arms across my chest and take a deep breath. This part is always the hardest. The “asking out” part.
    “Caulder and I are going to Detroit on Friday. We’ll be gone until late Sunday, family stuff,” I say. “I was wondering if you had any plans for tomorrow night, before I go?”
    She grins at me, then makes a face like she’s trying to stifle the grin. I wish she wouldn’t do that. Her smile is breathtaking.
    “Are you really going to make me admit that I have absolutely no life here?” she says.
    That wasn’t a no, so I take it as a yes. “Great. It’s a date then. I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.” I immediately turn and head back to my house before she can object. I didn’t officially ask her out. In fact, it was more like I just told her. But . . . she sure didn’t object. That’s a good sign. That’s a really good sign.

4.
    the honeymoon
    LAKE PULLS HERSELF up onto her elbows and rests her chin in her hands.
    “You’re really enjoying this,” I say.
    She’s smiling. “I don’t think I ever told you, but when you kissed me on the