Page 38 of Your Play to Call

“Technically? A bouquet of lilacs. I walked to my favorite flower shop in town and then went to the bank to pay off my mom’s mortgage.”

“You had a favorite flower shop?” My heart is on the floor. In a puddle.

“Yes.” His cheeks flush just enough to know this means something to him. “I went back home to tell my mom the house was completely paid off, and she needed to pick out a new place since I got drafted.”

“And you just moved again, right?”

“I did. I decided to get a penthouse in the city. Didn’t want to do a house. Not yet. My mom has a place five blocks from me.”

“It’s nice that you’re close.”

“It’s always been the two of us.”

Talking to Tripp is like wrapping yourself up in your favorite blanket—comfortable and warm. Obviously, the physical chemistry is there. I keep thinking about what it would be like to straddle him on this loveseat. Hold my body over top of his, creating friction where I need it.

This might be too easy considering I look at the clock and it’s almost midnight. Tripp and I are still on the loveseat, long gone are the snacks. He sits with my feet in his lap, and we each have a blanket. It’s still a relatively warm night for August; the blankets are just right.

“I had no idea it was so late,” I say, looking at the time on my phone.

“What? How did that happen?” He looks flabbergasted as he runs a hand through his dark hair and grabs his phone out of his jogger pocket.

“Early morning tomorrow?”

“Yes, like five in the morning early. I’ve gotta get going.”

We reluctantly pull ourselves from the cozy loveseat, collect our snack remnants, and head inside. Once everything is put away, we walk to the door.

“Tonight was—"

“Please don’t say nice,” Tripp sighs for dramatic effect.

“Fun. I was going to say fun.” I laugh and lightly nudge his shoulder. “Thank you for coming over. For being honest.”

He responds by wrapping his arms around my waist, lightly touching my lower back. Tripp doesn’t need to pull me in because I’m meeting him halfway with a kiss.

It feels like this is brand new and also like we’ve been doing it forever. He quickly learns what it takes for me to make the little noises he seems so eager for. I search for the ways to make him want to press into me further.

He bites my lip and then slowly pulls away. “Good, because I’m not that nice,” he says before kissing my forehead one last time and reaching for the door handle.

“Text me when you get home, please.”

“You got it, Lo. Goodnight.”

I watch Tripp leave through the window.

I can’t help but smile to myself. How can things change so much in a few short hours? Hours that flew like minutes, nonetheless? The doubt comes in waves, but I fight back with the feeling of his lips on mine.

I can’t explain it, but I have a feeling things are going to get very interesting.

Chapter 24

Willow

Me

yay! a win

Tripp

---