Page 78 of All I Need

“Cummings. Yes. Just the way it sounds. And trust me, I’ve heard it all so just save it. Anyway, like you have a lot of room to talk. Walker Paul.”

“You’re still in trouble for that, by the way.”

She grins, not at all worried. “What are you gonna do, spank me?”

The way her eyes flare when she says spank tell me all I need to know. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

She shrugs but the grin is still in place.

“What am I going to do with you?”

Her eyes dance and I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am. That the possibilities are endless. That the desire for those possibilities is deep.

“I hate to do this, but you’re going to need to get off my lap if you don’t want this going a hell of a lot farther than just kissing.”

Her eyes bore into mine and I can almost see the wheels turning inside her head. I know why when she says, “You know it’s more than just kissing.”

“Much more,” I agree.

“Back to the baby goats.”

“You want me to drive around town until I find a pregnant goat and just stop in and hope she’s ready to deliver?”

“Why not? Baby. Goats. That’s all you need to know, Walker. There’s no way they aren’t adorable.”

“They are but that’s beside the point. I can’t just wander around to farms hoping to find a pregnant goat.”

She pouts and it’s adorable but it’s not bratty. It’s a pout coming from her wanting to experience more of what she did when Camilla was born and it only makes me like her that much more.

“I’ll make you a deal. You go out with me this weekend and I’ll find a pregnant goat soon.”

“I don’t see how I lose in this deal.”

Me either.

“Well, there’s a catch.”

“What’s that?”

“Grayson might be with us. He’s been talking about asking a girl out but his mom and her parents have a strict no dating alone until they’re sixteen rule.”

“You’re asking me to go on a double date with a couple of fifteen-year-olds?” she asks, trying not to laugh.

“I am.”

Right or wrong, I’m testing her. She’s made it clear that she understands why Grayson is such an important part of my life but saying it and showing it are two very different things. I did promise Grayson that I would help him out so he could go on a date with his girl, but I don’t really intend for that to be on the night of my first date with Ellie.

“Is Grayson okay with it?”

One point for Ellie.

“He is.”

“And the girl? Has he asked her out yet? Are her parents okay with it also?”

Two points.

“They’ve been “talking” for a while now,” I say, using finger quotes around the word talking because in teenage world, talking means Snapchat and texting. “And yes, I imagine Barrett and Tess would be okay with Grayson taking out Harper. Though, her brothers won’t be able to know about it.”

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