Page 10 of Serendipity

Her fingers fly across the screen in rapid motions and I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to see even though I just asked her what she was going to type. When I no longer hear the sound of texts being sent back and forth, I open my eyes. Jenna’s mischievous look makes me a little worried but it’ll probably lead to fun.

“Let me see.”

I yank my phone back and blink a few times to clear my eyes.

Me:What are you going to do first?

Stone:Get you home.

Me:Mine or yours? My kids will be home and I’m quite loud so your place might be better.

Stone:Loud, huh? You don’t want to go home?

Me:Nuh uh. Yours is better.

Stone:Perhaps you’re right, if what you say about being loud is right.

Me:It’s definitely right. Especially when… hmm… maybe I’ll let you figure that out on your own. So tell me… What are you going to do with me when we get there?

Stone:Get you to bed. I promise to take real good care of you.

Me:I like the sound of that.

Stone:Me, too.

Me:All night?

Stone:Definitely. All. Night. Long.

My stomach flutters and I spring off the couch, shove aside the curtains and look out the window to see Stone sitting in the driver’s seat of his giant truck. He’s looking down, probably at his phone. Even from here with darkness clouding his features, I can see how incredibly good looking he is.

With a sudden sense of eagerness, I shout, “All right, girls, I’m out!”

Everyone cheers and Carissa looks entirely too amused at the entire production. I quickly hug everyone, tell them goodbye, and march to the front door.

“Make sure he wears protection! You aren’t in menopause yet and can still get pregnant!” Jenna says from behind me.

I groan but then start laughing and stumble out the door.

ChapterThree

STONE

Carissa wasn’t lyingwhen she said Leah was too drunk to drive home tonight. When she texted me to see if I could pick Leah up, I didn’t hesitate. I’ve been trying to gain the courage to ask her out and get to know her as more than just a friend for months, so any time I have the chance to spend time with her, I jump on it.

When I texted her that I was going to give her a ride, her response was confusing at first but quickly turned hilarious. I know her well enough by now to know that when she’s had a few glasses of wine, she becomes uninhibited with her words. I’m positive she’ll be mortified tomorrow for turning an innocent conversation to one filled with innuendos.

The front door opens and she trips over her feet, catching herself against the railing, so I jump out of the truck and rush to her, praying she doesn’t fall down the stairs.

“Whoa there, I’ve gotcha,” I tell her, holding her up.

She boops me on the nose with her finger. “You do, huh?”

I chuckle. “Yes, I do. Let’s get you down these stairs without face-planting, shall we?”

“Good idea. I’m not attractive with a broken nose and I’m pretty sure I’m not agile enough right now to catch myself.”

I wouldn’t mind telling her that nothing could change the beauty I see when I look at her, but chances are, she won’t remember it tomorrow anyway. Maybe nowisa good time, but I’m the type of man who’s willing to wait for the right time and drunken Leah isn’t the one I want to deliver that news to. Perfectly sober, dinner at my place where I can fulfill the promise I gave her earlier when she was under the impression I was talking about sex rather than sleep.

---