Page 19 of Just One Kiss

This was ludicrous. Carly had decided a long time ago that she was the kind of independent woman who didn’t need anyone taking care of her. Her sister’s impending nuptials changed nothing about that.

And yet, every once in a while, she saw the fleeting image of a faceless someone else helping pay the bills, mowing the lawn, picking up groceries, loosening the knots in her shoulders, sayingI love you—and those images were hard to shake.

She texted back:Of course, Q. You know I’m in!

Good! Engagement party details forthcoming.

And so would begin the parade of wedding festivities that would require a plus one that Carly didn’t have. The last thing she needed was a throng of Harbor Pointe matrons asking her when it would be her turn and wasn’t it so sad that her little sister was getting married before she was.

The front door opened and she turned toward it. Jaden and Josh stood in the doorway, looking at her.

“Hey.” She tried to sound casual, feeling suddenly awkward in her plaid pajama shorts and an old pink Gap T-shirt.

Josh had never been in her house. They’d always met halfway between here and Chicago, and frankly, she didn’t want him in her space. It set her off-kilter. She didn’t trust him, and she didn’t want him poking holes in her carefully constructed existence.

“Hi, Ma,” Jaden said.

When she’d become “Ma” she didn’t know. Was that one of those things that happened when you weren’t looking, like your son’s voice changing or falling in love?

“Dad, I’ll go get those skis.” Jaden rushed through the hallway and upstairs.

“Not too fast, Jaden,” Carly called after him.

Josh closed the door and took a step farther inside. She should invite him in—that’s what normal people did when someone visited their home.

But Josh wasn’t just someone. He wasJosh.And she was still mad at Josh. She’d gotten used to this anger she carried with her. It was a part of her now.

“Thanks for taking him,” she said without looking at him.

“Thanks for letting me.”

At least her ex still knew who was in control here. That was important.

“You heading back tonight or staying over?”

Josh looked away. “I want to stay until after we find out what’s going on with Jaden.”

She frowned. “That could be days.”

He shrugged. “Okay.”

“You’re going to stay here indefinitely?”

“If that’s what it takes,” he said. “I just want to make sure you guys are okay.”

She scoffed but bit back the harsh remark that flitted through her mind. No sense fighting. Not today, not with emotions already on high alert.

Not when she felt vulnerable and he looked likethat.

Knock it off. Remember what he did to you.

“Can I come to the next appointment?”

She found Josh’s eyes, earnest and pleading, and against her better judgment, she heard herself agree.

“Thanks,” he said. “I can pick you guys up if that works?”

“I can drive us.”

---