Page 43 of Just One Kiss

Her mind raced through all the things thatcouldhappen. “Do you have any thoughts as to what it might be? Should I be worried?”

“I think we’ll just need to wait and see.”

Right. Waiting. Something she was notoriously bad at. She let out a silent, internal scream, feeling trapped in spite of the beautiful atmosphere out on the patio of Capri.

The conversation lulled through dinner, and she found herself wondering how Jaden was doing. She knew it was silly to worry so much, but she couldn’t help it. Until they knew exactly what they were dealing with, she was going to worry.

Mostly, she wanted to make sure he was following her rules and not doing anything too active.

“Do you mind if I run call my sister quick?” she asked after she finished her meal. David still had half a plate of food, and she knew it was rude of her, but she hoped he’d understand. “I’d like to check on Jaden without him knowing I’m checking in on him.”

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll order some dessert.”

She nodded, then excused herself from the table, heading off in the direction of the restroom. The dimly lit restaurant hummed with indistinct chatter. She walked through the bar area and approached the hostess’s station as the main door opened and Josh walked in.

Of all the people who could’ve strode through that door at that exact moment, why did it have to be him?

She stopped and realized she was waiting to see who he was with, as if she had a right to wonder. Why did she exhale as soon as the door closed behind him and nobody else joined him?

She realized she was staring. But then she realized he was staring too.

“Night made,” he said.

She frowned.

“I got to see you in that dress, after all.”

Carly felt seventeen again. Josh had always had a way of saying exactly what he thought. She’d gotten pretty good at that herself in recent years, out of necessity mostly. She wasn’t afraid to confront a teacher who was treating her kid unfairly or to be firm with an uncooperative patient.

The only thing she was afraid to face were her own fears, the ones she didn’t talk about out loud. And any lingering feelings for an ex she’d stopped loving a long time ago.

“What are you doing here?” Was he following her?

“Meeting Cole,” he said. “How’s your date going?” He took a step closer—a little too close, actually. She could smell that same familiar scent she’d always associated with Josh. Couldn’t he have switched his body wash to something she didn’t recognize?

She straightened. “It’s going really well.”

“Then why are you in here when he’s out there?” Josh peered across the bar area and through the windows, out to the patio, where David sat, slowly chewing his food.

“I was going to call Quinn,” she said. “See how Jaden’s doing.”

“I just talked to him,” Josh said. “He’s good.”

“You talked to him, even though you have the night off?”

Josh frowned. “I’m not his babysitter, Carly, I’m his dad.”

She started to reply but stopped herself.

“What?”

“I guess I’m just surprised.”

“Like I said, I’m full of surprises.” He held his arms out as if presenting himself for her approval. “I told you I’m not going anywhere this time. That’s my kid. I love him. Ilikehim.”

She smiled. “He’s a good one.”

Josh stilled. “He had a good mom.”

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