Page 48 of The Summer We Played Pretend

“Agreed.”

“So, we tell him about us when he gets back?” she suggests.

“God, I hope he doesn’t think I’ve betrayed his trust."

She straightens in her seat. “Ethan isn't my keeper."

“He isn’t,” I agree. “But it doesn’t mean he’ll love the idea of us dating.”

Chloe's gaze flicks to the passing scenery. "I know my brother, Jackson. He's protective, but he’s fair. If we’re honest, he’ll understand."

I hope she’s right but the knot of anxiety in my chest won’t budge. Chloe might be giving Ethan too much credit. I remember how pissed he was when she started dating Brendan, and Brendan was her age.

"Fingers crossed,” I murmur, my grip on the steering wheel tightening involuntarily.

Chloe reaches out to lay a comforting hand on my tensed fingers. Her touch, light and soothing, grounds me in that moment. “We’ll deal with it together.”

I steal a glance at her, my breath catching slightly. Even with her hair a little frazzled from work, she’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It takes all my willpower not to pull over and kiss her until she’s breathless.

Somehow, I resist and we pull up outside Chloe’s house.

“Mom is, uh, happy about us getting together,” Chloe warns me before we get out. “I hope she doesn’t seem too overexcited.”

“I’ve known your mom a while, Chloe. She won’t scare me off. Besides, if your parents are cool with us dating, that could help with Ethan.”

She nods, leans over and gives me a kiss that’s far too brief and motions toward the house. “You ready?”

Our first dinner together as boyfriend and girlfriend? I feel like I’ve been waiting for this for years instead of weeks.

Chapter Twenty

Chloe

Istand on the porch, the scent of the sea drifting around me as Jackson's gaze meets mine. Sitting next to him at dinner and not being able to touch him all evening has been killing me. I can practically feel the heat of his body stretching across the gap between us as we stand in front of my parents’ house before he heads home.

In the fading light of the day, the lines and hollows of his face are emphasized, and my chest tightens. How on earth is this sexy guy actually my boyfriend?

“Tonight went well I think,” I say, my voice tight with nerves. I can barely hold it together. I need to touch him so badly.

“Your Mom and Dad are good fun.”

I smile. “And they only embarrassed me once.”

“A parent’s duty I guess.” He shifts closer, his hand slipping around my hip. I almost gasp at the contact. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“When?” God, I sound so stupidly eager but the idea of a day apart from him is killing me.

“After work? What shift are you doing?”

“I’m free all day.”

“I’ll call on you when I’m done at the garage.”

“I wish I could see you sooner.”

Jackson’s eyes crinkle. “It’s only a day and I’m here now.”

I skim a hand up his chest, letting it rest upon the solid warmth of his body and feeling his heart beat against my fingertips.

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