Page 124 of The Love Playbook

“Sure.” I force a smile as she tells Chris to make himself at home, then hobbles out of the room on a single crutch.

With a sigh, I head toward the cupboard with the coffee grounds and begin scooping them into the machine when Chris comes up behind me, snaking a hand around my waist and dragging me to him. “Do you remember what we did on this island?”

I hum under my breath. How could I forget?

“Best fucking night of my life.”

A quiet laugh shakes my chest as I lean into his touch, pressing my body into the familiar hard planes of his own and wishing we were back at school. Really, I’d like to be anywhere but here.

“You don’t have to do that, you know.”

“Do what?” I ask.

“Make me coffee.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

“Seriously. All I want is time with you.”

I ignore him, adding water to the reservoir before flicking the pot on and turning to face him. “You know, if you were going to show up here anyway, you could’ve just hand delivered the flowers.”

His hands fall to my hips, a grin curving the corners of his mouth. “Now what’s the fun in that when I can give you two surprises instead.” He lifts his gaze as if to check for my mother. “Although I am wondering why she thinks they’re hers.”

“Sorry about that,” I whisper. “She came in just after I got them, and when she saw them, she just assumed . . .”

He nods. “I guess that makes sense since it’s her house.”

“Not only that, but for a minute, she thought they were from my father.” I pull a face and drift toward the bouquet. “I guess that means I have to leave them here with her,” I say, my tone mournful as I admire the delicate blooms. “At least, I’ll have them tonight and in the morning.”

“I’m sorry.” A crease forms between his brows. “Maybe I should’ve waited.”

“No. They’re perfect, and the gesture was incredibly sweet.” A devious grin curves the corner of my mouth as I tip my head up to his. “Looks like I’ll have to thank you for them later.”

“NowthatI can get behind.”

My stomach flips, and I release a soft contented sigh when he slants his mouth against mine. He tastes like peppermint and smells like sunshine, but it’s his touch that unravels me.

His hands slide down my back into the pockets of my jeans, pulling me into him while the sound of our breathing mingles among the sputtering of the coffee pot, when the sharp trill of a ringtone joins the symphony. It cuts through my thoughts, a reminder that we’re standing inside my mother’s kitchen.

Brushing my lips over his one last time, I sink back onto my heels as he groans and slides the phone from his pocket. “It’s my mom,” he tells me, eyes trained on the screen.

I nod and lean against the island as he answers. “Hello?”

The muffled sound of Barb’s voice trickles toward me. I’m not trying to listen, but she’s talking fast and loud, and though I can’tmake out anything she’s saying, if Chris’s growing frown is any indication, she’s upset.

“I’m coming over,” he says.

Yep. Something’s wrong.

My stomach clenches in anticipation as the sound of more garbled speech spills from his cell before he cuts her off. “No, Mom. I’m in Lockport right now, so it won’t take long. I only have an hour to spare, but I wanna come.” With that, he hangs up and rakes a hand through his hair, his forehead wrinkled with worry. “Shit, Lettie, I have to go.”

“What’s going on?”

“I guess she and your father had a pretty big fight, and she’s really upset, crying and talking about calling off the wedding.”

I suck in a breath while my thoughts race, rewinding to dinner the other night. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t mean to cause trouble for my father, but I didn’t wantthis.“That’s awful,” I say, slightly numb. “Did she say what they fought about?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t understand her. Something about your father keeping things from her.” He shakes his head with a frustrated growl. “Do you know what she could be talking about?”

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