Page 36 of Only You

Ten

Rain splattered the windshield as Jack and Kayla returned to his condo. “It’s perfect cuddle weather,” Jack said while pulling into the garage.

“We’re alone now, so you don’t have to keep pretending,” Kayla said.

“I’m not pretending.”

“The only thing I’m snuggling with is my Squishmallow,” she retorted.

Jack chuckled as they went inside. “You still want to watch a movie, though, right?”

Kayla shrugged. “Sure. What else is there to do?”

He could think of a few things, all strictly prohibited.

“But first, I want to change into something more comfortable,” Kayla added.

“Sounds intriguing,” he teased.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ll meet you in the living room in a bit.”

Jack watched her go, thinking she seemed tense today. She must be missing her family, and it had nothing to do with him.

Jack went into his bedroom and closed the door. Since they were staying in for the night, he decided to change, too. He traded his khaki pants and plaid shirt for Adidas track pants and a Detroit Lions T-shirt. If he couldn’t watch football, at least, he’d support the team in spirit. Jack was about to leave the room when he thought of something else. He went into the bathroom and gargled with mouthwash. If he were alone, he wouldn’t have bothered, but Kayla was here. She’d made it clear they wouldn’t be snuggling, but he still wanted fresh breath.

When he returned to the living room, Kayla was seated on the couch wearing gray sweatpants, fuzzy socks, and a black sweatshirt with the words, “It’s Fall Y’all.”

“Don’t judge,” she said.

He chuckled. “You look—”

“Like someone who doesn’t have plans for the evening,” she finished for him.

“I was going to say cozy, and you do have plans—with me.”

She gave him a brief smile as he joined her on the leather couch. “Do you have any throw blankets?”

“Are you cold?”

“A little.”

He opened the lid of the matching leather ottoman. “Take your pick.”

Kayla’s eyes widened. “Are these for when you have a woman over?”

“A man can get cold too, you know.”

She eyed him skeptically.

“Okay, fine. You were right,” Jack conceded.

“I knew it!” Kayla dug through the blankets and pulled out a blue crocheted one. “Ooh. This is so soft.”

“My mom made it.”

“Of course she did. She’s so … momish.”

Jack chuckled. “Is that good or bad?”