Page 69 of First Down Promise

Josh: But yeah. Coast clear?

Me: Crystal.

Knowing Josh is two minutes away, I close my laptop and put it back on the end table, then slip down the hall to Pete’s office where the internet router lives. I flip the light on and inspect the back of the small box, and when I figure out which plug is the power cord, I yank it and press the power button on my phone. Our Wi-Fi is down immediately, which means all the smart home stuff is too, aside from the security system that has a radio backup in case of internet failures. But it’s not set, and I’ll plug the router back in before I go to bed. Pete has been wanting to update the overall system to something higher-end and not so reliant on the internet, but luckily, he hasn’t yet.

Josh: Here. Can you come out? We’ll wake up Pete if I try to leave later.

I shrug on a Stallions sweatshirt from the coat closet over my T-shirt dress and open the front door, careful not to let it creak. As the neckline brushes against my nose, I inhale Pete’s cologne, and for one brutal second, it feels like he’s standing right behind me. I peek over my shoulder, but the foyer is empty. A flash of headlights cuts across the foyer windows. Josh is here.

The chilly fall night air hits my legs as I close the door behind me. When I lift my eyes, Josh cuts the headlights when he notices me. I step toward it and hop into the passenger seat.

“Hey,” I greet him, easing the truck door shut behind me.

He unbuckles his seatbelt. “Hi.” He leans over and brushes his lips over mine. “How was your night?” He tangles his fingers in my hair, holding my gaze. I sigh, and his smile fades. “What?”

“You didn’t tell me you gave Pete a reason why you came by before your party,” I say.

“Fuck, I forgot!” He sits straighter, his forehead creasing. “Is everything okay? He didn’t rush over to my place to kick my ass.”

“I smoothed it over.” I close my eyes and take a slow breath, willing my pulse to settle. “I told him you were checking on me because of my history with my mental health.”

“I’m sorry you had to go there. It slipped my mind. Dane was giving me shit that day about you. He totally knows everything.”

I blink at Josh. “What’d you tell him?”

“Does it matter? He dropped you off at my house that night. He knew what it was,” he answers. “Look, he’s not going to tell Pete anything. Dane made it clear that’s my mess.”

“So, I’m a mess?” I ask, half-playfully.

“No, fuck no. Just the timing—what is going on tonight?” Josh’s brows pull together, and even in the dim truck lighting, the redness creeping up his neck is apparent.

Josh reaches for my hand, and I squeeze his, grounding myself in the familiar warmth of his palm. “Nothing, we’re fine, but we’re not going to be able to keep a lid on this for much longer.”

“I know. Just a little longer. It’s you and me.” He presses a gentle kiss to the back of my hand. “How was your night otherwise?”

“Good, just hung out with Pete.”

He smirks. “Lucky you.”

“How was yours?” I ask.

“Boring. I’m glad I hit you up.”

“Me too. So, what’d you want?” I ask.

That irresistible smile I can never stay mad at lands on his lips.

“You.”

I awkwardly tug my panties up my legs in the passenger seat while Josh sorts himself out beside me, then shrug Pete’s sweatshirt back on.

“I have a weird question.”

“Shoot,” he replies, tying off the condom—what he called easy cleanup.

“It’s personal, though.”

Josh chuckles and runs his hand through his hair. “You just rode me in your brother’s driveway. I think we’re past that. You like being on top, don’t you?”