“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
Mariah stood at the door with none other than Angie, and both kids engaged in an energetic conversation behind their moms.
“We were having a private moment, as you can see,” Sasha teased Mariah without hesitation. “But you knew that already.”
Mariah didn’t even look sorry. “Youarein a public place. You should have locked the door.”
Sasha shrugged. He finally let go of me, only to claim my hand in his and gently lead me out to our families. “I take it the judging is over?”
Angie nodded. “We brought yours out to the car, too. Figured we’d keep it at our place with Zoe’s. We’re scheduling a playdate for Reece to come over and see his aunt’s work, too.”
I followed along easily. “You’re being very casual about this.” Suspiciously so.
Mariah softened. “That’s because Angie and I have been talking, and it seems like neither of you are players nor asshats. You may date with our blessing.”
I snorted. “God. Thanks, Mom. I really needed that.”
But it did feel good to know she supported me.
We stopped by Mariah’s car, and I faced Sasha. “It looks like I need your phone number.” I held mine out to him.
He took it and typed his contact in before sending himself a quick message and handing it back.
I laughed. “Sugar Bear?” I asked him, looking at the contact name that had a cute gingerbread man emoji after it.
Sasha shrugged. “I thought it was fitting. I’ll call you tonight,” he promised, sweeping me into another kiss before following Zoe to the truck and helping her into the back seat.
I stepped back and waved before slipping into the passenger seat of Mariah’s car.
“That good, huh?” she asked me affectionately.
I nodded. “Completely.”
Epilogue
Kaylinn
It was our fourth food truck of the night when Sasha pulled me back down the boardwalk with his bright laugh.
For cozy first dates, this guy might hold the trophy. We’d been texting nonstop since that first night, and he’d called me every night to hear my voice—the cheeseball. Then we found the right day that worked for both of us and here we were, hopping from one food stall to the next all along Merryl Pier. There was a boardwalk along the dock and beach area, and that meant a couple dozen shops and food trucks that sold fun choices of snacks. We just ordered one at each place and shared them. My favorite part was the playful bickering over which ones were good and which were more creative than delicious.
It was hopelessly endearing.
“I think this one might be my favorite,” I admitted, taking another bite of the seafood kebab with some sort of mystery sauce on it.
“Does that mean I don’t get another bite?” Sasha leaned over to try to steal another piece.
I hummed, pretending to really think about it.
“Oh, come on. Please, Kaylinn?”
I softened and pulled a piece off and held it out to him.
He took it between his teeth, his lips brushing over my fingers and sending a zing up my arm.
I met his eyes again, and there it was. That tether between us, pulling me closer into his orbit, even as he had his arm around me. I wanted to be closer.
He felt it, too, judging by the soft heat in his gaze. “Maybe I should take you home since that was our last stop.”
