“I should have added that to the roommate contract. Made you organize it every Saturday.”
“I don’t think I could keep up with Clutterbug Miles.”
“Don’t make me swerve and mess up your makeup,” I threaten.
She glares at me. “Don’t even think about it.”
“So, you’re sure you don’t mind going camping with my family?”
Lucy tucks her legs under her, crisscross-applesauce style. “We always knew we’d have to face them eventually. It’s kind of the whole reason we got married. Will we have to meet Preston?”
I nod. “He’ll probably be there.”
“I’ve got to admit, I’m very curious about him.”
“My parents and sisters will be there too.”
“Oh no. What if I like them like I do Goldie?”
Something warm and fuzzy fills my chest. I like that Lucy likes my family. And it feels important to me. Even if this is just a temporary thing for us.
“They’ll probably want to keep you in the divorce,” I assure her.
I turn into Margaret’s neighborhood and park at the far end of the road, leaving the closer parking spaces for the families with babies and any of Margaret’s senior friends…or boyfriends.
“I asked my friend Krystal about getting Alexander. I was planning on driving out there to get him, but she told me she’s coming through Oregon next week on a road trip and I could just meet up with her. Would that be an issue with the camping trip?”
“Absolutely not. That takes priority. I’ll even go with you to get him if you want?”
Lucy finishes swiping the lip gloss on her lips, then turns to flash me a smile. “How did I get so lucky to have you?”
And then she leans across the console and presses a quick kiss against my lips.
I think the move takes both of us by surprise, and I’m the one who recovers first. I grasp the back of her neck and deepen the kiss. She tastes as sweet as she looks. And kissing her feels like lighting a fire in my veins. Every nerve is standing at attention, and what was meant to be a sweet, innocent thank-you kiss swiftly turns into something else.
Her lips are warm against mine, and it feels like she’s infusing her warmth into me.
My lips are on fire. In fact, they feel like they’re burning.
I pull back abruptly. “Am I allergic to you? Why are my lips on fire?”
Lucy looks stunned as she stares at me, and then she glances at my lips and starts to laugh.
“My lips are burning.” I try to rub at them, and some lip gloss comes off.
“It’s lip plumper,” Lucy gasps out.
“Lip plumper?!”
“Yes, it kind of burns and tingles and makes your lips bigger.”
“There’s no tingle, just burn.” I glare at her.
She stops laughing and narrows her eyes. “You’re the one who kissed me.”
“You leaned over here to kiss me!”
“I was going to kiss your cheek,” she says dryly.
