My heart instantly warms. She loves Simon. It’s clear. Not just from her words but how her eyes started to gloss over just now talking about him.
“You can talk about Grey’s mom anytime you want, Calla. Simon knows he can too. She was their life, and now she’s gone. I don’t want anyone to ever think they need to avoid talking about her. Plus”— I pause and sigh myself— “Simon and I may not be really dating, but we are very attracted to each other. I’m not sure anything will come of it, but I’m enjoying my time with him while it’s there.”
She smiles softly and nods. “Just go easy on him, okay? If he messes up, it’s because he’s rusty as hell in the dating department.”
I chuckle. She won’t have to worry. I don’t think a lot of people would understand this thing between Simon and me if I tried to explain it. Hell, I’m not sure I’d know how to explain it.
“All right, well, I love the guy, but if he messes up”—she points between us— “you and I can’t change. You are a part of my life now. Let’s keep it that way.”
“Deal.”
She stands with a nod.
“I better get this day started.”
“Make it a good one.”
“I will.” She pauses at the door. “Hey, Greer?”
“Yeah?”
“Eww, you kissed my brother,” she says, then laughs her way out the door.
My morning flies by. All my clients are on time, and no one cancels. I even had one sign on for another six months and then signed her sister up too. Keeping clients has never been a problem for me, but I’m still grateful each time they want to extend their one-on-one sessions.
I pack up the studio and pop over to say hi to Willa. With my schedule this summer, she and I haven’t had as much time to catch up. But Calla and Beck’s reception is this weekend, so I make a mental note to make extra time for her.
After all, I wouldn’t have my dream job if she hadn’t gone after hers.
I step over my bike and tighten my helmet before pushing off and heading toward Simon and Grey’s.
Grey and I have ninja warrior camp today. I’m excited to go. It’s only a few weeks before they have their first of three end-of-camp competitions. Which means summer is only five more weeks.
Since that’s all the time that Simon and I agreed on for me to watch Grey, does that mean that we’ll call it quits on whatever this is at that time too?
Five weeks of Simon and I’m just supposed to wave goodbye one day, go home, and pretend nothing ever happened between us.
No way in hell can I pull that off.
I pull up in front of their house, and Simon steps off the porch.
Well, this is new. First it was the Simon who scowled at me whenever I’d ride by, then it was the Simon who would stare me down as I walked up to his house each day, then it was the Simon who would close his computer to greet me when I arrived. Now it’s the jog-down-the-steps-with-a-flirty-grin-to-meet-me-in-the-grass-for-a-kiss Simon.
You won’t hear me complain about this. Not one bit.
He spins his hat backward right before snaking his hands around my lower back. I groan at his smooth movements right before he kisses me.
He holds me tight, and his tongue slips past my lips for a quick moment before he pulls back.
“How was your morning?”
“It was good. It went fast. What was your favorite scene to write this morning?”
He taps his chin.
“Would you judge me if I said it was along the lines of us last night in my library?”
I slap his shoulder and then hide my face.
