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Drew

Themorningaftermy date with Sophie, I wake up with a grin on my face. I casually put my arms behind my head while I lay on my back in bed and look up at the ceiling.

My time with her was incredible. And that kiss. What a kiss it was. I want to kiss her again and again. The memory of her sweet, pouty lips moving perfectly in sync with mine makes my stomach do a little swoosh.

Sure, I’ve kissed women before. And it was nice. Who doesn’t enjoy kissing? But never have I experienced a kiss filled with heat and passion like the one I had with Sophie last night.

Good grief. I’m acting like a swooning teenager. I grin to myself again.

I stretch, urging my muscles to come back to life after sleeping so peacefully and dreaming of the woman in my basement all night.

Wow, it sounds sketchy when I refer to her as the woman in my basement.

Dragging myself out of bed, I shoot Sophie a text. I think there are rules about waiting a certain amount of time to contact someone after a date, but I don’t even care.

Drew: Good morning, beautiful.

She texts right back.

Sophie: Good morning, Drew. I really enjoyed our date.

Drew: Me too. Best first date in history.

Sophie: It was pretty amazing. ;-)

With a wistful sigh, I head to the bathroom. I glance at myself in the mirror and notice I’m smiling and didn’t even realize I was smiling. I shake my head at my dopiness before walking out of my bedroom and down the hallway with an extra pep in my step.

Emily is in the kitchen leaning against the countertop, a steaming mug of herbal tea in her hands. She arches an eyebrow at me before taking a sip.

“What’s that look for?” I ask before walking into the kitchen, grabbing the coffee pot, and filling it with water.

“I’m assuming your date went well by the stupid grin on your face.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “It went very well, as a matter of fact.”

Glancing around the main area of the house, I notice Penny isn’t awake yet. Perfect, because I need to have a serious conversation with my sister. I twist my lips as I ponder my words.

“Oh no. I know that look.” Emily says before setting her mug down.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I rest my back against the countertop opposite of my sister. “We need to talk.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Nothing good ever comes after someone states ‘we need to talk.’” She makes air quotes with her fingers.

“I have to tell her, Em.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “Drew, no.” She takes a step toward me and lowers her voice. “You’ve been on one date.”

“I can’t lie.”

My heart constricts inside my chest. My one and only regret last night was not being able to open up about Penny’s birth to Sophie.

Emily shakes her head, her eyes filling with tears. “You promised. You promised no one would ever have to know.”

My eyebrows furrow. I hate that I’m upsetting her. “That was over seven years ago, Em. You had to know someday I’d have a serious relationship or get married. Obviously, I’d tell that person everything.”

“Drew, please.” Her eyes shift back and forth, the look of desperation on her face palpable.

“I can’t begin a relationship with a huge lie like this. I am serious about Sophie. Dead serious.”