When I got to Coach’s, I cursed. Zach’s truck was there. Dane came out of the front door and frowned when he saw me. I got out of the car slowly.

“I guess he’s here,” I said as I grabbed my purse out of the backseat and shut the door. I walked onto the front porch and hugged Dane. “Tell me if I’m being weird. I promise to try to act civil and not like an idiot.”

“I promise I’ll tell ya. I think he’s only here to check on Coach. He said something about having a few more interviews to do.”

I nodded and followed Dane inside.

I set my purse on the counter when we came into the kitchen. I hugged Coach and smiled when Millie came running in squealing when she saw me. I knelt to hug her.

“How’s the doll doing? Does she like her new home?”

She nodded. “She likes it a lot.” She pulled on my hand. “Do you want to see my room?”

“Of course I do!” I let her lead me through the house and up the stairs.

I came in to a mural of Peter Pan painted on the wall and a room that every little girl dreams of.

“Wow, Millie! This room is perfect!”

“Daddy, Uncle Zach, Aunt Quinnie, and Uncle Brink did it for me. Daddy painted the walls.” She pulled me to her bed where the doll I gave her was sitting next to another American Girl doll in a dance outfit.

“Awww, she looks just like you! Curls and all!” I sat on the edge of her bed and looked out into the hall when I heard a door close. Zach saw me but kept walking. I heard his feet stop, and then he backed up until he stood in the doorway.

I smiled a little. “Hey, assistant coach.”

“Hey. I didn’t know you were coming over.” He leaned against the doorjamb.

Millie held up a doll that looked like her. “Uncle Zach got this for me, didn’t you?”

Zach nodded. “Yep. Anything for my little monster.”

Millie giggled. “He calls me monster.” She looked up at me.

Zach smiled a little, but the normal energy he had when I saw him was gone.

“I think it’s very cute.” I stood. “Millie, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back, okay?”

She nodded and started playing with her dolls.

I went into the hall and grabbed Zach’s hand, pulling him into the bathroom with me. I shut the door and locked it. I hopped onto the countertop and crooked my finger at him. He was hesitant but came over anyway.

I smiled and then cupped the back of his head as I leaned in to kiss him. He moved in between my legs and pulled me against him completely as one of his hands moved up my body. My whole body shivered, but in a good way. My hands moved down his neck and gripped his t-shirt tightly. I hated and loved the effect he had on me.

“I’m sorry for this morning,” I whispered against his ear. I couldn’t believe I was apologizing. I wasn’t sorry, or was I? He was honest with me about not knowing what was going to happen with us. I appreciated that, but did I need to be sorry for expecting more? I wasn’t sure.

If I had to be honest with myself, I was okay with letting this happen but only when he was around. I’d go home and stay up all night, hating myself and him all over again. He was using my emotions as his personal playground, or at least that’s what it felt like. But feeling his lips trail against my skin… It was too amazing to give a shit. Zach Shaw had my mind all kinds of fucked up.

He stopped kissing me and put his forehead against mine. “Don’t be sorry. I should be the one saying sorry.”

“I think this whole thing is so new for both of us. It’s okay if you don’t know because I don’t know either. The only thing I know is that I can’t quit you.”

He gave me that crooked smile of his. “I feel the same way about you.”

A real smile spread across my lips. “I should go back to play with Millie.”

He helped me off the counter. I smiled when his lips touched mine softly. I left the bathroom first and then went into Millie’s room to play.

AFTER DINNER, DANE and I decided to just chill at the house and watch a movie instead of swimming. We were both worn out from practice, and Coach went to bed early because he wasn’t feeling well, so we stayed to help with Millie.

“How long are Quinn and Brink out of town?” I asked Dane as he pushed play.

“Two more weeks. They spend half their time here and half their time in New York. That’s where Brink’s family is.” Dane leaned back against the couch and absentmindedly rubbed his ribs. I don’t think he even realized he was rubbing them.

“What movie are we watching?”

“Peter Pan. It’s Millie’s favorite. We tend to watch it quite a bit.” He tickled her, making her giggle. His phone dinged, and he looked down at it. His smile faded. He turned to me. “Can you do me a huge favor?”

“Yeah, what?”

“I need to head home. My dad needs help with something. Can you watch Millie until Zach gets home? If you can’t, I’ll text him back.”

Something was off. I could see it all over his face. “Dane, what’s going on?”

He kissed Millie’s head. “It’s nothing. Can you?” He looked at me. Millie was looking up at him, as confused as me.

“You’re not staying the night?” Millie asked with a pout.

Dane shook his head. “Sorry, kiddo. Not tonight. I will see if I can this weekend.” He looked at me. “If you can’t stay, I’ll—”

“I can stay. I’ll text my parents and let them know I’m watching her.” I smiled at Millie when she looked at me.

“Thanks.” He kissed Millie’s head again. “Love ya, kiddo.”

She moved and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Love you.” She kissed his cheek and played with his hair for a second before she sat back down next to me. Dane stood. “Thanks, Hales. I’ll text you later tonight.” He kissed the top of my head and headed for the door.

I WOKE UP to Millie leaving my side. I rubbed my eyes to try to focus better and saw Zach picking her up. I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair.

“What time is it?” I whispered.

“Eleven. If I had known you were watching her, I would have come sooner,” he said in a whisper. “Where’s Dane?”

“His house. His dad texted him and said he needed help with something.” I stood and fixed my shirt. “I didn’t mind staying.”

Zach’s smile faded at what I said about Dane. “I’m going to put her to bed. I’ll be right back.” He headed upstairs with Millie.

I went into the kitchen and got my purse and keys.

“Thanks for staying, Hales,” Zach said as he came back into the kitchen. He smiled at me as he walked closer until I had my back to the counter. He placed his hands on either side of me on the counter so that his body was pressed against mine.

I stared up at him. “I should go.” My heart started beating faster.

He leaned down and kissed my neck. “I know.” He kissed my forehead. “But I don’t want you to go,” he whispered. It was so quiet; I almost didn’t hear it. “That’s a first for me.”

“You could sneak me up to your room,” I whispered back, walking my fingers up his chest. “Which would be a first for me.” I smiled a little.

He stared at me for a moment. He kissed me then put his forehead to mine. “Not tonight. You need to head home. The moment I sneak you anywhere, I want it to be just us. I don’t want to have to worry about being quiet or someone coming in.” He kissed me again. This time he deepened it, making him groan when he pulled back. “Okay, you really should go now.” He moved back from me.

“Walk me out?”

He nodded then laced his fingers in mine as we walked outside. “You up for a run in the morning?” he asked as we made it to my car.

“Sure. Same time?”

“Sounds good.” He smiled. “So, since no one can know, should we have code names?” he asked teasingly.

I laughed. “That’s probably not a bad idea if we’re going to be texting each other.”

He pulled out his phone and started typing something. He turned it to me and showed me that he had changed my name to Tiger. He grinned widely, revealing a dimple in his right cheek. It was the first time he had smiled wide enough for me to see it.

I laughed and pulled out my phone. I went into the contacts and found him. I changed it to Sadie’s name and showed it to him.

“I think I might actually like her. So don’t text me anything inappropriate, or my parents might start wondering which side of the fence I’m on.” I laughed.

“I could always get you a phone on my plan.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“You’d do that?”

“Yes.” He looked at me seriously.

“We’ll see.” I smiled and started playing with the buttons on his shirt. “See you in the morning?”

“Bright and early.” He took my hand away from his shirt and kissed my knuckles.

I kissed his cheek and then got in the car. I waved before driving off.