Page 65 of Foster

She tips her head back even farther to grin at her dad behind her, then bolts for me. “Mazzy… look what Daddy bought me today.”

She holds out her wrist, and from it dangles a small silver bracelet with a small guitar charm. “I can add others too, but he got me the guitar because I’ve been so good about practicing.”

I examine it critically before smiling at her. “It’s beautiful.”

“Would you like something to drink?” My mom looks at Foster expectantly. “We’d love to have you stay for dinner?”

Foster throws his thumb over his shoulder. “That sounds and smells amazing, but I really have to get to the airport. Thank you for the invite.”

“Maybe some other time?” my mom suggests, and I know she’ll keep pushing in the days or weeks to come to get him over here. My dad and brothers will want to check him out.

“I’d love to,” Foster assures her, then steps forward to pick up Bowie Jane for a big hug. She wraps her arms around him and buries her face into his shoulder. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Going to miss you too, Dad.”

She holds on tight an extra moment and then he lets her down. His eyes come to me. “Can I talk to you privately?”

My mom jumps into action, holding her hand out to Bowie Jane. “Want to come help me finish up the dumplings? After dinner, we’re going to carve pumpkins for Halloween and we have cherry pie.”

Bowie Jane takes my mom’s hand without looking back at us and as they head into the kitchen, I hear her ask, “What’s a dumpling?”

Foster and I grin at each other but then I follow him out the front door. As soon as it’s closed and we’re alone on the porch, his hand goes to the back of my neck and he pulls me upward for a quick, lips-only kiss. “Just needed to do that.”

“And we can’t do that in front of Bowie Jane.” I chuckle.

“We can totally do that in front of her,” he scoffs with a sly glimmer in his eye. “I didn’t want to do it in front of your mom though.”

“She’d be okay with that,” I assure him.

“Not the way I really want to kiss you.” The dark undercurrent of desire prickles my skin, but then he adds lightly, “I got you something.”

Foster reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a black velvet box. My heart flutters as I take it from him. When I open it, I see it’s the exact bracelet he got Bowie Jane with the same guitar charm.

“It’s not much,” he says almost bashfully. “But it reminded me of you.”

“Thank you. That’s so thoughtful. I love it.”

Foster takes it from the box and I hold out my wrist for him to clasp it on. I twist it left and right, admiring it. My head tips up to look at him. “Thank you,” I say slowly so he understands the depth of feeling behind it. “That means a lot.”

Going to my tiptoes, I touch his jaw with my palm and press my mouth to his. He angles his head and the kiss immediately deepens.

It’s only the sound of a sputtering car pulling up to the curb that has me stepping back. We both turn to see Leo getting out of his junker that has lived more lives than I can count. I don’t move away from Foster but instead let my hand drop to link my fingers through his. Leo knows we’re dating so this won’t be a surprise to him.

Leo is Leo, dressed as if he’s ready to walk onstage. Dark hair tousled as if he just rolled out of bed complements his fair, inked skin where tattoos peek out from under his sleeves and leather bracelets adorn his wrists. He’s wearing a vintage Eagles T-shirt, slightly faded, tucked loosely into well-worn slim-fit black jeans and a pair of ratty Vans. He’s wearing a beat-up leather jacket that I bought him for Christmas probably seven years ago.

Leo trots up the porch, eyes on Foster, and holds out his hand. “Hey, man.” Foster goes to shake but Leo goes for the fist bump so they do an awkward slap at each other. “You staying for dinner?”

“On my way to the airport,” Foster says, and I can’t help but think he actually looks grateful for that obligation.

“I’ll take care of your girl for you,” Leo says, giving me a wink.

“Pretty sure she can take care of herself,” he replies, and his tone is curt. Is he… jealous?

No way. He knows Leo is just a friend and Foster’s far too confident to be concerned.

Leo doesn’t seem to think anything’s wrong and he asks Foster, “You coming Saturday?”

“Saturday?”

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