Page 57 of The Thought of You

“Lockhart, shit!” I reach out to grasp her arm. Thankfully, it’s not like I kicked her with the force I’d use on a punching bag, but still—it doesn’t work in my favor to kick the woman I’m trying to win over.

“Are you practicing the moves from Footloose?”

“It’s jujitsu, actually.”

“Are you taking Keenan’s class?” she asks, the shock worn off completely.

“I was just kidding.” I give her a tight-lipped smile. “But does he have a jujitsu class here in Sapphire Creek?”

She nods. “He opened a studio recently.”

Instinctively, my eyes fall onto her lips. They’re a deeper pink color today than usual, and they’re distracting as hell. “I’ll have to try it out,” I say absentmindedly.

“I’m glad I ran into you like this.”

“Need me, did you?” I lean my shoulder against the door and flash her my best smirk.

“I did.” She presents a stapled bunch of papers from the monstrous bag over her shoulder. “If this is going to work between us, we need itineraries, schedules, and rules. Otherwise, we’re just in the jungle with zero food and supplies.”

I reach a tentative finger out for the pamphlet. Is this about us? When I proposed she and I get together, I knew it’d be hard to navigate, but I didn’t expect her to draw up a list of demands and rules.

Then again, this is Addie. She makes a list for everything, so I shouldn’t be that surprised she’d go this far for a romantic entanglement.

I thumb through the stack and release a low whistle. “Is this a contract I need to sign?”

“It’s not that extensive,” Addie clips. “I expect to have yours by Friday, and it can be as detailed as you’d like.”

“Are you giving me homework?”

She shrugs. “If that’s what you want to call it…”

I tilt my head, studying her every delicate feature. Behind those crystal eyes and the easy dip of her top lip exists the spontaneous woman who came on to me last weekend. She kissed the fucking breath from my lungs like a swift kick to my stomach—and I liked it.

I like Addie, both the strict list fanatic and the wild kisser of the night, but if she’s going to great lengths to instill structure into a relationship before it’s even begun, it’s hard not to think she’s uncomfortable.

And I don’t want to cause her any discomfort.

“Listen, Lockhart,” I start, softening my tone from before as my eyes land on hers. I press off the wall and move toward her as I say, “We don’t have to follow any kind of rule sheet. We can take it day by day and see where it leads.”

“A little organization and boundaries never hurt anyone,” she presses.

“No, and if this is what will put you at ease, fine. I’ll have my details to you by tomorrow. But I just think defining this from the beginning will put too much pressure on us.”

She jabs a finger onto the packet. “This is supposed to help alleviate the pressure. Trust me, it’s a good idea, Owen.”

“Is this really so hard for you that you need guidelines?”

“I’ve never done this before. Have you?”

“Not like this.” I wiggle the chapter book, the pages flapping in the morning breeze. “But I guess there’s fun to be had somewhere in these pages.”

“This isn’t about having a jolly good time.”

“Then what’s it about?”

“The kids. I want what’s best for them and their future.”

“Kids?” I blink. She won’t even let me kiss her again, and now we’re talking about kids? This woman is going to be the death of me.

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