Page 116 of Better Late Than Never

“I think so?” Connor slid his hands around behind my neck and drew me in. “I won’t lie—I have no idea what we’re doing anymore.” His lips grazed mine. “But I know I don’t want to stop.”

Then he kissed me full-on, and I couldn’t help the soft moan as I sank into it. Wrapping my arms around him, I completely surrendered, wishing like hell I could stay here all night and sleep beside him, but also relieved and satisfied that I was touching and tasting him at all. It had only been a few days since we’d seen each other in person, and I’d missed him more than I had any right to.

No, I still didn’t know what we were doing.

I just knew that I also didn’t want to stop.

CHAPTER33

CONNOR

After Alex left, I pressed the button to close the gate to the driveway. Then I stood there in the foyer, just collecting my thoughts as I stared at our selfie.

I loved having my kids here. Being away from them this long sucked, and every minute I got to spend with them was precious.

But still, I needed a moment to myself after that exchange with Alex.

This wasn’t just casual anymore, was it? I didn’t know how it had changed or when, only that I felt things for him that didn’t jive with what we’d set out to be, and I’d felt that way for a while.

Turned out I wasn’t the only one.

What was I supposed to do with that?

Well, I could think about it later. Right now, my sons were here, and I wasn’t going to waste the very limited time I had with them.

I shook myself, gave the front door another glance as if there might be an afterimage of Alex, and then went back up the hall to join everyone outside.

As I came down the steps into the backyard, three faces watched me curiously. I furrowed my brow as I took my seat. “What?”

“You said you were seeing someone,” Quinn said. “You didn’t say you were, like,seeing someone.”

I picked up my drink. “What does that mean?”

“It means you guys don’t seem”—Landon made air quotes—“‘not serious.’”

I blinked. “We… We don’t?”

“Uh, no?” He shrugged. “I thought you’d kind of just met someone, but you guys looked like you were… I don’t know…”

“Really into each other,” Quinn said.

“Really happy together,” Savannah supplied.

At that, both boys nodded sharply.

I sat back, cradling my beer between my hands. “It’s… I mean, we get along great and all, but like I said before—it’s nothing serious.” Why was the word“yet”dangling so precariously from the tip of my tongue?

All three of them watched me skeptically.

“What?” I put up my free hand. “What makes you think it’s anything serious? I like him and all, but I did just meet the guy, you know. And we can’t be out any time soon.”

They all nodded in acknowledgement, but I could tell they weren’t budging on this.

“It’s just… the way you look at Alex.” Quinn gestured toward the house. “You never looked at Mom that way.”

My stomach somersaulted. “I didn’t?”

“You didn’t,” Landon chimed in. “I’ve never seen you look at anyone like that.”

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