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Her chest rises against my pounding heart, and all I want to do is kiss her. It’s an overwhelming feeling. There’s no time to analyze whether a kiss is wrong or right or whether I’m ready for it.

My speeding heart says I am.

My head dips down and my lips brush up against hers in the softest, lightest way. Her breath goes ragged as my mouth faintly skims her lips.

“Well, this is cozy.”

We jump, and I step back as Tessa enters the kitchen.

She’s wearing a satisfied smile. “It looks like you're on a blind date with the wrong daughter.”

I sigh. “Sorry, I—”

“We were just talking,” Meg stammers.

“That was a little more than talking.” Tessa’s eyes move to mine. “You don’t have to be sorry. I like this little dynamic,” she says, pointing between the two of us.

Crap.

What have I done?

“I better go. It's getting late, and Krew’s at my brother's house.” I reach my hand out to Tessa. “It was nice to meet you.”

“It was nice to meet you too, Tyler. I hope this isn't the last we see of you.”

I walk out of the kitchen, certain that if Meg had it her way, it would be the last time sheeversees me.

CHAPTER19

TYLER

“The sky is blue. The grass is green.” I slap Wayne and Logan on their backs as I come up behind them. “It’s a beautiful day to play baseball.”

Maybe everything only looks beautiful because I kissed Meg last night. I mean, I shouldn’t have kissed her. I wasn’t acting like a mature adult. I was acting like a cocky teenager who let his hormones get in the way of all logical reasoning. She specifically said that we’re just friends. I know the rules.

And I obviously know how to break them.

Logan glances down at his watch. “Our baseball game is already a half hour behind.”

“It’s Sunday afternoon,” I say. “Where do you have to be?”

Logan’s expression drops. “Hillary wanted to go to her grandma’s house after the game. Now we’re going to be late, and she’s not going to be happy.”

“Eh.” I shrug. “Hillary’s never happy.”

“Boys!” Wayne calls to the team. “Stop throwing the ball over here. You’re going to hit someone watching the games.” He points to the grass behind the home run fence. “Go out there to warm up.”

“What’s the score here?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.

“The Blue Sox will walk it off if they get that last run in,” Wayne says.

“There you are!” Beverly Ulrich comes to my side, squeezing my arm. Her hand stays on my bicep, and I catch Wayne and Logan’s raised eyebrows. “I’mwondering if youknow whichdugout we’re going to be in. I want to set up my canopy and don’t know if we’re going to be on the first base or third base side.”

“When this game is done, we’ll put our stuff in the third base dugout.”

Beverly squeezes my arm again, then drops her hand. “Great. I love third base.” She winks at me before turning to go, but then she pauses. “Tyler, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.” She eyes Wayne and Logan like she wishes they weren’t there but continues anyway. “Diane said that you’re starting to date again.”

My head kicks back. “Did she?”