I am incredibly hot, way hotter than normal, so I try to kick off the blanket. My foot hits something hard. What in the world? I curl my toes, feeling hair.

Hair?

My eyes open, coming face-to-face with Wilder’s head. He is lying practically on top of me, his head on my chest, his arm thrown across my stomach. He is still shirtless. Please give me strength.

Craning my neck, I look at the clock. It’s 9:00 a.m. I don’t have to be at work until twelve.

Wilder breathes heavily, causing goose bumps to break out across my neck and arms. Oh God, I must have fallen asleep. I am in my bed, but I guess he just lay down with me.

Not that I mind.

“What time is it?” Wilder grumbles, causing me to grin. He sounds so cute with his deep, sleepy voice.

“Nine.”

“I am going to sleep for a while longer.” He shifts his head and wraps his arm tighter around me.

I grin once again, and I drag my fingers through his short hair. His hand moves from my hip to the side of my face. “You’re an angel.” He closes his eyes.

How cute is he?

My fist smashes into the face of the man who tried to steal my bike. He hits the ground, not moving. Stupid fucker.

“Wilder.”

I turn around to see Joslyn’s mother standing behind me. Today was an alright fucking day until this man tried to steal my bike, and then Joslyn's mother showed up. The worst part is she looks a lot like Joslyn.

“Please just talk to me.”

I growl loudly. “What is it?”

“How is Joslyn?” she says softly, looking at the ground.

I laugh. “You will not manipulate me into thinking you’re a concerned mother. You have caused your daughter enough pain.”

She stands up straight, losing her sad look. “I am homeless!” she screeches.

I stand a little closer to her. “That is not my problem. Your daughter has started from scratch many times. You can do it too!”

“I don’t even have money for food!” she hisses back, her arms folded across her chest.

Breathe, Wilder. I take my wallet from my back pocket and take out two hundred-dollar bills. “Here.” She snatches it right out of my hand.

Bitch.

As I’m climbing on my bike, my phone dings. I slide it out of my pocket and see a text from Joslyn.

Can you believe that they are having a huge country concert tonight? Too bad all of the tickets are sold.

I go to my contacts and find Conner’s number. We went to school together, and this is an event that he organized.

Conner answers. “Hey man, how have you been?”

He and I got into a lot of shit when we were teenagers and almost drove our mothers crazy. “My woman is wanting to go to the concert tonight. You got any tickets?”

He laughs. “Well, I thought I would never see the day. I have some front-row seats if you want them. How many?”

“Just me and her.” I forgot about Joslyn’s mother, and I turn around to see her staring at me in shock.

“I will have my guy drop off the tickets.”

“Thanks, man.”

I hang up. Joslyn’s mother has crept up next to me, and the fucker I knocked out is slowly walking around the parking lot holding his head.

“What do you want now?”

She looks at the money in her hand. “Will you tell Joslyn I am sorry? I am leaving my husband, and it’s time that I become a better person. Joslyn deserves to be happy.”

My anger dissipates. “I will make sure she is happy. Live your life. If Joslyn wants to see you, I will get a hold of you.”

She nods, turning on her heel, and walks away. This woman confuses the fuck out of me. I think, deep down, she never meant to be the way she is, but she did treat Joslyn badly. That is something I will never forget or forgive.

I sit down on the couch, confused. Shaylin sent me home early; it’s now four o’clock. There’s a knock at the door, and I open it to see a delivery man. He is holding a garment bag.

“I have a delivery for Joslyn,” he says.

What?

“Are you Joslyn?” he asks and I finally nod.

“Here.” He hands me the garment bag and walks away. I stare at his retreating back. What is going on?

As I start to unzip the bag, there is another knock at the door. What in the world? I open the door and see someone carrying a smaller bag.

“Are you Joslyn?”

“Yeah?” I startle as he sets the bag in my hands with a note and walks down the driveway. Okay, this is strange.

I set the small bag next to the garment bag; then I open the letter.

Joslyn,

Be ready by five thirty, I will be by to pick you up. The concert starts at seven thirty. Can’t wait to see you, Sweetheart.

Oh my God! How sweet is he.

Excited, I unzip the garment bag to see a black dress. It has a small strap at each shoulder with ruffles between the shoulder and elbow. The front is slightly low cut, but still very modest, and the rest of the dress is fitted, but not tightly.

Next I open the small bag to see black stilettos. I set the shoes down, staring at the gifts. Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before.

I don’t even think that I have ever gotten a birthday gift, and I have definitely never had anyone surprise me like this, with concert tickets to a sold-out arena, a dress, and stilettos.

The door opens and Wilder’s sister Brittany walks in. She looks at the garment bags then at me. Her face is soft. “Wilder sent me to do your hair and makeup so you can relax.”

I turn away to hide the tears that have finally fallen—I tried to be strong and ignore it.

“Aw, Joslyn.” Brittany wraps her arms around me, shaking me side-to-side.

I laugh and wipe my eyes, pulling back. I am such a dweeb.

“Now let’s get you ready for your date!” She claps her hands and scoops up my dress and shoes.

Hold it! I touch her arm to stop her from powering up the steps to my bedroom. “Did you say ‘date’?”

She laughs. “Wilder has wanted you from the moment he first saw you, you just gave him the perfect excuse.”

She leaves me standing there alone with my thoughts.

Date?