BRADLEY

“You’ll be fine, just relax, and...”

Lexi’s voice fades into the background as the Monroe house looms into view. She parks, steps out without a backward glance, and is halfway to the door before I can unstick my ass from the front seat.

“Bradley?” She turns, a horrified look on her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. Come here, we’ll go in together. I’m just so used to...”

She trails off again, and I know what she’s thinking. Things have started to feel so normal between us, so familiar, it’s easy to fall into old patterns. Growing up as neighbors, all three of us had basically shared two houses and two sets of parents.

Our parents were friends, we were friends, it’d been the freaking Brady Bunch. When I’d left for college, however, my parents had moved away. Not far, but far enough that I had no excuse to swing by this cul-de-sac anymore.

My eyes land on the house next door—my old house—and then sweep over to the Monroe’s. “It hasn’t changed at all.”

“Don’t tell my mother that,” Lexi says. “She planted new trees and demands everyone compliment them, or else she’s offended.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Lexi hooks her arm through mine, then gives me a critical once over. “I thought your nerves might go away.”

“Nerves?”

“It’s useless to pretend you’re a cool cucumber,” she says. “You’re more tense than a jack in the box.”

“It’s been years. Last time I was here, we—”

“Last time you were here, you waltzed right through the door without an invitation. That’s how it’s always been, and things shouldn’t be any different now.”

“But they are different. I haven’t... swung by, stopped over to say hi. Your family must hate me.”

“Are you kidding? My parents have always loved you the most out of us three. They still ask about you all the time.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And what did you tell them about my extended absence?”

She flinches under my gaze. “You know, the truth.”

“What truth?”

“That you’ve been really busy at the gym, and you said hello to them back, and...”

“You covered for me.”

“I don’t know about that, but I tried. I’m sure my mom suspects something. She got used to not seeing you when you went off to school, but even then you’d swing by once in a while.”

He grimaces.

“I’m sure she suspects we had a falling out, but you know my mom—she just picks and chooses what she likes to believe. Also, she’s been sending you food. So, you might want to thank her for all those meals you loved.”

“Food?”

“Let’s focus on the important part here,” she said. “Whatever happened was between you and me. I never hated you, Bradley, not even close. The last thing I wanted to do was make things worse while you were injured and alone.”

Her words ring straight through to me. Alone. Lonely. That’d be a good summary of the last few years. It’s also the reason why I’d thrown myself—financially, mentally, physically—into the business of working out so hard that I’d pass out in sleep every night. If I didn’t physically exhaust myself, I’d stare at the ceiling all night long.

“I didn’t mean alone, I meant—”

“No,” I tell her. “You’re right. I’m just mad at myself for making you lie to your family.”

“I didn’t lie, I covered for you. Just like the time you covered for me when Kitty and I fell asleep at the drive-in and got locked in all night.”

“Maybe if you’d driven to the place and not snuck through the back, you wouldn’t have fallen asleep in the bed of someone else’s truck.”

“They weren’t using it. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there,” she says, brushing off the story with a faint smile. “The point is that they’ll love to see you. I didn’t cover for you because I had to, I covered for you because it was the right thing to do.”

She takes another step forward, dragging me with her. I let myself get pulled along for a second, but then I stop abruptly. When I stop, she keeps moving, but since she weighs as much as a feather duster, she snaps right back into my arms.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

We’re tucked into the safe zone between the two motion sensor lights out front. Some habits die hard, and I got used to avoiding those suckers like the plague in high school.

Her green eyes peer up at me, bits of stars glimmering there. “It’s nothing you wouldn’t have done for me.”

“Including the food?” I murmur, a smile on my lips. “Just out of curiosity, if your mom has been sending me food for years—where did it go?”

She gives a tinkling laugh. “To a good cause. Preventing hanger in Apartment 709.”

I shouldn’t—I absolutely, positively shouldn’t, but I can’t hold myself back. Leaning in, I brush my lips against hers, and a sizzle of current strikes between us. The whisper of air there, and the promise of what we might be.

I want to make her happy, and that’s why I’m venturing inside the Monroe house tonight. That’s why I’m facing Lucas who, if I know Lexi’s brother, will be chomping at the bit to put me in my place.

“Brad.” Lexi’s hands rise and frame my face. Her skin is soft, cool against my cheeks. “Breathe, honey.”

I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding my breath. A bit of tension leaves as I exhale, and when I bring my attention back to her face, I’m captured by the look in her eyes. She’s focused on me, only me, and it melts any leftover resistance.

“Better?” She flashes a smile that brightens her face. “My mom made manicotti.”

“Let’s go.”

“Wait.”

Her hands find mine, and she squeezes tightly. “Whatever happens inside, I’ll be there for you. You’re my date tonight, and I want you by my side. Does anything else matter?”

“If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

One last kiss, then a tug, and we’re off. Three years since I’ve stepped foot in this place, and now I’m back. And the situation is looking grim. In one night, I have to re-kindle a relationship with my almost-girlfriend’s parents, re-introduce myself to my almost-girlfriend’s brother, and break the news to everyone that we’re almost-dating.

Happy Birthday to Lucas.