My palms were clammy as I gripped the phone. The ball was most definitely in my court, and I needed to either volley it back or forfeit the match. Giving up was sounding less and less appealing, so I scrolled to Sam’s contact and hit the green call button. Eek!

He picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Jenna.” His voice melted over me like butter on a hot roll and left me almost needing to sit down. If just his voice had that effect, I was in huge trouble—and I didn’t mind that idea so much anymore.

“Hi, Sam.” Did my voice just get all breathy?

Silence settled, but I could almost feel the crackle of electricity over the phone. He was really leaving this up to me, wasn’t he? I guess merely dialing his number wasn’t gonna cut it. “It was good to see you this morning.” There.

“You too. Having the girls home looks good on you.”

“Yeah. It’s great to have them back. We went to the pool today and they’re still going strong outside.” I was standing at the living room windows, watching them attempt handstands in the yard. “I needed a break from the sun.”

“I’m glad you called.” Damn, that voice.

Silence again.

And then I lost complete control of my mouth and blurted, “So what was going on with Emberly Peters last night? You looked pissed.”

“You saw that?” The melty tone was gone, replaced by something sharper.

“Yeah. You guys were in the background on another channel.” I turned and leaned against the wall, biting my thumbnail.

“Shit.”

I definitely shouldn’t have brought this up. “Sorry.”

His voice dropped down again. “No, not your fault. I’m just … Emberly has a way of creating drama where it doesn’t belong. I’m bothered that it made its way on TV, that’s all.”

Interesting.

“So, she was bugging you?” I hoped he’d elaborate. I was apparently channeling my sister because I was now wearing the nosy bitch hat.

Sam’s answer was slow and I could have sworn he was smiling. “Why do you want to know?”

I rolled my eyes. “Can’t a girl be curious? Sheesh.” I knew that was the lamest defense possible, but I gave it all I had.

“Hmm.” Sam’s response was completely noncommittal. But he surprised me by continuing, “It seems my ex has been rethinking her decision to dump me.”

I gasped audibly. I couldn’t help it. My skin got hot, and my vision began to turn a bit spotty. I headed for the couch before I fell on my face.

“She’s not happy that I don’t want to get back together,” Sam finished.

My breath whooshed out.

“Jenna?”

“Yeah. I’m here.” I forced cheerful energy.

“You okay?”

“Absolutely. Go on.” God, I was so transparent.

He made a sound that could have been a short laugh. I wasn’t sure.

“That’s it. There’s nothing else to tell about it.”

Oh my God. Guys were the worst storytellers. I wanted details. What did she say? What did you say? Why did she grab your arm? Why did you break up in the first place? These details could fill a short novel, I was certain. I rolled my eyes again.

“Okay.” So not okay.

Silence again. Whose turn was it to talk?

“I guess I should go check on the girls.” I didn’t know what else to say. Where was the manual on this shit?

“I have to go to work soon anyway.”

Crickets.

His tone turned all low and smooth again. “It was good to hear your voice, Jenna.”

Well that was all kinds of sweet.

It was panty-melting to hear yours, Sam. “You too.”

And then he hung up. He hung up! What the hell was I supposed to do with that conversation? I was in the same limbo I’d been in before I picked up the damn phone.

The cursed device dinged. Still scowling, I glanced down.

Sam: You still like me.

I sucked in a breath. Bastard!

Another ding.

Sam: Good to know.

Did I say bastard? I meant fucking bastard!

Ding.

Sam: As soon as you get a sitter, we’re going out.

That was it! Cocky fucking bastard!

So why in the hell was I suddenly grinning?

Me: Whatever.

God, I was absolutely brilliant. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed for some measure of badassery to instill itself in my body.

When nothing miraculous happened, I went and checked on the girls. But my grin remained in place.

* * *

Me: Mike ditched the girls at the beach with their step-mom so he could go back to work.

It was almost midnight, and apropos of nothing, I told Sam about Mike. I didn’t know why I felt the need to share that, but I’d shared very little about my marriage up to this point, and it felt important somehow to open up.

I knew Sam was working and wouldn’t get the message until morning, but I’d let the impulse take over and sent it. To my surprise, I got an immediate response.

Sam: Seriously?

My thumbs worked the phone.

Me: Yup. Ten days.

Sam: Wow. What an ass.

I coughed out a laugh.

Me: That’s the consensus.

Sam: Is the step-mom good with them?

Me: Yes, thank God.

I settled back into the couch instead of heading to bed as I’d planned.

Sam: Emberly told me I didn’t fit with the image she was going for.

Huh? What did that mean? And side note: what a bitch.

Me: Wait. Last night?

Sam: No. When she broke up with me.

It was a good thing that woman had looks because she was obviously mental.

Me: What does that even mean?

Sam: She wants the anchor job, and apparently a patrol officer doesn’t send the right message.

Me: As opposed to? This is Sunview. What was she expecting?

It’s not like this place is riddled with celebrities and billionaires—a fact which didn’t exactly work with my romance novel obsession, but what can you do?

Sam: It remains a mystery.

Me: She sounds like kind of a snob.

I barely refrained from using a harsher and more accurate term. It seemed Jill had been right about her.

Sam: That’s the consensus.

He tossed my own words back at me.

Boldness took over.

Me: Were you in love with her?

I wondered for a minute if he’d actually answer, but then the three little dots told me he was typing a return message. I bit my lip and hugged a throw pillow to my chest.

Sam: Honestly, I don’t really know. I thought I was.

Interesting. Sofia had made it sound like Emberly smashed his heart to smithereens. She’d also said the woman had cheated, so I guess she had it wrong on both counts?

Me: Hmm. Maybe there are different kinds of love.

Sam: Maybe.

The air was suddenly too warm. The subject of love was making me feel exposed. I switched topics before he could say any more.

Me: Aren’t you supposed to be working?

Sam: I’m on break for a few more minutes.

A yawn broke over my face.

Me: It’s late. I should go to bed.

Sam: Okay. Sleep well, Jenna.

Me: Thanks. Stay safe.

Part of me wanted to hit that little call button and hear his voice repeat those words so I could get that melty feeling again.

Me: Sam?

Sam: I’m here.

Deep breath.

Me: You were right. I do like you. But I’m still not sure what that means, okay?

His reply was quick.

Sam: Okay.

Me: Night.

I smiled lazily and took myself to bed.

* * *

The next day, Kate and Eileen announced they absolutely had to see their friend Megan or they would die. Not wanting their death on my conscience, I arranged the play date and off they went to spend the afternoon with their bestie.

Watching the girls devour their scrambled eggs and bacon that morning, I’d decided I didn’t like the idea of being at all cowardly, and I especially didn’t like the notion of hiding behind my kids and using them as an excuse for not going after what I wanted. Jill’s voice kept echoing in my head—“martyr, martyr, martyr”—to the point where I wanted to murder, murder, murder. Luckily, I’d only taken my aggression out on the eggs.

Feeling emboldened, if not a bit uncertain, I texted Sofia and completely crossed the line by asking for Sam’s address. I knew by doing that, the cat would be entirely out of the bag, but I didn’t want to be able to backtrack and make excuses.

Amazingly, she didn’t give me a hard time at all. She must have been busy fighting off terrorists for the restraint it would have taken otherwise.

With the address and smiley emoji in hand, I got ready to surprise Sam. What would happen after that, I had no clue, but I was doing it. I put on a flowy orange sleeveless top and an ivory knit skirt. My hair obeyed for once as I arranged it in soft waves around my shoulders and applied a few touches of makeup. Then I was ready to go.

Halfway to the car, I backtracked and put on another layer of antiperspirant since the first application wasn’t cutting it. My newly found nerve hadn’t yet reached my sweat glands. They’d better catch up, though, because this shit was happening!

My left leg bounced all the way to his house as the air conditioning blasted me with arctic temperatures. He literally lived two miles from my house—he hadn’t been exaggerating at all. This didn’t give me nearly enough time to calm my nerves. I put the car in park and closed my eyes, letting the air do its job. Worried about my underarms, I placed my hands on my head to give them equal exposure to the lovely coolness. I had officially reached the heights of sexiness.

A knock on the glass next to my ear sent me shrieking and nearly peeing my pants. I quickly dropped my arms and saw Sam leaning down to peer into my window, his arms propped on the roof of my car.