I blow a raspberry, trying to make my lips feel less numb but Jovie’s essence still overwhelms them.

One kiss. Just one kiss and I’m eighteen again. If Tucker hadn’t have knocked on the door, I would have picked her up and carried her to my bed. Hell, I might do just that as soon as I get rid of him.

I take a quick, calming breath and throw on a poker face before opening the door.

“Hey, Tucker,” I say, keeping myself planted in the door frame. “What’s up?”

“I was in the neighborhood.” His eyes drift over my shoulder. “Just thought I’d stop by and see if you wanted to get some pancakes or something before work.”

“No, thanks. I’ll pass.”

“You sure?” Again, his eyes target around me. “A man’s gotta eat.”

“I have food here.”

He squints at me. “All right. If you say so…” he says, taking a quick step back. “Hey, since I’m here, you wanna fill me in on what happened with Jovie last night?”

“Oh, yeah.” I clear my throat. “I woke her up and took her home. Talked to Hank for a bit to calm him down and that was it.”

He nods. “Ahh… that’s strange because I was just over there and he said she never came back last night.”

“He was pretty drunk,” I lie. “I mean, I doubt he remembers much at all. Classic Hank, you know?”

“So, where’s Jovie now?”

“You got me, man. Did you try the toy store?”

“Doesn’t open until nine-thirty.”

I wet my lips, still tasting a little bit of Jovie on them as my patience dwindles. “I don’t know where she is.”

“Well, I’m sure she’s fine.”

“Right.” I nod.

His eyes flick over my head again. “So, what are you making for breakfast?”

I grunt through my teeth. “Fine.”

He flinches as I reach out to grab his collar. I tug him inside and take one quick scan of the empty street before slamming the door closed behind us.

“Jovie’s here,” I whisper.

Tucker points a finger at me. “I knew it!”

“It’s not what you think, Tuck. I slept on the couch.”

“Pfft! Yeah, sure you did!”

I point at it behind him, noting the pillow and blanket still slumped along it.

“Oh…” His smug grin fades. “Then, why lie about it?”

“Because you’re a gossip and I don’t want everyone in town whispering and giggling about Jovie’s private family business anymore. They’ve been through enough.”

He gasps. “I am not a gossip.”

I raise a brow. “Then, prove it. Don’t tell anyone she stayed here last night.”

“I won’t,” he says, fishing into his pocket for his phone.

I glare at it in his hand. “What are you doing?”

“Checking the weather.”

“You just came in from outside.”

“Checking tomorrow’s weather.”

I snatch the phone from his hand. “Stay here.”

Tucker crosses his arms and sulks while I head back into the hallway. Jovie’s gone, no longer standing between the bedroom and the bathroom. I check the latter first but it’s empty.

“Jovie?” I ask, standing outside the closed bedroom door. I give it quick knock and I hear her shuffling behind it.

It opens on her, now fully dressed. She’s combed the adorable knots out of her hair, too.

“Is he gone?” she asks.

“No.”

“Does he know I’m here?”

“Yes.”

She steps back with rolling eyes. “Perfect. I’m sure the Mayor will be briefed by noon.”

I move inside and close the door behind us. She scoops her boots off the floor and sits down on the bed to slip them on, moving fast with erratic, twitching fingers. Either she’s incredibly upset by Tucker’s sudden presence or that kiss shook her up as much as it did me.

“Listen, Jovie,” I say, “if that ever happens with Hank again, I want you to know that you can come here.”

“Okay.”

“No questions asked. You ever need help, with anything, I’m here.”

She nods as she zips up her boots. “Well, it won’t happen again but thanks for the offer.”

“I think we both know you can’t predict what Hank will do—”

“It won’t happen again, Will,” she repeats as she stands up. “Nothing about last night will happen again or… this morning.”

I exhale. “Jove—”

“It was a mistake.” She grabs her bag off the floor. “Plain and simple.”

“Nothing about that kiss was plain or simple,” I argue.

“I felt guilty and you’re really hot with your shirt off.” She gestures at my bare chest. “Plain, meet simple.”

“I haven’t touched another woman since you left and that kiss meant more to me than our first one,” I tell her. “Complex, meet complicated.”

Jovie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before opening them again. “I have to go now.”

I step to the side to let her pass, far too beaten down to argue with her any further. Her boots stomp through the house and I hear Tucker greet her in the living room.

“Hey, Jovie!”

“Hi, Tucker.”

“You all right?”

“I’m fine.”

The door opens and closes just as fast. I wait a few moments, listening to Jovie’s boots as they stomp down to the sidewalk, before following into the living room.

Tucker stands by the door, awkwardly chewing on his thumbnail. “So, uh…” he chuckles, “did I interrupt something here?”

I toss his phone back to him and it bounces twice in his hands before he finally catches it. “I’ll see you at work, Tuck.”

“See ya…” He nods slowly and backs up toward the door. “Hey, Will.”

“Yeah?”

“You all right?” he asks.

“I’m fine.”

He shakes his head, laughing quietly as he walks outside. “You two really need to get your shit together.”

“Yeah, I know,” I say. “Hey, Tuck…”

He throws up a scout’s honor. “It dies with me.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

Tucker closes the door behind him, leaving me to my own pathetic misery. I stare at the floor, feeling a strange, overwhelming sensation creeping up my ankles, taking hold of my legs and spine all the way to my forehead.

Jovie Ross was in my house.

She slept in my bed.

I kissed her. She kissed me back, whether she wants to admit that or not.

The last time we were together like this, I didn’t know it was going to be the last time. If I had known that, I would have stopped and taken the time to memorize every second of our last kiss.

I had her in my arms again after spending years without her. There’s no way in hell I’m going to never let that happen again.

Plain, meet simple.