I shifted in the passenger’s seat and held back a sigh. This was exactly why I’d made the whole casual edict so adamantly in the first place. Not for Smith. Smith was all about casual. In fact, I was pretty sure he’d never done anything but casual aside from one long-term girlfriend, and even after they’d broken up, he certainly hadn’t shed any tears.

No, the casual label was for me. I’d hoped that the more I said it, the more I could remind myself that this was all temporary.

Every last bit of it.

The sweet dates, and even sweeter kisses. Having Smith’s undivided attention. Feeling his hands . . . and mouth on me. And when it was over, things were going to have to go back to the way they were.

I was a smart cookie. Surely, just like memorizing state capitals, if I repeated it often enough, it would stick.

But apparently, the line between my brain and my heart was out of order, because while my rational mind accepted the inevitable outcome, my heart was on a whole other level. Filled with hope and anticipation and excitement. It was making plans and promises, and daydreaming about babies.

Stupid fucking heart.

My throat ached and my eyes burned with pre-emptive grief. Funny, I’d always been the careful one, and the one time I took a risk . . .

There was no question about it. This one was going to leave a mark. A long-lasting, indelible scar on my heart.

Exactly, dummy. And there’s no changing it now. What’s done is done, so you might as well enjoy it while you’ve got it.

Resolved to do exactly that, I shoved aside my melancholy and glanced out the window, watching trees flash by.

“Where are we going, anyway?” I asked, straightening in my seat and shooting Smith a questioning glance.

Our past dates, I’d typically met him somewhere away from our usual hangouts so we wouldn’t get spotted together, but tonight, Smith had insisted on picking me up. Now, though, I realized we were headed north toward somewhere outside the city. There was nothing this way but houses and churches.

“We’ll be there in about sixty seconds, and then you’ll see,” he said, his half smile ramping up to full power.

That smile was like being kissed by the sun, warming me through to my core, and I realized I didn’t give a crap where our date was, as long as I was with Smith.

He pulled down a cul-de-sac and into the driveway of a modest but cozy-looking house I’d never seen before.

“I probably should’ve warned you to wear an old shirt, but I’ll buy you a new one if this turns out the way I think it will.”

It was only then that I realized that he was dressed super casual himself. A hoodie and a pair of worn jeans as opposed to my new sweater and high-heeled boots combo. Now my curiosity amped up to code red, and I gaped at him.

“What the heck is going on, Smith? Are we meeting some friends of yours for a double date or something?” And if so, wouldn’t that news get back to my brother?

But I kept that last part to myself because I realized with a start that I wanted to meet Smith’s friends. I wanted to know everything about him. Become part of his life story for real instead of just a note in the margins. The melancholy threatened to return like a gray cloud, but I pushed it away again.

Whatever tomorrow brought, tonight I was with a guy I wanted, I liked, and I trusted. So tonight? I was going to take happiness by the balls and squeeze out every last drop.

“I don’t think I’d call it a double date, exactly, but . . .”

He trailed off as the front door swung open and Smith’s older sister Pam came charging out in a wrinkled dress, running a brush through her hair as she went. I’d never been one to run in heels, but Pam was wild-eyed and sprinting like the devil himself was on her heels. Her husband, Tim, who I’d only seen in pictures, followed behind, grinning broadly.

Smith motioned for me to step out of the car. I did, and he followed suit.

“You guys. I can’t even tell you how much this means to me right now. Like—” Pam broke off, her eyes filling with tears as she clutched my forearms. “I thank you. My husband thanks you. My sanity thanks you.” She dragged me in for a hug and then pulled away. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to go before Winnie notices I left.” She shot a fearful glance over her shoulder and then dashed toward the passenger’s side of the minivan in the driveway, blowing Smith a kiss from afar. “Love you, bro. You’re the best. And you have my number. But don’t, like, use it unless someone is literally on fire.”

Tim chuckled and ran a hand through his red hair, making it stand up on end as he gave Smith a hearty slap on the shoulder. “Finn has decided that sleep is for quitters, Mac just projectile shat on the dress Pam had started out wearing, and Winnie flushed Pam’s bracelet down the toilet. We need a break so bad, my man. We are forever in your debt.”

“Tim! Christ, please frigging hurry before they see us,” Pam hissed before turning her gaze toward Smith and me. “And you two, hustle on inside. They’ve been alone for forty-seven seconds. They could have already booby-trapped the place by now, so enter at your own risk.”

The minivan doors slammed shut and the vehicle’s tires actually squealed as they back out.

Smith turned my way and his grin faltered a little as he took in my shell-shocked expression.

“Okay, so I know this looks bad. But I swear, they’re exaggerating a little. If you’re miserable, I won’t be mad if you call an Uber to take you home, and you can pick the next date, all right?”