Page 147 of You Fall First

Of course Jo would think about what’s best for my nephew and my sister. That’s who she is, and also why however many nights I get to spend with her will never be enough.

“Fair warning.” I fake a grimace. “I might get desperate a lot.”

Her lip curves up. “This won’t be forever, though.”

“It just might feel like it when we’re missing each other.”

On the drive back to her house, my pulse ratchets up a notch, and a rhythmic thrumming beats at my ribcage. I want to kiss Jo good night, but I’m all too aware that this time will be different.

Our first kiss was sweet and gentle, yes, but also strictly pretend. Our second kiss was real, but it rode in on the thrill of spontaneity and pent-up emotion. Any kiss between us now will have a whole different meaning, backed by my full intention to honor and respect her.

I’ll be thinking about our future now, not simply lost in the moment.

We’re both quiet as I walk her to the door. She might be as much in her head as I am, so I make the game-time decision to be honest and lay out my feelings point-blank.

Holding back won’t help either one of us, and we already have enough obstacles to dodge.

“I’m glad we did this,” I say, my eyes darting to her. “So glad.”

“Me, too.” Her voice is soft as a whisper.

“And I already can’t wait for next weekend, whichever night Paige has off.”

“Same.”

“Also”—my voice goes deep with feeling—“I really want to kiss you, but this feels different to me now, and if you feel the same, I don’t want you to be pressured. We can take this at whatever pace you set, because I have all the patience in the world. I waited thirty-four years to find you, Jo, and I promise I’ll keep right on waiting until you’re ready.”

She pulls me to a stop in the middle of the walkway.

“Noah.” I turn to face her, and my heart sprints into my throat. She gazes up at me. “Do we have to wait until we get to the door?”

I bark out a laugh. “No, please.”

“Good.” She squeezes my hand, then she steps all the way to me. When she lifts on her tiptoes, I stay motionless for a moment. My insides are a blaze, urging me to pull her close. But I want her to take the lead this time. So I hold back, meeting her eyes in the moonlight.

Jo is everything beautiful and bright, and she wants me.

Man, how I want her.

After an excruciating pause, she grazes her feather-soft lips along mine, and her low sigh lights a bonfire in my chest. Only then do I let myself wrap my arms around her. I tug her in, and she bends into me, while I offer up every promise my mouth can make without words.

Lips, breath, skin, air.

All for Jo.

All in.

Our results seem dizzying for a single kiss on a suburban sidewalk. And yet, this is more than a kiss. This is a choice. Jo and I are choosing each other. And that’s something no other moment between us or anyone else can touch.

When we finally break away, there’s a beat of surprise, a combination of sucking in oxygen and happy laughter.

“Wow,” we both say at the same time.

“That was …” She cuts herself off.

“Yep.” I shake my head, unable to wipe the grin off my face. “That sure was.”

“Want to do this again next week?” She does an adorable little hop as we move toward the door, and I follow her.