I nod thoughtfully. She’s right. Of course he was too busy being worried about getting blown up by a roadside bomb to think about carrying a cell phone.

And I’m acting like a lovesick teenager. “I need to get a grip,” I mutter in disgust.

“I think it’s great.” Lauren stirs her coffee and then props her elbows on the table and takes a sip. “I hope it works out.”

“We’re just getting to know each other better.”

“Yeah, while nekkid,” Cara says with a giggle.

“That’s the best part,” Lo agrees. “What about Seth?”

“What about him?”

“How is he reacting to it?”

“Good question,” Cara agrees.

“He doesn’t know that we’re seeing each other. We all hung out together on Sunday and it went really well.” I shrug and smile. “Zack’s a great dad. They’re adorable together. I don’t know who’s more endearing: Zack, Seth, or that sweet dog of theirs.”

“So you’re cool with hanging out with Seth. It’s not just about the sex with his dad.” Lauren is watching me calmly and Cara tips her head to the side, waiting for my answer.

“I don’t know what this is yet, but it’s not just sex,” I admit softly. “If that was the case, I wouldn’t have stayed around after Seth got home. The sex is great, but so is just being with them. I like them.”

“Awesome.” Cara grins as Lo yawns.

“I’m sorry,” Lo says and blinks rapidly. “I’m not sure why, but I get so tired around this time of day.”

“Late nights with Ty?” Cara asks with a knowing smile.

“That must be it.”

“Ew.” I wrinkle my nose and shudder. “I do not want to hear about my brother and late nights.”

“It’s not just late at night,” Lo adds with an evil grin.

“Yuck.” I cover my ears with my hands and laugh. “Stop talking.”

“Okay, okay, since you’ve had a rough week, I’ll go easy on you.” Lo laughs and then claps her hands. “Oh! The torchlight parade up at the Whitetail Mountain ski resort is happening next weekend! We’re all going, right?”

“Absolutely,” Cara replies immediately as I nod. “Grace and Jacob invited us all to join them at the lodge for the best seats up there.”

“I love it when we know the right people.” I sigh happily and sip the last of my coffee. “How are they, anyway? I haven’t talked to Grace in a while.”

“They seem to be having fun,” Cara says. Grace was a college classmate of Cara’s and they’ve been good friends ever since. After we all gave Grace lessons at the ski resort last month, Grace fell in love with the owner of the resort, Jacob Baxter.

“They make such a cute couple,” Lo says with a sigh. “I love a sweet love story.”

“Of course you do. You write them,” I remind her. Lauren is a successful author. We couldn’t be more proud of her.

“I wouldn’t say I write sweet love stories.”

“You write sexy love stories,” Cara agrees. “And we appreciate them.”

As the conversation segues to Lo’s current project, I sit back and nibble a brownie, thankful for these two women and their amazing friendship.

Men may come and go, but my friends will be a part of my life forever, and that is the best thing I could ever ask for.

The girls have just left and I pop the last bite of brownie in my mouth just as my phone rings. I grin when I see Zack’s name.

“Hello?”

“Fuck, it’s good to hear your voice,” he replies. His voice is rough and low, and my thighs immediately clench.

“How are you?” I ask and bite my lip as I lower myself onto my couch.

“It’s been a shitty few days. I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your texts, sugar.”

“Is everything okay now?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level.

“We had a very sick horse on our hands, but it looks like she’s out of the woods now.” He sighs deeply and I can hear the fatigue in his voice. “I just woke up from a few hours’ sleep, and I’d like to come to town and take you out to dinner.”

“I can hear how exhausted you are, Zack,” I say softly. “You should rest.”

“The only thing I need right now is food and you.”

“What about Seth?” I ask tentatively. “I don’t want to take you away from time with him.”

“He’s been staying with Mom and Dad for the past few days because I’ve been in and out so sporadically. He’s happy as can be, getting spoiled by my mom and decorating his bedroom over there.”

“They gave him his own room?”

“He’s the only grandchild. Of course they did.” He chuckles softly. “So, Seth is fine, and I want to spend some time with you.”

“I’d like that,” I admit quietly. “I just have to change my clothes and I’ll be ready to go.”

“I’m on my way.” Just as I think he’s going to hang up, he says, “And Jilly? Don’t bother with panties. You won’t need them.”

The line goes dead and I stare at my phone for several seconds before laughing and rushing to the bathroom to take a very quick shower. I touch up my makeup and brush out my hair, then dress in a tight pair of jeans and a black low-cut blouse with a push-up bra that shows the girls off to their fullest potential.