by Eliza Freer
I giggle. “Yeah, we’ll see.”
I hear Tassie groan behind us. “Screw this lovey nonsense, I’m going to get some BBQ.”
I spin around and watch her walk towards the parking lot where the food is. “Love you, Tass!”
She throws a hand up in a backwards wave without turning around. “Yeah, yeah. You too, Yankee.”
Wilder squeezes my waist so I look up at him again. “So what’s this we’ll see business. What landmines should I avoid so I don’t end up like Stephanie?”
I purse my lips. “Hmm. I don’t like to be shaken awake. I’ll probably rabbit punch you if you do that. I-“
Wilder cuts me off by putting his finger over my lips. “I like the idea that I’ll need to know how I should or shouldn’t wake you up. That’s very interesting to me.”
I bite his finger covering my lips. “Whatever. Maybe I’m only telling you in case we fall asleep on the couch watching a Ken Burns documentary or something.”
Wilder kisses my neck. “That’s what I was talking about too. What were you thinking?”
I smile and shake my head.
Wilder leans back, looking affronted. “Get your head out of the gutter, woman.”
I feel someone wrap their sweaty arm around my waist and pull me backwards.
Blake shakes me from side to side. “Our girl’s head is almost always in the gutter.”
I smile. “Kinda true. Why are you shaking me?”
Blake chuckles. “Because I can.” I’m suddenly picked up and tossed to a new pair of arms. Wilder laughs quietly at the display.
Riley flips me over his shoulder. “Why aren’t you eating? There will be plenty of time to make out with your boyfriend later, but those ribs go quick.” He starts walking me out into the parking lot, still over his shoulder, and I see Wilder, Blake, Simon and Paul following closely behind. I’m very glad I didn’t wear a skirt today.
Once we reach the parking lot, Riley flips me down so I’m standing in the line for food. Luckily, Coach K knows how much I love my ribs, so he’s put aside a few for me. I give him a kiss on the cheek and walk back to stand beside Wilder as he goes through the line. There’s nothing better than Texas BBQ.
Wilder leans down and whispers in my ear. “So, they don’t still hate me, do they?”
I shrug and notice the panicked expression on his face. I grab his hand and squeeze it to calm him. “No, they don’t. Riley wouldn’t have helped you woo me if they still hated you.” I lean into his shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’s all love from here on out.”
Wilder smirks that smirk that I love. “Love huh? All love from here on out?” He leans into me and kisses my temple.
I smile widely. “Well, kinda love from here on out, maybe.”
Wilder’s wide smile matches my own. He hums at me. “Now, THAT we’ll see about.”
I wait until he’s all the way through the line and has set both of our food on a picnic table. I grab him and give him a toe curling kiss. He moans when I pull back. I smile. “Guess we will. Now shut up, and let me eat my lunch.”
Wilder sits down and draws me onto his lap. “You’re lucky I love you.”
I turn and face him, forgetting my ribs for a moment. “What happened to kinda?”
Wilder takes a bite of his burger and shrugs. “Kinda is kinda overrated.” He slides a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Don’t you think?”
I smile. “Kinda.” He pinches my thigh. “Okay, okay.” I cup his hand in my face. He swallows hard. “No more kindas.”
He gives me a lingering kiss. I smile as he pulls away. “Yeah, so I love you too.” He smiles wide. I laugh. “Shut up. Eat your food.”
Wilder leans me into him and kisses my temple again. I look around, surrounded by the people I love the most. I don’t remember the last time I felt this happy and whole. No kinda about it.
Acknowledgements
I'm really crappy at this part, so bear with me.
First, a huge thank you to my forever girl Ryan for reading multiple drafts of Easton's journey, and boosting my confidence whenever I was afraid I wasn't doing the story justice. For your help synopsizing what I couldn’t. Robby, you're the best and I can't tell you how much your honesty and help has meant to me. Prepare yourself though, because this won't be the only book I make you read.
To my husband Zach for the countless, thankless hours going through this book again and again. For only “losing it a little bit” when I get a little crazy. For being proud and putting up with me when I enter into my little world and don’t come out for awhile. Indubitably.
To my parents for instilling an irrational overconfidence in me that has served me well over the years. For your faith and telling me I can do anything I put my mind to. For reading the work fuck more times than you'd prefer. Love you guys so much, but I still won’t take care of you when you're old.
To Bubby and Fanschaff always checking in to see how I'm doing and never making me sound crazy for deciding to do this. For the breweries and bad movies that whether you knew it or not, helped to calm all the noise always in my head. Not like I hear voices other than mine, but she can be really loud.
To all my friends and readers, thank you for taking a chance on me and my book. For taking part in an accomplishment that I'm really proud of and can't wait to do again. I hope you continue on with me and the journeys I continue to write. It makes me incredibly happy to know I could bring even an ounce of distraction and entertainment into your lives and an overly complicated world.
xo
About the Author

Eliza Freer lives in Los Angeles with her husband, dog Lieutenant Colonel, San Antonio Spurs memorabilia collection, and many bottles of wine. Originally from Losantville, IN, she wants everyone to know Indiana is not in the South. Your geography classes have failed you.
If you’ve got any questions, comments, or want insider info on when my next book will drop, you can email me at [email protected].