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Resting my head briefly on Sienna’s shoulder, I’m warm with seeing how light this newfound love has made her.

“You could be too if you got out of your own way.”

With a soft smile, I let Sienna load my hands with salad and garlic toast as she carries the chicken spaghetti she made behind me.

At the table, I naturally sit beside Jett, while Sienna sits between Duke and Ivan—their parents at each end of the table.

“Fia, how long have you danced, honey?”

Jett’s mom, Priscilla, is about as fiery as her red hair. After Sienna introduced me, I noticed Jett wasn’t the only one who kept making small glances at me. Hers were just as adoring.

“Since I was three. I coach as well.”

“She’s one hell of a dancer,” Jett praises beside me, and I feel a blush creep up my cheeks.

“My boy always did like a girl that could move.”

Jett shoots daggers at his mom, while the rest of the table laughs. Embarrassment looks cute on him.

“You guys make a cute couple, you know.” Priscilla continues, and James, Jett’s father, gives her a gentle nudge.

I smile tightly and look over at my friend, her head nodding along.

“Where are the boys?” Jett asks, decorating his plate with food, quietly asking if I want him to do the same to mine.

When I agree, I feel myself blushing all over again.

It’s something so simple, him making my plate, but fuck, it feels like so much more.

“They’re at a friend’s house watching the ’Blazers game,” Sienna answers for her boyfriend.

“I’m loving that they’re into ball. I knew they’d pick the right sport.”

Jett places the full plate in front of me and gives me a quick glance to make sure it’s okay. When I give him a silent thank you, I try to keep my eyes off the other set on me, but when I find her, I can’t hold in my laugh. With arms crossed, and a shaking head to match, Sienna mouths, You’re fucked.

And she’s so right.

I plug myself into the boy’s conversation, adding, “Wouldn’t you? If my dad’s girlfriend’s brother was their star player, I’d jump on the opportunity.”

“She’s got a point,” Ivan counters, glancing up briefly from the phone in his lap.

“I still wish they would play golf or something less physical. I’ve got to get a granddaughter at some point; all of you boys are going to give me a heart attack.”

Everyone laughs as Priscilla shakes her head, but something in my stomach sinks as I quickly think about what it would be like to be the someone to give her one.

Falling into a comforting silence, the five of us eat our dinner while enjoying the warmth of each other’s company, until I unexpectedly squeal when a warm hand floats from the lap beside me.

I contain the strained noise before it spills up my throat, covering it with a cough, while simultaneously cutting my eyes in the direction of my neighbor.

Just as fast, he removes his hand, and I check to make sure everyone else is still deep into their meals before I really turn in his direction.

“Stop,” I grit out through tight lips.

Leaning in, he finds the nook under my ear. The shameless bastard inhales a long sniff, before vibrating the bottom of my eardrum with his deep voice meant just for me. “You’re mine, remember? I always like to be touching my girl.”

My stomach takes off, swirling all around just thinking about what else he’d do if everyone knew I was his, and not just us.

God, even I can’t convince myself half the time that I’m not his.