"Shit. That's Coach. Impromptu practice in an hour. He's been worried about this weekends game all week."
And there it is.
Reality, crashing back into our little bubble.
"You have to go," I say, and I try to keep my voice neutral, but something must show on my face because Ryder immediately stands and comes around the table.
"Hey." He drops to his knees and cups my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. "This isn't me leaving, Mia. This is me going to work. There's a difference."
"I know that."
"Do you? Because you've got that look."
"What look?"
"The look that says you're already planning your escape route and composing a speech about how this was all a big mistake."
"I'm not—"
"Yes, you are." His thumbs brush across my cheekbones. "And I get it. I do. But I need you to trust me on this one, okay? I'm coming back."
Trust. Right. Because that worked out so well last time.
But looking into his eyes, seeing the earnest determination there, I find myself nodding anyway.
"Okay."
"Good."
He kisses me again, this time more slowly, more thoroughly like he's proving every word he's just said is true. When he pulls away, I'm breathless.
"How about I drop you off at the shelter on my way to practice?"
I nod and half and hour later, we're pulling into the parking lot of Tails & Paws, and I'm no closer to understanding what the hell is happening between us than I was when I woke up.
"So," I say, unbuckling my seatbelt but not moving to get out. "What is this? Between us, I mean."
Ryder turns off the engine and shifts to face me fully. "What do you want it to be?"
"I don't know," I say, which is both true and completely inadequate. "I just... I need to know where we stand if I want to get anything done today. What this means."
"It means I'm crazy about you," he says simply. "It means I want to see where this goes. It means I'm hoping you'll give us another chance."
My heart does that stupid fluttery thing, and I have to remind myself to breathe.
"Ryder—"
"You don't have to answer right now," he says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Just... think about it, okay? Think about whether you can trust me enough to try."
Before I can respond, he's out of the truck and coming around to open my door. Ever the gentleman, even when he's completely scrambling my brain.
"I'll call you later," he says as he walks me to the shelter entrance.
"You don't have to—"
"I want to." Another quick kiss, this one to my forehead. "Have a good day, beautiful."
I watch him drive away, my fingers pressed to my lips where I can still feel the warmth of his kiss, and I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice the ambush until it's too late.
