Andy ran over and climbed in. Once her car was going, she turned to Will. “Okay, give it a try.”
He turned the key, and the truck’s engine sputtered to life. He left the car on and climbed out, heading straight for his girl. “My hero.”
Aly rolled her eyes. “All I did was give it a jump. I didn’t fix it. You’re still going to have to take it in.”
He made up his mind then and there. He’d take it to the dealer and trade it in on something reliable. He’d hate to get stuck somewhere when he had Aly or Andy with him.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” Will cupped her cold cheek in his hand before angling closer. Her full lips were ice cold, but when they parted slightly, the warmth of her mouth was a sinful temptation he couldn’t resist. He deepened the kiss, hating the layers of coats between them because what he really needed was—
“Gross.” Andy’s voice broke through Will’s lustful haze.
Aly jerked back, eyes wide. The shocked expression on her face said she had forgotten where they were. Maybe she was embarrassed, but Will loved how she got as lost in their kisses as he did.
“Way to kill the moment, dude,” Will teased.
“Have a moment at home. I’m hungry, guys. Can you stop staring at each other so we can go?”
“Yeah, let’s go home,” Will agreed. Dinner together sounded perfect. He guided Aly and Andy to her car and then climbed in his truck and pulled out behind them.
“What is that smell?” Andy shouted when they walked in the front door.
With his face tipped up, Will sniffed. It almost smelled like something was burning.
“Shit!” Aly cried, pushing past. The haze drifted as she hurried through the swing door. The smoke thickened in the kitchen as it billowed out of the oven.
“Oh no,” Aly cried as she flung the oven door open and pulled out a dish full of unrecognizable charred food.
“You ruined it?” Andy asked from behind him.
Aly’s shoulders slumped as she stared at what was supposed to be their dinner. Will gave one a squeeze, but she didn’t turn his way. He turned the exhaust fan on, and it whizzed to life, sucking out some of the smoke that thickened the air.
On closer inspection, the dish looked like maybe enchiladas, but the cheese had turned dark brown, and the tips of every tortilla were black as coal.
“Gross.” Andy continued with his complaints.
Burned cheese wasn’t all that appealing, but Will was more concerned with the slight hitch in Aly’s breathing. This was exactly what he’d worried about when he’d called her from the gym parking lot. Knowing he’d ruined her dinner was a rock in his gut.
“Are you going to make me eat that?” If only eleven-year-olds knew how to read the room.
“Go watch TV,” Will ordered.
“What about dinner? I’m hungry, and Aly messed it all up.”
“Dude.” Will spun toward him and glared.
“Fine.” Andy stormed out, the door swinging wildly behind him.
Will turned back to Aly and grabbed her arm, forcing her to face him. The tears pooling in her eyes clawed at him like barbed wire. She blinked rapidly and ducked her head.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” Will pulled her into his arms. “Please don’t cry.”
Aly rested her forehead against his chest and shook her head. “Why are you sorry? I’m the idiot who forgot to shut the oven off.”
“Nah, it was my fault. I should have replaced my truck a long time ago. I’ll take it to the dealer tomorrow.”
Aly’s head shot up, almost knocking into Will’s chin. “You’re going to buy a new car just because the battery died?”
“No, I’m doing it because this isn’t the first or second or even the tenth time I’ve had a problem.” He tucked her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. “I’d hate to have an issue and be stuck on the side of the road with you or Andy with me.”