“Say ‘goodnight, Jameson,’” I instruct, stepping around Jameson and Kendall again and opening the front door.

“Goodnight, Jameson,” Kendall mumbles, still kissing him, making no attempt to move as I head outside.

When I get up to my room I turn on the lights and see Max at his window, looking at me. I smile and wave, crossing the room and open it.

“Goodnight, Ace.”

“Goodnight, Max.” I call and leave the window open as I go and change and brush my teeth to get ready for bed.

Max’s light goes off shortly after mine, and I lie in my bed hardly able to sleep as the excitement of the last few hours runs through my head on repeat.

The next morning I make my way downstairs, shocked that it’s past nine. I never sleep in.

“There she is.” Kendall sits at the kitchen table with a grin spread across her face. My mom and Jenny are with her, each wearing matching guilty expressions confirming they’ve been discussing me.

“Max wear you out last night?” she asks, arching an eyebrow.

I shoot her a death glare as my face flushes.

“Kendall!” Mom chastises her, but she still has the shadow of a smile playing on her perfectly made-up face.

“I can’t believe you guys are talking about me,” I say incredulously.

“Oh, come on. You and Max have practically been dating all summer!” Jenny cries with a grin.

“It was just a matter of time,” Mom adds, bringing her coffee cup to her lips to hide her smile.

I reach for the granola as I take a seat.

“I like Max. The Miller boys are hot!” Jenny says with an approving smile, “Gosh, do you remember how obsessed Savannah was with Hank when they first moved in? She’s going to want details! Hell, I want details! How was it?”

My sisters have little shame when it comes to discussing sex, even in the presence of our mom, something that even when the day comes I don’t think I will ever be ready for.

“We didn’t sleep together!” I cry out. “When did you even get home? Where’s Lilly?” I ask, turning to glance around the room.

“You didn’t?” Kendall looks at me with genuine shock before her eyes narrow, speculating whether or not I’m telling the truth. “But you guys are together now, right? Like officially, exclusively together?”

“Officially, exclusively together,” I fight the climb of my lips as I repeat her words and pour milk into my cereal. “What about you and Jameson, did you guys finally figure things out?”

“You’ll be happy to know we did,” Kendall says, grinning proudly.

“Are you texting, Mom?” Jenny asks, leaning across the table toward her.

“I just started. Your daddy was showing me how so I can get in touch with you girls, since apparently you don’t talk on the phone or write notes anymore. You simply send these weird coded messages to each other.”

“Text Ace, Mom. She spells things out. She’s the only person I’ve ever seen send a message with a semi colon.” Kendall smirks. “Didn’t you get her text last night?” she asks, looking to Jenny who’s looking over our mom’s shoulder.

“You’re such a liar!” Jenny accuses, laughing out loud.

I’m barely able to ask what’s going on when my phone, as well as Kendall’s and Jenny’s all buzz and chime simultaneously. I look down to see I have a new text message from Mom and open it.

Mom: Good ness ace and maxx are finally dating. Took them long eggnog! I’m planning on a roast tonight. Love you.

“Mom, are you serious?” I cry, reading the text a couple of times. “Who all did you send that to?”

“What do you mean?” she asks innocently as her phone begins to chime with incoming messages. Jenny and Kendall are doubled over laughing as I pull her phone out of her hand to assess the damage.

“At least her spelling has improved,” Kendall offers.

“Oh my gosh, Mom,” I groan. “You sent that message to everyone you sent that message to last night.” I scroll through the list of recipients as my mom avoids eye contact with me. “Did you send that to everyone in your contacts list?” I ask, still scrolling through this list of names as more messages continue to stream in.

“Well, they were all going to find out eventually,” she says, trying to smile at me.

“Did you send it to Sharon?” I ask, already knowing the answer as my phone vibrates on the table.

Max: glad UR mom is so happy about us ;)

I want to die.

“I’m never going to live this down.” I groan, dropping my head to the kitchen table as our phones continue receiving incoming texts.

Abby: U may need 2 teach UR mom 2 text … but Im glad 2 hear about Max … cnt wait 2 hear all about it l8r! luv u!

Mindi: Max is hot!!! But U may want 2 take Mom’s phone away ;) Kyle is freaking out a little. Bawhahahahaha

Then there is the multitude of messages from people that send their reply to the entire group over and over again.

Aunt Susan: Who’s Max? He better treat her well! Excited for the roast, what time ;)

Shelly: Is that the neighbor boy U told me about? I hope so!! Eggnog? You mean enough??

Jameson: Woo Hoo!!!!!

Eventually I turn my phone off.

When the doorbell rings that evening I’m standing in the kitchen with my dad as he makes margaritas for himself and my mom. He briefly looks up from the pulsing blender and smiles what I’m fairly certain is meant to be an encouraging smile, making me wonder when I got so lame that he feels I need the boost of confidence.

I push off the counter, feeling like I need to prove something to them, to myself, even though I still have the urge to hide under a large rock after the text my mother sent this morning that I’m still receiving messages about. I run a hand through my hair which is down around my shoulders and take a deep breath.

I swing the door open and find Max beaming down at me with the full force of his beautiful smile. He doesn’t hesitate. Reaching forward, he pulls me against himself and kisses me while wrapping a hand around my back, snaking the other into my hair. His lips softly move with mine while my hands reach out to grip his shirt. I press myself further into him and our kiss continues another moment before he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine.

“I figured since most of the town now knows we’re dating, I’m allowed to do that,” Max says quietly. My cheeks instantly heat with embarrassment that has his grin stretching.

“I’m sorry, I swear, I had no idea—”

“No, it saves me from having to rent a billboard to inform everyone you’re taken.” He winks at me.

“I thought we were finally resuming Jason Bourne tonight?” I ask, latching my seat belt as I climb into Max’s Jeep.

He shakes his head slightly, “I need to be in well lit, heavily populated areas with you for now,” he replies, bringing the Jeep to life.

“So, I was thinking about slow …” I run my finger along the stitching of the seat. I feel horrified at the idea of discussing the specifics of this, and have been rehearsing this since Sunday, and already feel like I’m failing as my voice sounds unsteady and my palms sweat.

“God, you’re distracting!” Max murmurs, taking my hand in his. “What exactly have you been thinking?” He looks over and makes eye contact with me before returning his attention to the road.