Page 205 of End Game

“I wasn't unclear.”

“You said ‘this is a date’ like you were checking.”

“I was checking whether you thought this was a date.”

“I asked you to dinner and took you somewhere I specifically chose because I thought you'd enjoy it.”

I wait.

Ronan's eyebrows lift.

“That's fair.”

He takes another sip of water.

I smile despite myself. “So you're planning to do this again?”

His expression changes in a way that makes me feel like I've asked whether he's planning to keep using oxygen.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“I wasn't intending New Year's Eve to be a singular event.”

Something warm settles low behind my ribs. “Good.”

Ronan watches me for a moment. “Was that a concern?”

“Not exactly.”

“Micah.”

I sigh. “Maybe a little.”

He nods once, accepting the correction without making me defend it.

“I don't kiss people just because a clock reaches midnight.”

“I know.”

“I know you know. I'm stating it anyway.”

That does something dangerous to my chest.

“Okay.”

His gaze stays on mine. “And yes. I intend to keep taking you on dates.”

There's a difference between knowing something and hearing it.

I look down before my face can give away too much. “Good.”

Ronan's foot touches mine purposely under the table.

When we get home, the house is quiet.

Griffin is working.