“Is it okay?”
“It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” He pressed another kiss to my lips. “We’reperfect.”
“I love you,” I said. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long to hear me say it. But I’m going to make it up to you every day.”
“You don’t need to make up anything. All the waiting was worth it. You’re worth everything.” He scooped me up in another hug and placed a kiss on my cheek.
I leaned into it, loving the safety I felt in his arms. Until Dr. Gibson walked by. Then I practically tripped trying to get out of them. But he held me tighter, laughing.
“Won’t you get in trouble?” I whispered.
“No.” He chuckled. “She knows how I feel about you. Why do you think I passed you off to her?”
My jaw dropped. “You told her? Everything?”
“Kind of. I started to tell her and Dr. Bell that you and I kissed way back in January, but Bell cut me off and told me to keep things ‘hypothetical.’ And when it was over he just said, ‘Sounds like a difficult situation. Tell your friend I’m sorry he was in a pickle and not to do it again.’”
I snorted. “Seriously?”
He grinned. “Yup.”
I looked at Dr. Gibson who gave us a nod and a smile. Dr. Bell stood twenty feet off, drinking punch with his wife. He caught my eye and clapped, applauding us.
“Ohmy word,” I turned to Ash, shoving my face into his shoulder. “Can I die now?”
He chuckled. “Not yet. One more person just found out.”
I turned to see Ashley watching us from the sidewalk fifty feet away, her eyes wide and surprised. I held my breath. But I held Ashton’s hand and gave her an unapologetic shrug. I couldn’t be ashamed of what I felt for Ashton. I wouldn’t.
Standing next to her parents, she laughed, blew me a kiss, and made texting motions with her thumbs. She wanted all the dirty details. I’d give them to her. Well, enough to satiate her. Just all the bantering I didn’t realize was flirting…until I did. She waved and walked off with her parents.
“Glad she took that well.” Ashton grinned and it was like a rush of dopamine to my heart.
I let my gaze linger on his handsome face. “Same.”
“Are we ready to celebrate Anna and Tally?” Ford said loud enough for everyone to hear. “Granny and I got it all ready at my place.” He shot us all with double-finger pistols. “Make sure you have your swimsuits because we are about to christen Lake A.”
“Lake A,” Ashton said under his breath. “When you’re so loaded that you have to label your lakes.”
I snorted and tightened my hold on his hand.
“The one with the water slide?” Theo asked.
Ford aimed his pistol at Theo. “The one with the water slide.”
“Will Cash be there?” Charlie asked and I couldn’t tell if she wanted him there or not. Cash and Charlie were the definition of frenemies. You never knew if they’d be laughing their heads off or bickering like an old married couple. I glanced at Ash and we shared a smile.
“Cash will be there,” Lemon said.
“It’s settled then,” Ford said. “We’ll see everyone at home.”
The group began meandering toward their cars. I glancedaround at this campus, my heart in a chokehold. Ashton nodded toward Anna and Brooklyn who had left the group and were off to the side, watching me. Waiting for me.
He pressed one more kiss to my lips. “I’ll wait for you out front.”
As I walked over to my friends, my mouth parted slightly. As never seen before, Brooklyn had tears in her eyes.
She waved me closer. “This is it, guys. We’re done in Sweet Grass.”
