Far out ahead of us, over the tops of the trees on the other bank, the sky lightens a little more, the deep pink and orange spreading upward. It’s beautiful and almost feels magical, which is silly. The sun rises every day. It’s not magic.
It still feels special to experience it, though. And maybe it’s even extra special because Alex is with me and because today is the start of our new lives together.
I smile and lean my head against Alex’s shoulder. “I’ve never watched a sunrise before,” I admit, keeping my voice low for some reason.
Alex hums softly. Then he turns his head and kisses my temple. “I have, but it was a long time ago,” he says, “when my mom took me camping up north. I can’t really remember where.”
“Hmm.”
“This is better, though.” His arm tightens around me, and I find myself smiling again, a pleasant heat in my cheeks.
Out across the river, the sun finally peeks up over the trees. It’s just as amazing as I imagined it would be—the light slowlyinching up into the sky and bringing a hopeful warmth with it. Shadows from the trees form, stretching all the way across the river at first, then beginning their gradual recession as the sun lifts higher and higher.
I almost wish we could stay here all day. Just him and me, here at our spot on the river.
Or maybe that’s not what I actually wish, because I’m ready. I’m ready to start the next phase of our lives together. I’m ready to let this be a memory—to letallof this and everything that happened to me at my old house with Patrick and with my mom just be a memory.
And I’m ready to see what the future holds. Our future. Together.
I’m looking forward to it.
I’m not sure I ever thought I’d say that.
Alex seems to be thinking much the same as me, because he lets out a quiet, contented sigh and then says, “Ready? My mom wanted to get on the road early.”
“Yeah.”
Neither of us moves right away, though. We sit there for one more short moment, soaking it all in. Then I turn my head and look up at him, and he lifts a hand to cup my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin. He smiles and leans down to kiss me. It’s a soft kiss. Hopeful and bright in the way all of his kisses are.
When he pulls back, he’s still smiling, and he tips his forehead to rest against mine.
“I love you,” he tells me, his voice catching.
My heart stutters, the extra beat fluttering in my chest, and I quickly capture his lips again, kissing him back. It’s another short kiss, but more intense, and this time, when we part, we’re both breathing hard.
He shakes his head with a laugh. “It’s going to be a really longdrive to California. Promise me you’ll be good.”
“Me?” I arch my eyebrows at him with a smirk. “I’m always good.”
“Right.” He grins back at me, his eyes sparkling in the morning sunlight, and then he pushes himself to his feet and offers me his hand. “Ready to get out of here?”
I stare up at him for a second, then I nod and take his hand. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Epilogue
Alex
Threeandahalfyears later . . .
“So, it’s officially official, then?” Nico asks. He slips off his loafers and joins me on the bed in our tiny studio apartment, which we’ve shared since the end of my freshman year almost three years ago. With a grin, he straddles my hips. Then his hands settle on my stomach, and he starts inching up the hem of my T-shirt, his fingers grazing playfully along my skin.
I laugh and nod, turning the letter around so he can see. “Yep. Officially official.”
His hands stop moving as he leans in to read the letter with a proud grin. “‘Dear Alexander, Congratulations! On behalf of the Department of Physics, we are pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to our PhD program beginning in Fall Quarter of the 2029–2030 academic year. Your research achievements during your undergraduate studies truly set you apart from the other candidates, and it is our privilege to invite you to continue pursuing your education here at Stanford in our department. An additional letter will be forthcoming, which will provide you with your financial aid offer.’ Oh, fuck, yeah.”
I laugh again, set the letter on the nightstand on top of the rest of our mail, and then wrap my arms around Nico and roll us over so he’s on his back underneath me.
“Were you worried?” I ask. My lips press against his neck as I flutter kisses along his skin.
