Standing there with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face is Marcus.
“Hate to bethatguy,” he drawls, clearly enjoying himself, “but we’ve got a prom to get to!”
Epilogue
Harper
Mid-July
Dear God—or whoever is up there listening. It’s me.Again.Harper, the girl who hit you up in April about wanting a date for prom? I made this simple request about making him semipopular and likeable? And taller than me. And cute? You know I personally don’t believe looks are everything, but it was something I’d crossed my fingers about because, well—I’m only human.
Yup. It’s that Harper.
Just wanted to touch base with an update and tell you THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. Seriously, yay, God!
For real. I wasn’t expecting a Cinderella situation to happen here, but let me just say, you really came in clutch in the most surprising way. Dropping a guy on my lawn while I was reading a book??? Talk about a random way to find a date! Easton isn’t the classic knight in shining armor—he’s better. He’s real.
Oh, and about the height thing? Well, you nailed that one. He’s the right amount of tall to make me feel cute in the best way. So thanks for that.
We’ve been spending a lot of time together since we graduated—more than I ever thought we would. It’s funny how life works:We were two people with lockers next to each other who BARELY spoke…and now we’re practically inseparable.
I can’t imagine my day without him.
Weird, huh?
Macy says it’s fate. Marcus says we have him to thank, because if Easton hadn’t had to ask Maddie Miller on a date, she never would have said no and he wouldn’t have pulled the senior prank; ergo, he wouldn’t have landed in my yard.
Honestly? I’m team Marcus LOL.
Don’t tell my bestie.
It’s like the world decided to slow down just for us, letting us soak up every moment of this summer before life pulls us in different directions. SIGH!
Easton leaves for college a few weeks before I do—you probably already know this, but he has a hockey scholarship, and athletes usually get to campus first. I’m bummed he’ll already be gone the week I leave for school, but our campuses are only an hour apart and I’ll have a car. Anything could happen!
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the assist. You really do know what you’re doing up there.
Sincerely,
Harper
I finish my send up to the Man Upstairs and glance at Easton, lying on a deck chair. His tan arm is slung over his eyes, squinting up at the sun because he forgot his sunglasses at home. Again.
Of course he did, because I forgot to remind him.
Truthfully, if you had told me a few months ago that we’d be lying here in the sun, in the middle of summer, holding handsat the community pool so his sister can play…I would havesnorted.
Snore. Ted.
Lo and behold, here we sit with the sun beating down on us; it warms my skin, and I soak it in. I’d probably be able to take a midday nap if it weren’t for the water splashing, the kids yelling, and the lifeguards’ whistles constantly blowing. Still, it’s the perfect background noise on a hot day.
My eyes roam.
I try not to stare at Easton napping in his swim trunks, but it’s hard. I can’t stop sneaking peeks at the way his muscles shift and relax. Hockey has done his body good…
Meanwhile, Phoebe lies on the other side of me, fidgeting like she can’t sit still for more than a few minutes.
Still wearing her goggles from her earlier dip, she wants to swim—and she’s determined to drag her oldest brother into the pool with her, coughing dramatically and sighing in hopes he’ll spring out of his chair and cannonball into the water.
