“M-hm.”
“Good.” He sweeps me into his arms and carries me down the hall, purpose in every step, like he knows exactly how this night will end. “Ever?” He’s nuzzling my ear when I hear my name on his lips like a question.
“Yeah?”
“I’m so proud of you.” He sets me on my feet to look at me. With his hands resting on my neck and jaw, he continues. “I mean it. You’re incredible. And you make me want to be better.”
My smile makes my cheeks ache. I ignore the tiny tug of guilt over my collegeexperience.“I feel the exact same way about you.” He’s already shaking his head, so I stop him with one finger on his lips. “I mean it. Julian, you are the most unexpected gift. And I want to be better for you too. For us.”
“Okay, sweet girl. We’ll be better together.”
“That’s the plan.”
“There’s a plan?” He winks, and I nod in response. “Oh, good.” He rolls his eyes in mock relief. “I told you I’ve never dated before, so I might need a map.”
“Me neither, so we can make our own map.”
“I love you, Ever.” He kisses me so sweetly.
“I love you, Julie. We’ve got this. You and me.” I pet the scruff on his jaw.
“You and me.” He draws lazy circles around my ears, piercing me with hypnotic blue eyes. I nod in agreement, but he shakes his head earnestly. “I mean it. Nothing can touch us. Not the past. Not the future. It’ll always be you and me.” He stops drawing circles and brings my face to his for a claiming kiss.
“You and me,” I repeat, nodding.
“You and me.” He echoes it like a mantra.
I stamp down the nagging thoughts fighting for space in my love haze, as well as the glimpse of unease I see in his eyes. I know what clouds my mind—my actions in Pismo. What’s clouding his? A blonde-haired, green-eyed girl back from the dead? I stuff it all down.
Chapter 34
Julian
Ihave to tell her. She’s going to find out anyway. Will she still trust me after?Fuck.I don’t know if I’d trust me. It was dark enough during sex that she didn’t notice, but the clock is ticking. I’m finishing the dishes and she’s in the shower. She’s going to see me without my shirt eventually and I’ll have to explain.
As if I’ve summoned her, she slides her arms around me. Fresh from the shower, her scent fills my nostrils.
“Hi, boyfriend. Are we having a sleepover tonight?”
I dry my hands on the dish towel I’m holding and turn in her arms. “Do you want to have a sleepover?”
She nods as she presses a light kiss to my lips.
“Okay, sweet girl, whatever you want.” I kiss her back. “But can I—can we talk first? I have something to tell you.”
She takes a step back, sliding her arms from around me. She doesn’t let go but lets them rest loosely on my hips as she tracks my face. Her eyes bounce between mine, trying to gauge what I’m about to say.Neither of us likes surprises. And I hate that I’m putting that low-key panic in her eyes.
I take her cheeks in my hands and kiss her lips again, then her cheek, until I’m nuzzling her ear. Softly I speak into the shell. “I need to tell you something. Show you something.”
She nods against my lips and backs up. “You said that already. So tell me. Show me.” Her words are clipped, eyes like saucers searching mine for answers.
“Wanna go sit down in the living room first?”
“No.” Her hands are resting lightly on her hips now, her eyes still bouncing between mine. “Just tell me what the fuck is going on, Julian. Spit it out.”
“Okay.” I hold my hands up in surrender and, standing barefooted in the kitchen, facing her, I tell her about my earbuds search and spilling her nightstand. As I talk, her hands fidget with the drawstrings on her sweats. “I didn’t intend to read your journal.”
Her hands drop.
