“You as well, Mr. Combs.”
The two shake hands, and my dad shuffles off, disappearing upstairs. It’s only when I hear the office door shut that I leap at Wes, throwing my arms around him and burying my face in his neck. He lifts me straight off the ground in a giant bear hug, and I mumble, “I missed you so much,” against his skin.
His arms flex around me, tightening almost to the point of discomfort, but I don’t want him to let me go. Clearly, he doesn’t either. He presses a kiss to my temple and says close to my ear, “I missed you, too, baby. You have no idea. Two weeks is too fucking long.”
“Endless,” I agree, pressing a kiss on his jaw. When his arms finally release, I slide down his body, landing on my feet. He kisses my mouth, a chaste peck that leaves me wanting more, before glancing cautiously around the entryway. “What’s wrong?”
“Where’s your mom?” he whispers.
I smirk at him, raising my eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of Angela Combs. I thought you could, what was it you said? ‘Win her over in an hour?’”
He rolls his eyes. “Okay, I’ll admit it. Your mom’s kind of scary. And I’m fearless, so that’s saying something.”
I snort. “Uh huh.”
“She’s a tough nut to crack.”
I laugh. “I told you.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m giving up, though,” he assures. “Just means I need to try harder.”
“Well, you don’t need to try anymore today. She’s out running errands and won’t be home until later. You’re safe for now.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” he jokes, then glances down at my empty hands. “Do you have your bag packed?”
I nod and gesture up the stairs. “I just need to grab it from my room. I panicked when I heard you talking to my dad.”
He grins that shit-eating grin. “Why? Robert and I are best buds.”
I give him a dry look. “That’s exactly why I was panicked.”
He’s still smirking as I run to grab my bag, and before I know it, we’re settled inside his car and on our way to Kaden’s family’s beach house a few hours away. When Kaden invited all of us (Ben included), we happily accepted, agreeing that this little trip will be the perfect way to close out the summer.
Throughout the drive, we laugh, talk, and listen to music, soaking up each other’s company. Even though it was only two weeks apart, there’s no doubt in my mind that Wes missed me as much as I missed him. He constantly reaches over to touch me, taking my hand or squeezing my thigh. I do the same, rubbing his neck or grazing my fingertips across his arm.
I can’t get enough of him. I don’t think I ever will.
“So, I have an interview on Monday,”he tells me out of the blue, and I look at him sharply. “Vincent RegionalHospital, the one nearcampus.”
My jaw drops.I sit up straight. This isbignews. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
I stare at him in disbelief. “And you waited untilnowto tell me? Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
He reaches over and squeezes my hand, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. “I was waiting to tell you in person, Ives.”
My stomach flutters with a mix of excitement and nerves. If he gets this job, we won’t have to separate. We can see each other all the time. “I really hopeyou get it.”
“Me, too, baby. It would be so freaking perfect. So, Ihopeyou don’t mind if I spend some time this weekend prepping. I’m gonna nail this thing.”
“Of course, Wes. Do whatever you need to do.”
He pulls my hand up to his mouth, kissing the inside of my wrist, and I relax back into my seat. My body buzzes in response to his good news for the remainder of the drive, and it’s not long before we’re passing over the bridge into the cozy seaside town.
“This is it,” Wes says, pulling into a beach pebble driveway next to the black truck I recognize from their old house. The air smells briny as we step out of the car, and I tilt my face toward the clear sky, reveling in the coastal breeze.
Hearing the crunch of our feet on the driveway, Kaden comes out of the house, greeting us with a smile and a wave. “Hey, guys! Find the place okay?”
