He steps closer. “Yeah?”
I sigh, inching toward him. “Well, I guess you’re right. We can only be friends because you don’t do setups. Because they don’t work.”
He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear. “But if you think about it, we met before Hudson and Ava had a chance to introduce us. So…it can’t be a setup.”
“That’s a good point.”
“And what about you?” His fingers brush mine. “I heard you’re not dating until college. That’s a year away.”
“I did say that, but mostly because I’m tired of high school boys.” My hand wraps around his. “But you’re not one of those, are you?”
He glances at my lips. “No, I’m not.”
“Will.”
“Yeah?”
“I like you.”
“I like you. But”—he brings his hand to my face, thumb tracing my jaw—“Ihateit when Hudson’s right.”
I rise onto my toes. “They’ll never stop bragging about this.”
We’re both smiling as our lips meet. My eyes drift closed, and he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer, crushing his boutonnière between us. I grip his white dress shirt, and we share our second perfect kiss right there between the ICEE machine and the coffee maker.
A throat clears behind us, and our lips part. But we don’t jump away from each other this time.
“Young lady, I hate to interrupt, but I have to ask you to leave. No shirt. No shoes. No service.” The clerk shakes his head, laughing a bit, and heads back to the counter.
“I’m so sorry,” I call after him. “I’m going.”
Will tightens his arm, leaning in. “He’s absolutely right. I cannot believe you came in here barefoot. You’re disgusting.”
“I was in a hurry!”
He sweeps me into his arms, deposits me outside, and mutters “This is not better” before running back inside to pay for our drinks.
He returns carrying the ICEE. “I tossed the coffee, but maybe something blue for the bride?”
“Perfect.”
He threads his fingers through mine. “Back to the wedding?”
I squeeze his hand. “I owe you a dance.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
MORGAN
Two weeks later…
“I can’t believe that guy.” I swipe mud off my leg as Will, Hudson, Ava, and I make our way up the sandy boardwalk, dripping wet and cackling about our bad luck.
Ava wrings out her blonde hair. “It’s called the no-wake zone for a reason. There’s supposed to be no wake!”
Shaking his floppy curls, Will grins. “At least we got a good hour in before the big splash.”
Hudson lifts his paddleboard to carry it over his head while simultaneously trying to drain water from his ear. He almost falls off the boardwalk, sending us into another laughing fit.
