Her fever has been gone for almost forty-eight hours, and her energy is returning. Earlier, we took a long walk, and Dylan carried her on his shoulders when she got tired. Each day we’ve had picnics on the beach, with Chloe pointing out every seagull that flies past.
We haven’t exactly had the all-nighter sexfest again like our first night together, but after Chloe’s fallen asleep, we’ve gone into the other bedroom or the bathroom and explored each other’s bodies. It’s out-of-this-world incredible yet leaves me wanting more, all at once. I’m not sure I could ever get enough of him.
And that terrifies me.
I’m in a blissful bubble that’s about to pop very soon.
Dylan seems to sense my mood and glances over. “You okay?”
“Chloe and I should head back to Minnesota tomorrow. She’s feeling so much better, and you have your family to get back to as well…”
“But we’re having so much fun,” he says, grinning. He reaches out and takes my hand. “Promise I can see you while we’re in Minnesota?”
“How would that work exactly?”
“I can drive back and forth between Windy Harbor andMinneapolis. Or we could stay in Duluth, or a couple towns over from Windy Harbor…”
“I don’t know. It sounds risky. California seems a lot safer for us to keep this under wraps…”
He reaches out and smooths the crease between my brows. “I think we can do it. I believe in whatever this is between us.”
It’s the smirk that he adds to the end of his sentence that shatters all my resolve.
I laugh. “You’re an eternal optimist, aren’t you?”
“Something like that. I will be when it comes to seeing you because…this has been too good. Neither one of us should miss out on this…spark.”
“Spark, huh?” I grin. “You do create a spark in me, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah? I want to explore how much of a spark later.”
I flush and can’t look at him without laughing.
We’re dragging the next morning on the drive to the airport. We didn’t get much sleep last night, and the sex we had was intense, almost as if we were trying to memorize every inch of each other. I know I’m in over my head. But I tell myself not to think about that. This thing with Dylan is fun, and while it’s risky to have Chloe get attached, it can’t hurt her to see that there are good men out there who aren’t complete narcissists.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself to avoid the guilt that settles in when I do think about it. Like Dylan said, this has been too good. I don’t want to stop.
The goodbye is rushed and leaves me feeling slightlyunsettled. Tully is picking Dylan up, and I’m so anxious that he’ll see us that I’m very abrupt with Dylan.
“Thanks for everything.” I hug him quickly. “Bye.”
I can tell it catches him off guard, but as with everything, he doesn’t make a big deal about it, and I’m glad he doesn’t. I feel like I might do something ridiculous like cry if he does.
“Hey!” he calls.
I turn around, and he grins that heart-stopping grin.
“We’re just beginning. Don’t forget that while we’re apart.” He leans forward and hugs me again and then kisses my cheek.
Before I know it, Chloe and I are heading to my mom’s, and I’m regretting not saying more of a goodbye.
My mom opens the door wide. “Hello!”
“Your Christmas lights look so pretty at night,” I say.
“Don’t they look gorgeous this year?” She beams.
When we walk inside, she scoops Chloe up and holds her close.
