Page 56 of Meet Me Back Here

What look did Melina see?

I pull the extra pillow over my face and squeeze it down, trying to smush the insanity right out of me. Clearly, I need sleep more than I thought I did.

With the way I keep running myself in circles, I don’t expect to actually get any rest, but I must end up falling asleep because a gentle knock on the bedroom door pulls me back to consciousness.

“Cam?” Forrest’s voice follows the sound. “It’s a little after six.”

At that, I’m wide awake, flying out of bed and into a tangle of streamers.

As I unwrap colored paper from my body, I wonder what housekeeping thought when they came in earlier today. I hope they at least had a good laugh at it since they had to work around my little art project. I make a mental note to make sure I get every single strip of tape off before we leave and to leave a nice tip for their patience.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” I call back, whipping off my pajamas and shoving my legs into a pair of pants. Chunky sweater. The littlest stub of a ponytail that’s more of a puff ball at the nape of my neck. And I’m ready to go.

Just before I head out to the living room, I run to the balcony door and peek around the closed curtains and look to the sky.

Steadily darkening. No clouds.

Perfect.

I was skeptical when I read that star gazing is best shortly after sunset. I figured it’d be midnight, but I’m no scientist, so I trusted the blog of somebody who knows a lot more about stars than I do.

“Ready?” I ask as I yank open the bedroom door and find Forrest leaning against the kitchen counter, hands in his pockets, one ankle crossed over the other.

I guess my nap did nothing to clear my head because the second I see him, I feel that kiss against my hair again.

I must be ovulating or something.

I told Forrest to dress for comfort, so he’s back in those damn grey sweatpants from this morning with his trusty resort sweatshirt. He hasn’t shaved in a couple of days and the darkened shadow on his jawline suits him very well.

Yup. Definitely ovulating.

“Ready,” Forrest says with a nod as he pushes off the counter.

“Did you sleep at all?” I ask, glancing over at the couch, but finding it still in couch-mode. Forrest has insisted on folding his bed up every single day.

“Nah, I was studying. My next test is right after we get back, before Christmas, so I need to be ready,” Forrest answers. He looks uneasy but wipes the expression from his face as quickly as it appeared. “I also didn’t get up early to decorate the whole hotel room like you did though.”

“You’ve got that test in the bag,” I answer, wanting to reassure him especially if he’s embarrassed about being nervous. “I know you do. You’ve always been top of every class, and you’ll show everybody up.”

Forrest frowns just the tiniest amount. I don’t think most people would notice, but I do. He doesn’t explain it.

“We don’t have to stay late either. This is a flexible schedule surprise,” I say, trying to figure out what I said wrong.

“Any hints?” Forrest asks, his smile coming right back.

“Not a chance.” I shake my head. I hope I’m not hyping this up too much, but I don’t think I am.

Before we go out to the car, I swing by the desk where my girl Hope has a box waiting for me. She heaves it onto the counter and gives me a sneaky wink. She also helped me figure out a good spot for tonight, and with how supportive she is, I think she might be just as excited as I am.

“Have fun you two,” she says as I try to lift the box. It’s heavier than I expected. I’m trying to maneuver it so I can get a good grip on it when Forrest appears at my side and takes it, easily holding it under one arm.

Sir.

“Can I shake it?” he asks once we’re outside, holding the box up and looking at it with curiosity, head tilted.

“Don’t you dare,” I say, aghast, smacking his free arm.

When Forrest looks at me, a smile is teasing his lips. He’s happy again, playful. It’s a secret Forrest that few get to see. It used to be the one reserved only for me.