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“Pretty sure I was the only one who never stopped believing that, even when you weren’t talking to each other,” Uncle Colton says smugly.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Aunt Ava elbows her husband and then focuses her attention on us, her expression going soft. “Just be happy. That’s what we all want for you.”
“Thank you,” I say, my voice cracking with emotion.
I’ve always thought of Michael’s parents as part of my family, and now, I see they feel the same way, just like mine think of Michael.
Michael clears his throat. “Do you mind if I steal Isla away? I want to show her something before everyone else gets here.”
Aunt Ava nods. “Sure.”
He stands, helps me to my feet, and we head into the house holding hands.
“Just no funny business, okay?” Dad calls out after us.
For a moment, everyone is silent, and then they burst into laughter.
Back pressed against Michael’s chest, I sit between his legs on the rooftop. My heart races despite how much I love being up here. After our talk with our parents, I’m still buzzing with adrenaline.
This moment is both nostalgic and bittersweet. Memory after memory flits through my head. Nights when we’d sneak out here and talk for hours, snacking on the food he’d smuggle from the kitchen. Getting caught more than once and enduring lectures about how dangerous it was to be out here. Our first-kiss pact and how everything fell apart in the months before we turned sixteen.
“It feels like we’ve gone back in time,” he says quietly, his mouth close to my ear.
“This place holds so many memories.”
“Too many.” He tightens his arms around me. “I’m still mad at myself for not kissing you that night. It was warm like this. It was Mom’s birthday then too, wasn’t it? God, I wanted to. I wanted to so badly, but I got in my head, worried you wouldn’t want it, that I’d ruin our friendship.” A slow exhale leaves his mouth, his hot breath fanning over my skin. “If I had just done it…everything would’ve been different. All our firsts would’ve been with each other.”
“I know,” I say quietly. “But I can see now that it was for the best. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t gone with Elena. And you may not have focused on honing your skills the way you did if I’d stayed.”
“Yeah,” he says, “you’re right. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still mad.”
I worry my bottom lip, my heart thudding heavily. “When did you first realize you were in love with me?”
He chuckles softly and answers without hesitation. “We were fourteen. You stayed after practice so we could race. You beat me, again, but barely.” He takes a deep breath. “You were standing there, breathing hard, hand pressed to your chest, hair falling into your eyes. And you were smiling like you’d just won the world.” He traps my chin between his fingers, forcing my face up. “All I wanted was to see that smile again. That’s when I knew.”
My stomach flutters, the butterflies flitting there losing their minds over the confession.
“What about you?” he asks quietly.
“I don’t know when exactly,” I admit. “Because I’ve loved you forever.”
He studies me for a second, his expression serious, inscrutable. Then, he brushes his lips over mine.
“I’ve never been happier than I am when I’m with you,” he confesses. “You were my first love. And you’re my last. My only. There’s only you for me.”
“And there’s only ever you for me,” I say. “I don’t want it any other way.”
He holds my gaze for a long moment, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips as if he’s already made up his mind about something. “Do you trust me?”
“With my life.”
“Good.” He slides his fingers into my hair, gently tugging at the roots. “Then we’re making one stop before we head back to New York.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Is there any chance I could get the ‘where’ out of you?”
“Not this time.”
“You’re making me nervous.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Is it something good?”
