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No, I correct ed for Emerson’s touch When I think ofwith pleasure fro at his clothes, and thrusting up against hioddess, like I’ in the desert for a thousand years in search of just one drop Like it takes everything in hiht there where I stand

Like he seesAnd he loves otta do" Lacey sighs "You heading back?"

I nod "You want to get breakfast before I hit the road?" I ask, looking at her hopefully Even after everything, I can’t bear the thought she’s angry at me She’s been my best friend since the very first day of freshine life without her "My treat," I add "We could get those chocolate chip pancakes you love…"

Lacey rolls her eyes again, but this time, it’s affectionate "Way to ruin rin, relief coursing through rabs her purse I laugh,

"Shut up" I follow her out the door, but soles at the back of my mind I pause "You don’t really believe that stuff?" I ask her, frowning "What you said, before, about guys like Daniel not picking you--"

"Forget it" Lacey waves , you know that"

"Well, you’re wrong" I tell her, following her down the hallway "You’re awesouy you want"

"Right now, I’ll take any guy who can give ht?"

Lacey links her arh mine "Love you too, babe"

After breakfast, I pack up for the road – for real, this time I don’t pretend to myself I’ll be done in town for just a few days I honestly have no idea how long I’ll be gone, so I eroups to tell the me out of town: I’ll check in every day to keep up, and be back at school for sure by finals By the time I hit the road around midday, I have a backseat packed with h clothes and toiletries to last aHell, for all I know, Emerson and me will take exactly five etting back to e used to have He hurt ain If I’ in me is certain now: I have to try I have to sit down, and talk to hi me are just te uy I fell in love with back then?

The thought rattles aroundwith h ht Because hell, I knoon’t have the ti in those dark blue eyes

Or running ry for the salty taste of hiet lost in the fantasy of his body hard and slick againstin there without a plan

A plan Right That’s what I need Because four years is a long tie ofIf there even is a this to go somewhere Will it be any different this tiirl to the one he knew back then, and even from the few short conversations we had this week, I can tell, he’s a differentIt thrilledcareful and cautious now, and aside fros I’ve done in the last few days, I know that isn’t just going to ain So what ain, if I had the choice?

The et any closer to the answers But as I drive headlong towards all this confusion and uncertainty, I realize that I don’t feel stressed, or worried any easy, a flutter of exciteet to Cedar Cove and Eed with au around in et to him, drowned out by the vision of his eyes, and lips, and the sweet, hot anticipation of finally being in his arh town, I feel like every cell inchorus of desire I planned to head back to the beach house and pullhim, but as I pass Jimmy’s Tavern, my body has other plans As if my hands are possessed, I suddenly yank the wheel around and pull a screeching U-turn into the parking lot

I stop the Camaro with a jolt, breathless Now I’ back Just because he called and wanted to talk, it doesn’t s out He could still be furious about Daniel, or--