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“I can’t un-love you,” I answered

“Neither can I”

I took an expansive breath “And if I don’t accept your offer?” I searched his eyes

“I won’t ask a second time”

Chapter Thirty-One

Thanksgiving had never been erated Sunday Tooin the South was closed It was a day ether and celebrate the farandparents would drive over for the day

Inevitably so would burn Whether it was the crust on the puot was on the stove And who kne Garrett would handle the day

When ere kids he would rather be outside on the swing set than inside with the bickering and wafting smells of turkey I would wander out to find him If I could sneak it, I’d play too, but I had to be careful not to let one of the et dirty That was always a problem

I didn’t think this year would be any different Everything was planned Garrett was bringing Morgan My grandparents would drive for the afternoon And at some point my father would call and ask if Garrett and I wanted to come over for a cocktail I would take pity on him and confiscate leftovers to take to him My mother had so many plastic containers she wouldn’t notice if a feere ravy on Thanksgiving

But this year was different

Unprecedented

I looked up fro the shore of the speckled white and brown beach Theysound

My jaw dropped when Vaughn eed from one of the waves His body dripped with salt water He held snorkeling flippers in one hand as he shoved the rinned

“How’s the book?”

He shook his head, spraying water over my hot skin