Page 114 of My Best Years

I will follow you anywhere.

It’s taking all of my self-restraint not to lean forward and kiss him right now. But I know we need to have this conversation.

“But…what if I wanna stay here?”

His chest stills, and I think he stops breathing for a second.

“What did you just say?” he rasps in complete shock.

“I know I’ve only been in Gulf Shores for a couple of months, but I can see myself living here more and more each day. It’s so easy to see why you love it here. It reminds me of our childhood in Myrtle Beach, but it also feels like a fresh start. And having you here just makes it feel even more like home.”

A smile that doesn’t quite reach his lips appears as he presses our foreheads together and speaks in a low, tender tone.

“Birdie, you know that would be a dream come true for me. But it would also kill me if you made such a huge life decision because of me. I would be happy anywhere—absolutely anywhere—as long as you’re with me. Promise me you know that.”

“I know, Cal,” I nod. “But I really do like it here. Plus, I love my job and the people I work with. The director of nursing already mentioned multiple times that the hospital would offer me a full-time role if I wanted one. And each time she brings it up to me, the more I can see it becoming a reality.”

A boyish grin stretches across Callum’s face as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me on top of him. I don’t have a chance to catch my breath before he crushes his lips to mine.

My elbows dig into the sand as I tangle my fingers in his curls. He lets out a sexy groan that I feel in my chest when I part my lips for him. Our tongues tangle, mating as the sun completes its final descent below the horizon. I lose track of time as we drown in a sea of passionate kisses.

I can’t help but think about how similar this is to the first night Callum kissed me when we were seventeen. From the first touch of his lips, I knew that nothing else could compare.

When we part for air, Callum smiles up at me and nibbles on my bottom lip. His arousal is hidden between our bodies, but I can feel every inch of him. Hard and aching for me.

“It’s probably best that we get out of here,” I hint, rolling my hips against him. His jaw flexes at the gesture.

“Yeah?” he asks, his tone low and thick.

“Yeah.” I nod.

“And what do we have planned next?”

“I think you know,” I taunt.

“Mmmm,” he hums, skimming his hand down my back and squeezing my ass cheek.

“Let’s go,” I whisper, kissing the tip of his nose and pushing up on my arms.

“Wait,” he stops me by wrapping his hands around my elbows.

I tilt my head, staring down at him blankly.

“What is it?”

The sky shifts from orange to violet, merging with his sapphire irises.

“Promise me something, okay?”

“Okay…” I stammer, unsure of what he’s about to say.

“Promise me that you’ll think long and hard about where you want to live once your contract ends. If it’s here, I would love that. But if it’s somewhere else, I’d be just as happy. I just want to be wherever you are, Birdie.”

I just want to be wherever you are, Birdie.

God, I love him. I love him so much it hurts.

“I promise.”

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