Page 101 of Crash into me

“Why are we here?” Kate whispers. She’s eying down the tree with a hateful glint to her gaze.

Foster chucks my chin. “It’s our spot.” He smiles; his mood is so elevated. We won the race, we have the money … and a little extra to start our lives with.

“Why would this be your spot? This is where she crashed.” Kate gestures to me, confused.

He shrugs. “My parents also died here,” he tells her, opening up in the short, blunt way he knows how. Kate doesn’t know it, but that means he really trusts her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

Foster waves her off with a warm smile. “Grab the beer!” he shouts back to Brett as he pulls up. We show them through the tiny forest, leading to the archway.

The moon hangs closer to the earth tonight, blanketing the ocean in a shimmering glitter and lighting the white sands with its brilliance.

“This place is insane!” Warren sets down the cooler, looking around as everyone gathers around. Kate, Callum, Brett, Warren, Ryder, all of our friends are here.

The sand is still wet from the rain earlier, but there are plenty of weathered branches to hang our towels off of and sit on.

“First thing!” Foster raises his can. “If you tell anyone about this spot, I will drown you there.” He laughs, pointing to the ocean.

“Let’s fucking party!” Kate howls while Brett shakes up a can and sprays us all with cold foam.

We don’t bother keeping quiet; tonight is a night for celebration. Not only are we away from civilization, but we’re also away from danger.

Foster buries his face in my hair. “Any requests?” He holds up his guitar.

“Anything you sing is my favorite,” I remind him.

He casually strums the strings, transporting us into a beautiful oasis as we settle in around the fire.

“How long have you known about this?” Kate gestures around. “You had a whole world hidden here.”

I shrug. “It’s our little secret.”

“And no one besides our group is allowed to know about it.” Foster talks over his own music. “If shit ever goes down, we meet here. This is a safe zone.”

Callum lifts his drink. “Good thing all this shits behind us now.”

We enjoy the sounds, listening as Foster dives into song after song head first and without fear. This is living.

Then, he throws his guitar against the wet sand. “Last one in the water has to wash the cars tomorrow!”

I rip off my t-shirt and chase after him. Looking back, I realize no one is following us. I dive in the ocean for a moment alone with the love of my life.

He scoops me in his arms. “You better not let a shark attack me.”

“Never.” Foster’s midnight eyes are twinkling like the stars, and a fresh sense of freedom swirling around them. “I fucking love you.” The arching waves push our bodies together.

“I love you too.” I grin, and then I place my hands on his head and attempt to push him under.

“That was dumb,” he says with a laugh. “I can stand here, you can’t.” I’m hurled into the air, then tossed into the salty water.

I plunge up, ready to fight. “Scores are in!” Kate shouts from the bonfire.

I rush out of the ocean, wiping my hands off with my dry shirt before gripping my phone. “Check it.” Foster runs up behind me.

I’ve spent my entire life having panic attacks before checking grades, and now that we’re free from everything that holds us down, I am over being scared. “Let’s go over there,” I breathe, gesturing to the bank. I rustle through the bag and grab out a sheet from the picnic stuff.

The farther we walk off, the more the warm light from the fire dissipates.

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