Page 168 of From Now On

“Itisthe job I want,” I interrupt. “Yeah, I started looking into it because of you, but there are hundreds of thousands of other people dealing with the same thing. They get in a cycle, and then they can’t get out. And they get punished for it.”

Sean doesn’t respond right away. And when he does, his voice is a little hoarse. “I’m really proud of you, Hunter. Really, really proud.”

“Thanks.” My reply is a little husky too.

He claps me on the back, and then we sit in silence for a bit, staring at the spot where the ice should be. I wonder when Sean skated last. My guess is it’s been a while, maybe even since high school.

“I think Mom made dinner reservations,” I finally say.

And is probably sitting anxiously in the hotel room, worrying about us.

Sean shakes his head as he stands. “Don’t want to be late? You’re really gunning for favorite son, huh?”

“Well, you could make it alittlemore of a competition,” I retort.

He grins, shoving me right as I stand. I have to turn the two steps down into one leap.

I flip him off, and he laughs. The laughter echoes, and it sounds like my childhood. Something I haven’t heard in a while.

And, as we head back toward the lobby, the guy walking beside me feels a lot less like a stranger.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

EVE

I’m a college graduate.

The tassel flip and the empty case I was handed to display the diploma that’ll get mailed to me didn’t really make it feel real. But it’s starting to sink in, after a full day of photos and tears and celebration.

A happy squeal draws my attention to the left. Conor is splashing Harlow in the shallows. Rylan and Aidan are standing on the dock with Sean, looking at the boats and talking.

“What are you doing all the way down here?” Hunter’s walking across the sand toward me, hands tucked in the pockets of his suit pants.

The wind picks up, flopping a piece of blond hair onto his forehead. He’ll need another haircut soon.

“I wanted to stick my feet in the water,” I reply.

I was also hoping he’d follow me down here and away from everyone else, since I haven’t given him his graduation gift yet.

“Sean seems to be having fun,” I comment.

Hunter glances toward his brother, who’s still standing with Rylan and Aidan. “Yeah. He always does.”

“You’re waiting for him to relapse.”

He exhales. “I probably always will be. But I don’t think it’ll happen tonight, so that’s something.”

Hunter leans down and picks up one of the flat rocks lining the shore. He sends it flying toward the water with a powerful flick of his wrist. It skips four times before disappearing below the dark surface of the Sound.

“Impressive,” I comment.

“I’ll show you. C’mere.”

I take a few steps toward him, closing the distance. Hunter wraps an arm around my waist, spins me, and tugs me to him, pressing a kiss to the crease of my shoulder.

I shiver, relaxing back against his chest. Not just from the cold, although the dress I wore for graduation isn’t retaining much heat in the cooling air.

“You okay?” he murmurs. “You’ve been quiet tonight.”

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