Page 86 of From Now On

“Will you move back?” she asks.

I exhale. “I don’t know. I got into UW—University of Wyoming—so it’s an option. I’ve never had a place I pictured ending up after college, like you with New York. I just figured something would make sense when I got to this point, and it…it kinda snuck up on me, I guess.”

The same way the end of spring break did. Tomorrow’s Saturday—our last day here. Classes resume Monday, and April 15th will continue creeping closer.

“Time flies when it’s always raining,” Eve says.

I smile. “You sound like Hart.”

“I know. It drives Harlow crazy. She loves the rain. Water in any form, really.”

“They’re good together,” I state. “Harlow and Conor. I wasn’t sure at first, but they fit.”

Eve nods. “Yeah, they do. Weather preferences aside.”

I smile again. Or maybe I never stopped. “Speaking of couples, Harlow mentioned she heard I was dating Holly Johnson.”

Eve’s chewing on her lower lip again. “Oh, really?”

I almost laugh at the feigned casualness in her tone. Eve might be a talented artist, but she’s not a great actress. She’s obviously wondering whether Harlow named a source.

“Uh-huh.” I rub a hand along my jaw. My skin’s damp from the steam. “I went out with her once, that night I ran into you atLa Bella Napoli. But I haven’t gone out with her again, and I’m not going to. I’m not dating her.”

“Good.”

I’m not sure who’s more surprised by Eve’s reply—her or me.

Her cheeks flush scarlet. “I wasn’t, um, I just meant, if you’re not going out with her because you don’t want to go out with her, then that’s…good.” Eve tilts her head back, her throat working furiously. “Wow, those Jell-O shots were strong.”

I laugh, then reluctantly lift my arms out of the warm water. “I should head back to bed. Aidan was talking about leaving at seven.”

After some research on swells, Phillips decided our shitty surfing experience was because we went to the beach too late in the day. And somehow, he talked me and Hart into going again. Tomorrow’s our last chance.

“Be careful,” she says.

“Of sharks?”

“No. I mean, yes, I saw the same documentary with Harlow and theydomistake surfers for seals sometimes, but I was more meaning your…shoulder.”

“Oh. Right.” I forgot I mentioned it to her, and I’m taken aback that Eve remembered. “It’s not bothering me much anymore.”

She nods. “Good.”

I stand to climb out. The water level hits just below my waist. And Eve’s eyes donotstay on mine. They trail down, lower and lower, which is what I was hoping would happen. When she walked in on me in the shower, it was sudden and unexpected. I couldn’t get a good read on her reaction before she shut the door. But now, she’s looking deliberately at my soaked boxers. Looking like she likes what she sees.

“Good night, Eve.”

Her eyes dart up to meet mine, fresh color flooding her face. “Night, Hunter.”

I vault over the edge and walk to the chair, using my T-shirt as a temporary towel to dry off a little before I head inside.

I glance back at Eve once, when I reach the door. She’s in the same spot, staring up at the sky that doesn’t change.

Tonight, it felt like we did.

And I hope we’llkeepchanging.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

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