Page 45 of Until We Kiss

“Yeah.” I swallow. “You need to graduate, get that teaching degree. And I… I need to heal.” My voice cracks.

I need to get back to me.

I don’t think I can do that in Colorado.

Jesus, that’s preposterous though. Stayhere? People don’t go on spring break and just decide to stay.

Carter hesitates. When his lips finally part, I’m ready for him to tell me that this is ridiculous. That it makes no sense. That there’s no way I can stay. That I need to?—

“Good.” He takes another step forward, close enough that he could kiss me if he wanted.

I can’t believe I’m doing this. “You don’t have to wait or anything. I get that?—‍”

“OfcourseI’m gonna wait.” He tosses down his bag, his hand cupping my neck, palm warm. “At the end of this story, I’m going to get the guy.”

Jesus, Carter.

“You already have him.”

Carter’s thumb rasps along the rise of my cheek, like he doesn’t hear the ferry horn blaring behind him. “I’m gonna miss you so much.”

“I’ll be there for your graduation,” I say. “Two months.”

“Two months.” His eyes move around my face. “I’ll text you when we land.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. I don’t want to be away from him.

I squeeze his biceps. “I love you, bro.”

He laughs, so happily, and then leans into my ear, warm and big, surrounding me. “I love you too.”

He presses something hard into my palm–the keychain–and then he’s gone. Heading towards the ferry and Dorian and Rory. They ask him something as soon as he boards, but he shakes his head and turns to look at me.

I stand there, watching, until the ferry is a speck on the horizon.

I feel like crying. I feel like breaking apart.

But I don’t because for the first time in six months, I might not have a plan, but I have a purpose.

My thumb rolls over the keychain and I glance down, expecting to see my name. I stop.

He didn’t give me the one with my name. He gave me one with his.

Carter, written around a spouting, happy whale. And I’m guessing he has one with my name.

We’rebothgoing to get the guy.

At the end of this story, we’ll do whatever it takes.

Just wait and see.

EPILOGUE

One year ago today.

I can’t believe it’s been that long.

Fifty feet from where I’m standing is where I tore off my shirt and sprinted into the water that first night here. How Carter piggybacked me around his hips, the comfort of him. One year ago today.

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