Page 29 of Liberty

“What about us?”

I smiled. “I think I’m okay with some distance. For a little while.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. While we keep getting to know each other. I mean, communication is so easy these days. Skype and FaceTime and all that.”

Cooper nodded. “That’s fair. I’ve never done a long-distance relationship before.”

“Well, if stuff works out, it won’t be long distance for long.”

“You think?”

I shrugged. “I gotta admit, it’s beautiful here. And I think I’d like learning how to surf.”

He chuckled and tugged me closer. “I can give you a discount on lessons if you date me.”

“Oh, shit, really? The girlfriend discount?”

“Yeah. And I’ll even throw in a free one.”

I grinned, fanning myself teasingly. “Keep talking. I love a discount.”

Cooper laughed, tugging me close and kissing me again.

And he kept kissing me, until somebody knocked on the door. Slowly, he pulled away, going to get our breakfast.

We took it out to the balcony.

Together, we sat and watched the sun come up over the Gulf.

Epilogue

Cooper

Six Months Later

I hadn’t made a drive this long since I was in grad school.

But it was worth it.

I was finally getting to visit Libby in Oxford.

We’d spent the last six months talking multiple times a day. We FaceTimed at least three times a week, and texted as much as we could. I’d wanted to come out sooner, but summer at the resort kept me busy.

But now that winter was setting in, it was easier to get away.

And I was planning to stay for two weeks.

As I got into town, I stopped at a florist I found online and bought a bouquet. She’d told me tiger lilies were her favorite flower, and I found a bouquet with them.

I just hoped she would like it.

Were flowers overdone? I wasn’t sure. I’d never really done romance like this before.

And I couldn’t help the nerves. What if we got together in person and the spark was gone? What if we weren’t meant for something long-term?

I wanted to be with her so bad, and I was terrified.

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