Page 129 of Summer Ever After
“Good luck!” Capri calls as I start running.
I’m holding my phone in my hand as I weave through golf carts and people running to get out of the rain. Heads turn when they hear the music playing over my speaker. Jane is really onto something with this song. The moment feels more dramatic than anything in my entire life. I literally feel like I’m running to catch her before she leaves me forever. These are make-or-break seconds in my life. It’s kind of exciting, like how I feel about our future—all the things we’re going to do together, the good and the bad moments, the family we’ll raise, the life we’ll share. It’s all culminating in a happily ever after.
Just what Jane wanted.
She actually did what she set out to do this summer.
She fell in love and took me along for the ride.
Across the street, Mayor Barnes and his wife run for cover from the rain.
“Hey, where’s Jane?” I call to them.
“Walker?” Betsy’s expression seems confused, as if she can’t comprehend why I’m here in Sunset Harbor.
“She’s back there, cleaning up the sound system before it gets ruined.” Mayor Barnes points behind him while still pushing Betsy along.
My feet slow as my gaze follows where he points. Raindrops pour down my face, wetting my hair, shoulders, and arms. But I’m only focused on one thing.
Then I see her.
Jane.
Relief floods my body. I’m finally home.
A sheet of rain is between us, falling on her brown hair, floral skirt, and a pink T-shirt.
She’s beautiful.
Everything I need.
I’ve been wandering aimlessly in a desert, and she’s a pool of water.
I’ve never wanted anything more.
Jane Hayes is my future and my forever.
Jane
I finish winding up the microphone cord, drop it into the bin, and fasten the lid, but my movements freeze when I hear “Somewhere Only We Know” playing.
Wow.
My imagination is really running wild. I miss Walker so much I’m hearing our song—okay, it’s not officially our song. I just made that up in my head. Just like I’m making up hearing it.
No, wait.
It’s getting louder. Like, so loud it can’t be fake.
I whip around, and Walker is behind me.
My mouth opens in shock. Damp curls drop to his brow like he’s been in the rain for hours.
Time slows, my mind catching every nuanced detail of him.
He doesn’t say anything. Desperation controls his body language and how his feet spread into a power stance. One arm wraps around my waist, jerking my body to him. His eyes scream,If I don’t kiss you right now, I might actually die.
Even though it’s happening fast in one fluid movement, I see it all.
