Page 130 of Wanted You More

Looking over to the twenty-seven-year-old beside me, I smile. He got a glowing recommendation from the Schuman group that helped him land a job at a well-known firm in New York City. Between his savings and the money I was given when I turned twenty-one, we’ve got a decent apartment together. It’s small, but perfect for us.

For a fresh start.

Just the two of us.

Squeezing his hand, I say, “I have to say goodbye to my family. If Aunt Mae doesn’t get a hug, she’ll blow up my phone again about how ungrateful I am that she traveled here, considering I never tried to visit her in Tampa whenever I went for spring break.”

Noah chuckles, having met my eccentric aunt a time or two. “We can’t have that.”

I wave at my friends. “We’ll talk soon.” My eyes go to my oldest friend, whose hand is curled around her tiny baby bump. “You better let me throw you a shower. It won’t be as wild as the parties we used to go to, but it’ll be so much fun. We’ll make our schedules work.”

Ever since she left California, and inevitably the man she was having an affair with, she moved back to Cherry Cove and found a new job while she attended school for design. While I don’t condone the fact she hooked up with the teaching assistant in one of her classes, he’s oddly the perfect match for her. They’re happy and settling not far outside the city, which means she’ll be nearby.

Kennedy speaks up. “I better be here when it happens. My trip to South Africa isn’t for another few months.”

To nobody’s surprise, my former roommate is following in her parent’s footsteps and joining the Peace Corps before starting law school next year. I still think she’ll be the first female president of the United States, although she always rolls her eyes whenever I say it.

I do a quick scan around the scattered class to find Lincoln. We grew apart after sophomore year because we found our own groups of people, but I’ll always wish him well. I know he’s agreed to work for his dad’s garage despite his degree, so hopefully, he finds a way to make it work.

When I lock eyes with the boy in question, I raise my free hand and wave. He’s standing next to a purple-haired girl who I’ve heard he’s been seeing for a while.

He waves back.

Looks at her.

And that’s that.

I tug on Noah’s hand when I see Aunt Mae starting to walk in my direction. “Come on then. Mae is looking anxious. I promised her I’d take her out to dinner tomorrow before her flight leaves, so we should nail down those details before heading to your parents.”

As we walk to where our families are waiting for us, I can’t help but glance down at the bracelet still hanging from my wrist. It’s full of charms from the adventures we’ve had over the years, and Noah has already promised another one when this is full.

It’s been fourteen years since the night that changed my life forever.

And it led me straight to Noah Kingsley.

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