Page 199 of Our Scorching Summer

“Hmm?” I slip off my seat and stand beside her.

Lily parts her knees, letting me press closer into her as my arms wrap around her neck.

“I found your notes in my journal.” She pauses, a smile spreading across her face. “I’ve read your words every day. Not taking a risk on us and spending a life without you doesn’t feel safer, it feels incomplete. Falling in love with you was the simple part, and I’m sorry it took so long for me to admit it.”

“Don’t apologize for taking your time. You’re right, a life without each other would feel incomplete. Which is why I want to spendourdays having breakfast for dinner. I want to sleep in the same bed, under the same sheets. I want to watch rom-coms with you and hold your hand when you force yourself to sit through scary movies with me.” Our grip on each other grows firmer, and I can feel her pulse beat in tandem with mine beneath her palm. “I want you, Lily. I want to call you, kiss you, feel you. I want your faults and truths and each one of your laughs. I want you and all your firsts, but there’s a small part of me that’s afraid.”

“About what?” Her brows furrow at my words.

“I’m afraid that if something gets hard again, you’ll pull away instead of reaching for me. I know I won’t be able to solve all your problems, but I need to know you won’t run when things get tough.”

“I’m done running, Nico,” she says. Our eyes remain locked; the weight of her words sinking in. “I can’t fix the way I’ve coped with things in my past, but moving forward, I know I don’t want to isolate myself. I want to try with you.”

“I want to try with you.”

Lily laughs, tugging me close.

I reluctantly shift out of her embrace. “Before I forget, I got you something,” I say, slinging my backpack off my shoulder and unzipping it.

“You really didn’t have to.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

I hand over the care package I’ve been putting together after Luca let me know she graduated.

I watch her pull the items out, eyes glinting between me and her graduation gifts: a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, an extensive assortment of teas she enjoyed in London, and a new laptop to replace the old one she dragged around the world all summer

“What is all of this?”

“A graduation gift. Avery mentioned that you’re officially the proud owner of a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.”

“I am. Can you believe it?”

“Lily Rodin, letting herself be happy? I may need some convincing.” I tap my finger on her nose and she beams.

“This is really thoughtful, Nico.”

“Look at the stickers I added to your new laptop.”

She pulls the new computer out of its bag. It took ages to find stickers to match all her old designs, but I couldn’t help adding one of my own.

Princesa.

She runs her fingers over the purple sticker.“It’s the same color as our bracelets.”

“That it is. Do you like it?”

“I love it. I loveyou.”

“You know I’d do anything for you.”

Lily beams, and it’s like a ray of sunshine fell through the skylight and landed right in front of me.

She wraps her hand around the nape of my neck. “I actually did a little something for you. Come with me.”

Chapter44

Lily

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