Page 20 of Our Scorching Summer

Apart from that,friendsis quickly becoming my least-favorite word. It’s the exact nonsense my brother kept repeating last night after he interrupted our kiss on the cliff.

I shoot her a wink. “Whatever you need to convince yourself.”

“I’m serious. Let’s not waste a friendship on a quick fuck.”

Her annoying, albeit valid, points sour my mood. “There would be nothing quick about it,” I bite back.

“Nico.”

“Okay, I get it.” I throw my palms up and rise from my seat. “Here, swap with me.”

She clocks me suspiciously. “You’re gonna give up the window?”

“If you don’t want it, then I’m happy to keep it.” I feign sitting back down.

“No.I—I do,” she says instantly, a smile lighting up her face. “Please and thank you.”

“Smart girl.”

She’ll be more comfortable there.

Lily squeezes by me. Her body presses into me, transporting me back to last night. My breath hitches.This is going to be a long flight.

“Are you as tired as I am?” Lily asks, buckling her seat belt. “My head feels like it’s been run over by a bulldozer.”

I won’t entertain her trying to change the subject. “What made you decide to come?”

“All the flights to the East Coast were canceled. Apparently, some kind of freak storm started last night.”

“So, you thought,fuck it, let’s go on a trip with Nico. Doesn’t sound like you.”

Lily unfastens her seat belt. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No.” I cough away the rise in my voice. “I’m just curious.”

“I’ve been known to make big moves in the past; besides, this will be a quick trip.”

“Quick?”

“Yes. I’ll hang with you for a month, and then I’m returning to New York. I already texted Avery and Molly my plans.”

My eyes widen. “What did they say?”

“I don’t know. I turned off my phone.”

The string of safety announcements plays throughout the cabin. I click the armrest between our seats into the upright position. “Taking a page straight out of my playbook. Good for you, beautiful.”

“There, see? None of that.” Lily slams down the armrest. “No nicknames. No touching. No grinning, and most definitely no winking.”

“Does it turn you on?”

“Please don’t make me regret this, Nico.” Her voice fills with pleading.

I keep the flimsy metal bar down as a form of peaceful surrender.For now.

If Lily weren’t so stubborn, we could pass the lengthy travel time by joining the mile-high club. But what does my brother always say? Patience is a virtue or some shit. Four weeks is more than enough time to make her see reason.

“What are you actually doing here? I know a vacation wasn’t on the forefront of your mind.”

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