“Doesn’t matter. I’m here with you. Nothing could ruin today,” she says.
I want to be a part of it. I want to be in the moment, but I’m distracted. Split between being here with my friends and being back in my home office with Georgianna’s trajectory broadcast on my large desktop screen.
“Hey.” Sebastian reaches over and tugs on my ponytail. “I don’t see you jumping up and down about the possibility of a hurricane being so close to the state. It’ll be prime chasing.”
“I’m fine. Nervous, I guess. The ocean waters are warm. Georgianna has so much distance to travel and plenty of time to grow.” I shrug and trace the path of the forecast model that suggests aTampa landfall, just north of where we’re headed today. “I hate the thought of anyone being in danger.”
“It sucks that this is a side effect of living in Florida, but we did talk about this being the peak time period for storm development onThe Rainy Day Show.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot you two have been teaming up lately.” Cooper puts a hand on my seat, leaning forward so he can join our conversation. “How is it going?”
Great.
We’re also sleeping together.
The things he can do with his mouth are out of this world, and it’s impossible to stay away from him.
I have this silly, stupid crush on him, and it’s only getting worse.
My cheeks heat. I wring my hands together to give myself something to do besides thinking about him in front of our friends, but Sebastian must be a mind reader. It’s the only explanation for why he smirks. Why he pushes his sunglasses into his hair. Why he rests an elbow on the console between our seats, the scent of his cologne tickling my nose.
“Yeah, Pres? Howisit going?” he asks.
“It hasn’t been the worst thing in the world,” I say. “The internet loves him. It makes the job more fun, and it’s nice to—”
“Nerd out with someone?” Harlow finishes for me, and I laugh.
“Exactly.”
“Social media loves you,” Mia pipes up. “I saw a video someone posted of all your sound bites combined into one clip, and it was so funny how nerdy you two actually are. But in a way where a normal person can understand? It’s cool.”
“I’m not on social media and I’ve seen the video,” Richard adds. “It’s making the rounds at work.”
“Bankers care? Wow.” Sebastian blows out a breath. “We’ve made it big, Monroe.”
“Everyone is going to be disappointed to find out this isn’t a permanent thing,” I say. “When Sebastian goes back to New York, he won’t be a regular.”
“A million hearts will break when I announce my departure.” He sighs and puts his hand over his chest, dramatic. “It’s okay. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.”
“And the ego is back.” I grab his phone sitting on the console between us. I connect it to the aux cord and look his way. “Do you have any good music on here? Mia is right. I can’t do a weather podcast right now. Not when my life is about to be consumed by hurricane content.”
“Play whatever you want. Passcode is 8737.”
“You added a passcode?”
“I was told not having one was borderline serial killer behavior, so I made some adjustments.”
“What does it mean?”
“It’s a secret.” Sebastian grins and fixes his sunglasses back on his face, staring out at the open road. “Do you want a hint?”
“I never liked riddles.” I pick a Dashboard Confessional song and turn up the volume, the cheers from the back seat affirming my song selection. “You can keep your secrets.”
“That’s fine, but just know it’s one of my favorite things.”
We drive west, the bass thumping, the sun shining. I’m so unbelievably happy, but as I stare out at the endless blue skies ahead of us, I can’t help but think something bad is waiting for us down the road.
“Hi.” Harlow sits next to me in the sand, scooting my way so she’s shaded by the tent the boys put up for us. Her pale skin is turning pink even with the sunscreen she slathered on her body, and she shoves a floppy hat on her head to cover her face. “What are you doing over here by yourself?”
