Lola sticks up her middle finger and kisses it.Smiling at him, she backs toward the sea.David makes an irritated huff and chases after her.
Chloe’s fingers find mine again.“Want to go for a walk?”
I can’t help but squeeze, tracing her knuckles with mine.“Yeah.”
We head off along the wet sand of the shoreline toward the lighthouse, away from where Lola’s skinny dipping while David stands there with his Johnny-Bravo-arms folded.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding my question earlier.”Chloe squints a frown at me while we stroll.
“What question?”
“Surfing.Tomorrow.”
I sigh.“I gotta get a whole lot done tomorrow.”
“So do I.I need to swing by Mugs for our monthly deep-clean,andI have a stack of laundry up to my ceiling.Butlookat where you are, Ethan.”She gestures around at the postcard image of an endless beach swathed in moonlight.“You seriously came all the way to North Carolina just to work the entire time?”
“I’m not working right now.”
She shakes her head.“Not good enough.I can’t let you go back and tell the entire state of Pennsylvania that the only thing worth doing at Inner Shores is having a drink at a bar.Even if that bar is awesome.”
I throw her a side-eye.“You’re one pushy girl, you know that?”
“Is that a yes?I’ll bring the boards.”
Her gaze holds mine as she smiles, and the breath in my chest begins to evaporate as our feet slow and stop against the sand.My fingers tangle through hers, brushing against her skin, making little strokes.
Why am I fighting this when it feels inevitable?
Shit, now I sound like Willow.
Maybe the full moon is fucking with me.
“All right, Chloe.You win.”
She throws her arms around my neck, her chest bumping against mine.“Do you promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
Her arms are still around me, our bodies pressed against one another.
I should step back.Give us some space to breathe.
Moonlight highlights her face.
“Stop thinking,” she whispers.
“I don’t think, I?—”
She reaches with her free hand to lay her palm over my mouth.“Shhh.”
“Did you just shush me?”I mumble behind her hand.
“I just want you to listen.”
She lets go, and I press my lips together and nod.We both still, our heels digging into the sand while the lapping of the waves swims through my ears.
“Bet you don’t get that sound back in Philly,” she whispers.
