Page 120 of Sparks Fly

I hugged her back. “You’re having fun?”

“The best time.”

That made the exhaustion worth it.

Upstairs, I closed my bedroom door and leaned against it for a moment. My cheeks were still warm, my head pleasantly light, the day clinging to me in that loose, hazy way.

Back at the house, Lilly caught me before heading toward her room and pulled me into another hug.

“You’re the best,” she murmured.

I hugged her back. “You’re having fun?”

“The best time.”

That made the exhaustion worth it.

Upstairs, I closed my bedroom door and leaned against it for a moment. My cheeks were still warm, my head pleasantly light, the day clinging to me in that loose, hazy way.

Me: Okay. Now I miss you.

I smiled and pushed away from the door.

Sawyer: Took you long enough.

Still wearing my swimsuit, I stretched across the bed and snapped a picture, one hand resting above my head and my sun-warmed legs bare.

Me: Going to shower. Wanted you to see me in this one last time.

Sawyer: Jesus, Addie.

Heat curled low in my stomach.

“I know,” I murmured, dropping my phone onto the bed.

I grabbed a towel and headed into the bathroom.

The shower was quiet. Just hot water, steam, and the slow process of washing away the sunscreen, salt, and sweat from the day.

By the time I stepped out, I felt softer. Cleaner. Calmer.

I pulled on the oversized T-shirt I had stolen from Sawyer, nothing underneath, and towel-dried my hair before padding back into the bedroom.

The bed was too big.

Too quiet without her.

I climbed in anyway, sinking into the pillows as the cool sheets slid against my skin. For a moment, I lay there staring at the ceiling.

Then I reached for my phone and hit FaceTime.

Sawyer answered on the second ring.

She was sprawled across her couch. She smiled the second she saw me, slow and immediate, like she had been waiting for my call.

“Hey,” she said. “There you are.”

I rolled onto my side and propped myself on one elbow, letting the shirt fall open just enough to be intentional.