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“Oh, we are so far past friends, Tate.”
“Are we now?” I quirked a brow.
“Mhmm,” he nodded. “Friends don’t kiss like this.” And then he lowered his mouth to demonstrate. He kissed me leisurely, like we had all the time in the world, and I was happy to let him. When he pulled away I mewled in protest, causing him to chuckle. It wasn’t my fault his kisses were mind-blowing. “And I don’t think you let your friends touch you here.” His fingers glided over the tops of my breasts, which heaved behind the confines of my bikini top. “Or here.” His hand went lower, cupping me over my shorts.
“Jude!” I gasped. “People can see you!”
“I don’t care,” he said simply.
“I do!”
“Well,” he kissed my cheek, rolling off of me, “you shouldn’t care so much what people think. People’s opinions of you don’t change a thing.” He stared out at the dark blue ocean and sighed. His face grew serious. “I don’t want to go home.”
“Me either.”
He continued on like I hadn’t even spoken. “I’m afraid that when we go home, everything will go back to the way it was before…that this will have all been a dream and you’ll hate me again. I don’t like you hating me, Tate.” He glanced at me and I could see the hurt etched into his face. He really meant what he said.
“That’s not going to happen, Jude.” I assured him, but he didn’t relax. I laid my head on his shoulder.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he muttered, almost like he hadn’t meant to say the words out loud.
I realized then that Jude had been doing nothing but trying to prove to me he cared for a while. I hadn’t been nearly so open with my thoughts or feelings for him. I was closed off and sheltered. Jude said he wore his heart on his sleeve, and he was right. But I kept mine guarded.
“I’ll just have to prove it to you,” I murmured. I meant it too.
Jude had shown he was different with me.
Now, it was my turn to show that I was different with him—that we were two halves of a whole. A fucked up whole, but a whole nonetheless.
???
The stars sparkled above me and the ocean roared as it crashed against the sand. The night had grown cold, but I wore a sweatshirt and had a blanket wrapped around my shoulders to protect against the wind.
I’d found myself unable to sleep.
My mind wouldn’t shut up.
When the clock read one in the morning, I gave up and came out here. I’d hoped the sound of the ocean would make me sleepy, but so far it hadn’t. I was sure it was closer to two now. Maybe I’d be able to sleep in the car. Trent wanted to get an early start home. I could tell that he and Rowan wanted to get back home to Tristan and Ivy. It was weird to think that my best friend was a mom. Crazy, really. We were so young.
I sighed, stretching my legs out in front of me.
I startled when a body sank down next to me.
Jude.
I should’ve known he’d show up.
In fact, I was actually surprised that it took him this long to come find me.
He had a sweatshirt and sweatpants on, but he still reached for the blanket. I thought he was cold and moved closer, but when he wrapped his arms around me I knew he was only trying to get me warm. Oh Jude, ever the thoughtful one. Tears pricked my eyes. I’d always believed Jude to be the villain, but he wasn’t at all. He was amazing in so many ways. He was by far a better person than me. He was the hero of this tale and I was the wicked witch. I’d been so incredibly wrong about him and I’d hate myself for the rest of my life for that fact.
“What are you doing out here, Tate? You’re going to get sick. Look at you, you’re freezing,” he admonished. I shivered as if my body needed to drive home his point.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“So, you could’ve watched TV or something. You didn’t need to come out here,” he continued, his voice carrying a tinge of worry.
I shrugged. “I thought the ocean would soothe me.”
