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I stared up at the star-strewn sky as sulfur and smoke burned my nostrils. Please, just one more.
The pop and whistle of a single flame
speared the sky. And there was a huge purple heart shining in the sky over the lake. A lonely boat was tethered to one of the fishing docks off the shore. Two men stood on the little steel deck.
But only one mattered.
The tall, broad shoulders of Seth beside the short burly man. They were arguing. Only snatches of conversation came across with the wind as it kicked up. Seth was shoving his hands into his hair and pacing the tiny space.
I dropped my bag as I got to the end of the pier.
Relief bubbled up inside me and out on a sobbing laugh.
“Seth!”
The wind had kicked up and the boats along the pier were slamming around. There was no recognition. Just more of Seth stalking around with his phone to his ear.
I dug into my bag, but I couldn’t find my phone in all the clothes and books inside.
I stood up again and climbed onto the lower rungs of the rail enclosing the lookout end of the pier. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled his name again, but the wind was too strong and just kept snatching my voice.
I turned around and saw people at the other end of the pier. Some I knew, some I wanted to forget. But so many of them—and they were all voices I needed right now.
I jumped and waved. When Brad, one of Seth's best friends, broke off from the group, I quickly motioned him closer. “Can you help him hear me?”
Nodding, Brad waved people up from the gazebo to the wide pier that jutted out of the park. Our entire class—or what was left of it at this late hour—came tromping toward me.
My eyes burned as everyone came to help. People I’d barely spoken to in my myriad of classes started jumping, shouting, and waving. Girls, I recognized, and others I didn’t were jumping up and down like manic puppies.
Brad slung an arm around my shoulders and hauled me in close. He was a bit rounder than I remembered from school, but he was still one of Seth’s sweetest friends.
Jessica, the head of the cheer squad, was clutching my hand. “I can’t believe how romantic this is. Is this man for real?”
“Yeah, he really is.”
She sighed. “You’re so lucky. I don’t think my husband has ever done anything like this for me. Like ever.”
One last firework whistled into the night sky and the white sparks illuminated Seth’s body.
I yelled his name and the crowd around me parroted it behind me.
Finally Seth turned around on the small dock and held his arms out. He tipped his head back and did a fist-punch into the air a la Bender from Breakfast Club and I laughed.
Jessica squealed in my ear and then started hopping around with the other cheerleaders. Brad slapped me on the back as Seth jumped into his boat and headed my way.
My heart raced as I picked up my bag and made my way through the dozens of people. The guys from his lacrosse team started chanting Seth’s name and laughter thundered over the lake.
I took a shaky step onto one of the docks lining the right side and waited for him to come to me.
21
Seth
I pushed the little speedboat farther than I should, but Crescent Lake had never felt so big in my goddamn life. Fireworks had brought her to me. I’d hoped, but I knew it was a big gamble.
If my girl wanted to stay lost, she would stay gone.
I blinked away the grittiness from the wind and spray off the water. The only thing that mattered was getting to the pier. Lenny let off one more spray of white cracklers and a waterfall from his waning arsenal. I’d been worried we were going to run out of them before she showed up.
