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“Okay, let’s do that.”
We stopped walking, and for a split second we faced each other. The waves were crashing. The wind was blowing my hair back, leaving my face exposed. It was theperfectopportunity for a first kiss. A softball lob. A total change-up…
Even now, Stephen did absolutely nothing.
What the hell?
I put him out of his misery by making the first move. Seizing control, I brought both his hands to my waist and planted a soft kiss right on his lips. Stephen kissed me back, half in surprise, half in delight. His hands squeezed gently. Our bodies leaned in…
Still, it wasn’t Liam, or Duncan, or Julius.
It was absolutely nothing.
My shoulders slumped as we broke apart, and my hands fell to my sides. It was disappointing. After two full dates there ought to be at leastsomechemistry, but there were zero sparks between us. Stephen was looking back at me sullenly, like he knew it too.
“I… I was thinking—”
BZZZZT.
My phone going off was a welcome distraction from a very awkward moment. I normally would’ve ignored it, but in this particular case—
COME HOME.
They were just two simple words from Duncan, on the group chat I shared with the guys. No explanation. Nothing else.
But I was never happier to see them.
WE’VE BEEN IDIOTS. WE NEED TO TELL YOU.
The second message was from Julius, and it sent a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. Most of them were hopeful.
REALLY BIG IDIOTS, the message from Liam read. PLEASE COME.
“Umm… Stephen?”
My date was standing there in the wind, silhouetted against the ocean. He smiled back at me weakly.
“You have to go, don’t you?”
I tried to swallow but all of a sudden my mouth was bone dry. Slowly I nodded.
“I understand,” he said, shuffling his feet. “Come on,” he extended his hand. “Let’s get you home.”
Home.
The word hadn’t held much meaning until just now, when the guys had used it. They didn’t mean their home, or Jace’s, or Courtney’s. They meantourhome. All of us.
I knew it with every last piece of my heart.
