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His grin grows slowly. “Say it again.”
I bite my lip around my beaming smile. “I love you.”
“I won’t ever get tired of hearing you say that.” He rests his forehead against mine.
“Jesus,” Jackson mutters. “I’m not filming anymore, bro. This is enough.”
“Jacks, come on,” Cooper says. “I thought you said you’d help?”
Jackson throws his hands in the air. “I helped you hang these all day and recorded the last five minutes of—” He waves a hand at us tangled together in exasperation. “That. Which I’m now going to go bleach from my brain.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Simone says. “Let them have this. You wouldn’t understand since the longest, most serious relationship you’ve ever had is with your hand.”
Jackson scoffs. “You have no idea. You wish, though.”
Cooper guides my face back to him and gives me another heartfelt kiss. My brother and best friend’s bickering fades away.
Once they realize the public display is over, our small audience disperses. I pull out of Cooper’s grasp to read the notes dangling from the branches.
Simone tugs on Jackson’s shirt and starts to move off with the rest of the students. “Text me later.”
“I will.” My gaze slides to my brother. He helped his best friend put this all together. “Thank you.”
“Whatever.” He smirks and points at us. “Now you owe me. And the same rules still apply.”
Cooper brings his lips to my ear from behind once we’re alone. “Want to go find somewhere quiet for a study session after we get these down? I have a lot to catch up on.”
Heat rockets through me at those words. “Yes. I’ve never needed to study so badly in my life.”
He takes my hand, twining our fingers together and everything that’s felt out of sorts clicks into place. The corner of his mouth lifts and he tucks me against his side where I belong.
EPILOGUE
TATUM
Three Weeks Later
I’ve never been so relieved to finish a test in my life. My first semester of college is coming to a close and I’m finishing it strong with top scores (duh), new friends (plus an actual thriving social life), and a boyfriend (real this time, no more training wheels). My dreams are clearer than ever and my five year plan got an adjustment to take pressure off myself so I can fully enjoy this time of my life.
With my last exam of finals week over, I rush to meet Jackson before he leaves campus to go surfing.
He leans against his car with a bored expression when I reach the student lot. “Finally. I almost left.”
“You would’ve had an ass kicking waiting for you when you got back to campus.” I punch his arm playfully, then hold out a hand. “Keys.”
He dangles them out of my reach overhead, snatching them back when I jump for them. Pointing at me, he peers over the rim of his sunglasses. “Do anything on my side of the room and you’re both dead.”
“Ew. Never. We don’t even go past kissing when we’re in your room.” I shudder. “It’s too weird.”
“Keep it that way. It’s bad enough my sister and best friend are dating.”
He tosses his dorm keys in the air and I catch them, then flick his arm. “Deal with it. Besides, it’s not any different than before. We were basically dating this whole time. Thanks for these.”
“What are you planning?”
I shrug with a wide grin. “Don’t know. I’m going with the flow.”
I haven’t fully reclaimed planning. Only for my dreams and goals academically. The obsession with it was a crutch to deal with my anxiety in every situation I faced, my way of controlling the outcome by being prepared for every step.
