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Now here we are. Being friends.
I don’t know how much time has slipped by when Tyler turns his head toward me. “Ice cream cones?”
I grin. “Would I ever say no to ice cream?”
“You better not,” he says as he stands and offers me his hand again. I slide my fingers into his palm, and he wraps his hand around mine, hoisting me off the rocks.
My foot slips as I try to stand, and I lose my balance. Down I go, taking Tyler with me.
We land at the same time together in the sand. I’m flat on my back with Tyler half on top of me, facing away from me.
When he turns and looks back, we both burst into laughter. He pulls himself up and then offers his hand to me. “Let’s try this again.”
He grins at me. The moonlit sky behind him casts a halo around his head. My breath catches in my throat, but I cover it with a giggle as I accept his help, this time successfully standing.
“Sorry I took you down with me. But at least the sand cushioned our fall,” I say and smile sheepishly as I feel my cheeks redden. Do I suddenly not know how to stand?
“Are you okay? Kinda fell hard there, Goody.”
The name runs through me, causing an almost visceral reaction inside me. He hasn’t called me that in so long.
I tuck the memory away to replay later.
“What were you saying before about ice cream? First one there pays?” I squeal and take off in a sprint.
* * *
“Ahhh! I’ve missed your face!” Madison screeches into the camera over our FaceTime call. “I have so much to tell you!”
I smile big at her happy face, one I’ve missed these past couple of weeks. “You found us the perfect apartment?”
“Yes!” Mads cheers. “Wait. How’d you know? I’m gonna kill Mason…”
I laugh. “No one told me. I just had a good feeling about it.”
“Just you wait. It’s gorgeous. An open floor plan with two bedrooms and a large bathroom between. Second floor, but affordable and close to school.”
“I love open floor plans. So much space.” I picture the apartment in my mind. All the fairy lights and pretty artwork we can hang up. A big Christmas tree in the living room during December and streamers and confetti on New Year’s.
My first real place. Mads’s first real place.
It’s gonna be epic.
“The landlord expects the place to be ready by August first, so if we like it, we can fill out an application and put down a deposit to hold it. She also offered to meet me back there tomorrow so I can call you and show you before we make any final decisions. Are you free tomorrow?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Perfect. How’s eleven my time, so two your time?”
“That works. Eeekk! I’m so excited to see what it looks like.” I clap my hands as I plop down onto my bed. “So what else has been going on?”
“Nothing, really. Mason is always off doing something with his friends. I’ve been trying to tan by the pool, but it doesn’t last long when he comes back with his entire posse wanting to take a dip.” She rolls her eyes.
“Asher included in that posse?” I know he is, but I love to give her shit about it, anyway.
“Dumb question, Lo. You haven’t been gone that long.”
“I bet he likes your bikini collection.” I wink as she rolls her eyes. The other night, she sent me at least ten pictures of her posing in different bikinis. She looked amazing in every one even though she’d never agree.
