Page 106 of Drown in You

“Tomorrow. I’m heading back this afternoon and I was wondering if you could tell me Luke’s hockey schedule.”

“Practice is happening right now, actually. Do you want me to have him call you when it’s over?”

“Actually, could you just make sure he doesn’t leave until I can get there?”

“Um, yes!” She squeals like she’s already anticipating a grand, romantic gesture. “I’ll see you soon!”

Luke held back the truth for so long out of fear. With his past, he’s been terrified of hurting me. He knew confessing would do exactly that. He didn’t want to lose me the way he lost his dad and Chloe.

But I did the same thing. I held back the truth about what happened with Marcus. I didn’t tell him about the incident or all the threatening texts for weeks.

Fear has been holding us both back. That’s why I resisted him for so long. Afraid of what other people would say, what they would think if they found out about us. Afraid of what he would do to my heart if he got ahold of it.

But what I was most afraid of has already happened. Everyone knows about us; he already broke my heart.

Yet none of that compares to my fear of spending the rest of my life without him. Never getting to touch or hold him again. Never getting to hear his laugh or watch his eyes crinkle when he smiles. Never getting to hear the voice that sends a shiver down my spine.

My parents forgave each other for the hurt they caused. They overcame the fear that their relationship might end badly again and now they’re happier than they’ve ever been. I can’t let fear guide me anymore.

I race into the house and nearly run into Juliet. “Hey, Mom? Do you mind if Juliet and I head back to Diamond early?”

“No problem, sweetie!” Mom calls from her bedroom. “Drive safe!”

“Thank god,” Juliet mutters as she follows me out. “They were definitely about to screw.”

“Ew, don’t say shit like that about my parents.”

“Fine. They were about to make love.”

I punch her arm. Juliet slides into the passenger seat and fixes her messy ponytail. “Why are we heading back early?”

“Because I need your help with something.”

By the time we reach campus, it’s already dark. Between traffic and running out of gas and a pit stop so Juliet could pee, we delayed our time by over an hour. The building that houses the rink is dim, not a single light shining from inside, and the parking lot is vacant.

My heart sinks. I missed him. I’m too late. “Shit.”

“What the hell? I set up your phone to record your disgustingly adorable reunion and he already left?” Juliet points to my phone that she hooked up to the dashboard.

“That was actually sweet of you. I guess you do have at least one romantic bone in your body.”

She sighs. “I can’t believe I’m involved in this.”

“Let’s just go to their house.” But the words have barely left my mouth when a giant hockey player in gray sweatpants opens the door and steps outside.

His smile makes my heart leap up to my throat.

Behind him, the door swings open again, and a girl with cropped brown hair peeks out. Violet beams and waves. “Sienna! Juliet!”

“I’ll go with Violet so you can make out with your man.” Juliet hits Record on my phone before she leaves.

I wait until my best friend has disappeared inside with Violet before I grab the gift, take a deep breath, and open the door.

Luke tracks every step I take toward him, keeping the gift behind my back. Eventually, he can’t stand still anymore and heads right for me, footsteps echoing across the pavement.

My heart thunders against my ribcage when he stops inches from me, his hand reaching to caress my cheek. At the first brush of skin on skin, my knees turn to jelly. I want to throw myself at him. I’ve missed him so much.

“You came back.” His voice is raw, splitting my heart in two.

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