Page 6 of Come Back to Me

It’s simply me and Giana. Wrapped in each other’s arms. Cocooned in a world where only she and I exist. It hits me at this moment, that this is theonlyworld I want to live in.

“Giana?” My whisper breaks into the darkness and interrupts what feels like a sacred moment.

“Mmmh?”

My heart beats faster in my chest.

“Do you have plans this summer?”

This idea that’s swirling in my mind is reckless. It’s wild. And it’s goddamn liberating.

Her fingers stop their teasing, and she lolls her head back to look me in the eye. An adorable line between her browsappears as she considers my question. “Besides working at the diner to keep saving for this place, nothing. Why?”

“How would you feel about spending it with me? I’ll guarantee you a summer you’ll never forget.”

Amusement flashes in her eyes. “What exactly are you proposing, Cowboy?”

“You and I, working alongside one another. Here…at the cabin.”

The line deepens between her brows, and she tilts her head. “How much have you had to drink tonight?”

“You said it yourself, your dream is to fix up this cabin. Have a place you can call your own. But you don’t have enough. What if you and I go in on it together?”

“And just why would you wanna do that? You don’t even live here. And you barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

By the baffled look on her face, it still doesn’t look like she’s buying what I’m selling.

“I think we could have lots of fun. Don’t you?”

She rubs her forehead. “I mean, yeah…but…”

I take her hand in mine. “But nothing. What do you say?”

Her eyes dance over mine, and a flirtatious smile spreads on her lips as she gives me a small shove in the chest. “I say you’re crazy.”

“Youmake me crazy.”

And I feel it. I feel the recklessness flood through my limbs and settle in my toes. My mama will throw a fit. It’s one thing for her to get rid of me long enough for her and Dad to sort through their marital mess, it’s entirely another to allow me to stay for the summer and spend my inheritance. But that only adds fuel to this fire of total abandonment.

I’m tired of being sensible. Of thinking about each decision. Of doing what’s expected of me.

This, right here, right now, with Giana, feels right.

“So?” I rub my thumbs against the tops of her smooth hands.

“What the hell? Why not. If you’re good for the money, let’s do it.”

“I can assure you, Sugar, I’m good for the money.”

CHAPTER 4

Giana

Before I can even blink, Leo swoops me off my feet and holds me close while he spins me around. He releases a garbledwoo-hoo! I grip his shoulders tight and laugh. The single beer I drank is making me feel light and feathery. But the high of emotions pouring through me is the result of pure happiness, not drug-induced.

After working double shifts at the diner, saving, and skimping, I can hardly believe it’s finally going to happen. I hadn’t given the idea of sharing the cabin with someone else much thought. Having a place of my own has always appealed to me. But sharing it means sharing in the financial side of things too.

---