Page 44 of Uniquely in Love

Wrapping my arm around her blonde ponytail, I tugged it lightly, bringing her eyes up to meet mine. “Because I practically grew up hiking, Skater Girl.”

She muttered something under her breath about how she was just as fit as I was, but I had to give it to her. My stride was a lot longer than hers, and I hadn’t exactly taken it easy on the way up here.

“We’ll go slower on the way down, I promise.”

Ellie huffed out a breath, blowing strands of blonde hair off her forehead. Standing up, she handed me her water bottle back, and I stowed it in my backpack before waving my hand towards the trail. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” She gave me one of those smiles that melted my heart. God, there was nothing like spending time with her.

This summer, I wanted to make every moment count. After all, I was leaving for college in less than a month. Oregon had so many beautiful trails and places to see, it felt like you could live here your entire life and still not see all of them. The Bradfords had spent a week in Central Oregon this summer, renting a house, and let me come along with them. I’d stayed in Beau’s room, of course, and Ellie had roomed with her older sister Abigail, but that didn’t stop us from sneaking out onto the deck to make out.

“It’s going to be weird when you’re gone,” Ellie murmured as she laced her fingers through mine, the two of us taking a slower pace than we had before.

I sighed. “I know. I can’t imagine not seeing you every day.” Leaning over, I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to miss you so much, El.”

“Me too.” She squeezed my hand. “But at least we can call and text each other. And when you’re on the ice, just know I’m cheering for you, even if I can’t be at your games anymore.”

Our destination came into view: a crystal clear waterfall with a shallow pool that was a perfect swimming spot—if you took the long trek up here. Because of that, it wasn’t super crowded.

“Oh, Owen. This is beautiful.” Her hand rested over her heart as she took in the view.

“Yeah, it is,” I said, unable to pull my eyes away from her. The sun had caught on her blonde hair, illuminating it like a halo. Her blue-gray eyes looked even bluer in this light, sparkling the same way the water did. And the expression on her face? She had no idea how gorgeous she was. How attractive I found her.

I knew some of my friends thought it was cliché, going into college while still dating my high school girlfriend. But she was more than that. She was my future, my everything. All my life, I’d noticed Ellie. Even when I was little, I’d always given her a hand when she fell, or bandaged her knee when she scraped it. I enjoyed being her protector. I liked beingherseven more.

So yeah, maybe I was a fool to think we would last. But I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” I asked, giving her a mischievous grin as I set my backpack on the rocks, far enough away from the water that it wouldn’t get wet.

Ellie frowned. “But we didn’t bring swimsuits.”

I shrugged, pulling off my top. In the summer heat, the cool water was going to feel freaking amazing. “We can just wear our underwear.”

“Owen.” Her cheeks flushed. “Are you sure?”

“Daisy.” I pulled her tight against my body, and Ellie’s fingers traced up my hard chest as I pressed a kiss under her jaw. My voice was low, barely above a rasp. “I’ve seen you in a swimsuit before.” We’d gone on family vacations every summer since I was little. More than once, our parents had taken all eight—and then nine—of us to Florida to go to Disney World. We spent most of those trips going to the pool at least once. “It’s nothing new.”

“Okay.” She bit her lip. “I guess you’re right.”

“Only if you’re comfortable,” I reassured her. There wasno way I would do anything she wasn’t comfortable with. That wasn’t what this was about. This was supposed to be something fun for both of us, an experience we’d both remember.

My girl gave me a small smile, stepping up on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on my lips. “I’m always comfortable with you, Owen.”

God, those words.

I kicked off my shoes and socks before pushing off my shorts. I’d worn a loose pair of athletic shorts with a pair of boxer briefs underneath, knowing it was too hot for material that didn’t breathe.

“Your turn.”

Ellie stripped out of her tank top, shoes and leggings quickly, folding and resting them on top of her shoes by my backpack before turning towards me. She was wearing a teal sports bra and hipster undies and gave me a shy look.

“Come on,” I said, holding out my hand for her.

She took it, letting me interlace our fingers, and then we both took off at a run, heading straight for the water. There wasn’t an abrupt drop into the pool, so we couldn’t jump in, but each step brought us in deeper. I laughed as Ellie shrieked from the cold, but tugged her in further with me.

There wasn’t a single part of the pool that I couldn’t touch the bottom of, but we paddled around for a few minutes, enjoying the cool water and the warm sun. It was perfect. You could hear the rushing of the waterfall and the sounds of the forest.

“This is perfect,” Ellie mumbled, floating on her back as she looked up at the sky. “The perfect day.”

---