Page 59 of The Summer We Started Over

“Hey.” Jeff wore jeans and a T-shirt that readNantucket or Nowhere.

“Hey,” Eddie said back. It was too loud on the dance floor, so they didn’t talk.

Barrett disappeared into the crowd. Jeff took Eddie’s hand.

“Are you here with someone?” Eddie asked.

“Why?” Jeff pulled her to him.

“You didn’t come by this evening!” She bent her head back to see his face. He was so tall. She’d always loved it that he was so tall.

“So, you missed me?” His smile was mischievous.

Eddie struggled to think of a witty comeback, and gave in to the truth.

“I did.”

Jeff’s eyes darkened with emotion.

They moved together naturally, a perfect pair. By the end of theevening, her arms were around his neck, their bodies were touching, and she nestled her face into his shoulder. They started kissing, and they couldn’t stop kissing until someone knocked Jeff’s shoulder.

“Hey, you two, take it outside.”

They held hands as they elbowed their way through the crowd to the door. Outside, they leaned against the wall and kissed hungrily until Jeff pulled away.

He said, “Eddie. We need to talk. Let’s go to my car.”

They ran to his truck and climbed in. Jeff reached for Eddie, but she pushed him back.

“Wait, Jeff. What are we doing?”

His eyes were dark, intense. “I don’t know but I don’t want to stop.”

“But I’m probably returning to New York with Dinah. This summer with my father is temporary.”

“Don’t think about later. Think about right now.”

Jeff’s voice was low and solemn. Outside, it began to rain, thunder cracking through the sky, rain suddenly spilling out over the truck, the parking lot, the island. It enclosed them in their own small world, and already the windows were steaming up.

“Right now,” Eddie whispered, and moved toward Jeff.

Right now was all that mattered.

Rain flooded down around them, blanking the outside world from them as they kissed and touched and pressed into each other. It was urgent, intense, instinctive.

It was Jeff who pulled away.

“Not here,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Not in a truck in a parking lot.”

Eddie shivered. “Jeff, why do I want you so much?”

Jeff was quiet as he organized his clothing. When he turned to face Eddie, his eyes were serious. “Because I want you so much. We should be together.”

“What do you mean?” Eddie slid the strap of her tank top back up to her shoulder.

“I mean stay here. Marry me. Let’s have a life together.”

“Oh, Jeff…” Eddie’s heart was so full it almost prevented her breathing. “Jeff…”

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