“You weren’t here when I got here, and it doesn’t look like you’ve been in a while.”
She’s got me there. “It’s been a bit.”
Jess grins as though she knew it. “How long?”
“Since before Melia was born.”
The truth is, I can’t remember the last time I came out here. Like the beach house, it’s something that belonged to the two of us. This was wherewewere lost and found together.
“Does it feel different to you?” she asks.
“I think everything is different.”
She looks out at the horizon. “It is, but being here doesn’t feel that way, does it? When I got here, it was like this sense of belonging filled me. Almost as though the spot has been here, waiting for us. Everything is the same as it was—well, other than the house I passed that wasn’t here years ago.”
I lean back on my elbows, looking at her in the moonlight as the stars begin to show themselves. Sometimes I feel as if everything has been waiting for her. It’s why I needed to pretend I didn’t care.
Why everything in my life has been about moving forward and not looking back.
She’s my past, but I always thought she’d be my future.
I’ll never understand how two kids managed to fall so hard for each other that, after all this time, it still feels as strong. It all came back the day she did.
“Yeah, it’s a few years old.”
“Hopefully, the owners have never found this spot.”
I grin. “From the overgrowth, I’d guess not.”
No, it doesn’t look like anyone at all has been here.
“I hope they don’t mind us being here.”
I shrug. “I’m not worried.”
Jess shifts her weight, bumping into me. “You were always able to get out of trouble.”
“I’m a likable guy.”
“You’re something, all right.” Jess’s smile is warm, and I want to kiss her so much it hurts.
“What else do you have in there?” I ask, looking at the bag.
She opens it up, pulling out a water bottle, a pillow, a bag of snacks, and her phone, which is comical because there’s no reception over here.
“Were you planning on sleeping here?”
“No,” she says slowly. “I just wasn’t sure I’d find it, and I swear it was you who told me to always be prepared in case I got lost or hurt.”
“That I did.”
She leans back on her elbows, mimicking my pose, and I grab at the snack bag.
“Hey! Bring your own snacks,” she says with a laugh.
“I like yours better.”
I open the bag of crackers and pop one into my mouth. She rolls her eyes and rests her head on the pillow. I hate that I still find her irresistible.