Page 81 of If the Summer Lasted Forever
“This was a mistake,” I finally mutter under my breath.
I don’t really mean it—but I’m tired and on-edge. And really, really mad. The problem is, I don’t know who I’m mad at. I’m taking it out on Landon, but he’s not the problem. I’d like to say Mom and Uncle Mark are the problem, but that’s not quite right either.
Perhaps I’m mad at myself, at the fact that Landon’s right. I’m never going to go anywhere or do anything. For the rest of my life, I’m going to live in the campground office, watching happy families come and then leave for their next adventure. And that thought is really, truly depressing.
But I don’t know how to fix it.
“Maybe it was,” he says softly, and I stiffen.
He wasn’t supposed to agree.
So now what?
I can’t take it back, tell him I’m sorry for the hasty, heated words—not when he feels that way.
We finally reach the Jeep and Caleb crawls in the backseat and promptly falls asleep. Landon and I sit side by side on a rock ledge near the road. Neither of us speaks as we wait for someone to come rescue us.
Eventually, the cavalry comes. Lots of cavalry.
We’re surrounded by over a dozen happy, happy people. Landon’s mom hugs me, thanking me for helping find her son. Caleb wakes up, and she cries grateful tears while she scolds him.
Uncle Mark stays to fix the Jeep, and I catch a ride back to the campground with Paige’s brother. I glance at Landon before I slip into the passenger seat of Trenton’s truck. He turns to me and jabs his hands in his pockets. He looks as miserable as I feel. Still, neither of us speaks.
After a moment, I get in the truck and close the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
You’d thinkafter all that, I’d sleep like the dead for the next several days. I don’t.
It’s three in the morning, and I’m staring at the ceiling, wondering how things went from good to awful so quickly. And, of course, I’m replaying everything in my head, making different choices.
But it makes no difference now.
There’s no going back. Landon’s family leaves tomorrow. I haven’t seen him since the day we found Caleb in the canyon.
It’s as I’m lying here, so desperately wishing I could take back what I said to Landon, that my phone chimes with a text.
Are you awake?
My chest constricts, and I stare at the words on the screen…wondering if I should even answer.
Yes.
Meet me at the gazebo in five minutes.
Five minutes doesn’t give me a whole lot of time. I toss back the covers and slide my feet into the flip-flops by the side of the bed. Then I throw on a long cardigan over my shorts and sleep shirt and hurry outside.
Landon’s already waiting for me. It’s probably where he was when he sent the text.
My thin cotton outfit isn’t suited for the cold night air, and I hug myself to keep warm.
“Don’t say anything,” he says, stepping forward. “Just let me talk.”
I purse my lips, not sure what to expect.
He sets his warm hands on my upper arms, but he doesn’t pull me any closer. “I don’t regret coming here or meeting you. It wasn’t a mistake.Youweren’t a mistake.”
Then his hands move from my arms to my cheeks, and he presses his lips to mine. It’s a middle of the night kiss—firm, desperate, far too short.
