Page 89 of Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings 2)

I dropped his gaze. I wasn’t even sure what I was apologizing for. The sting of the peroxide? The fact that Aiden was even in the state? All of it? I applied some Neosporin on the cut and one of the big Band-Aids I never thought I’d have a use for from the variety pack.

“What made you snap back there?” I asked.

J.J. slowly lowered the ice pack. “You know what.”

I did. He’d said it weeks ago. He was protective of me. He could handle insults thrown at him or someone trying to dig under his skin. But when it came to me? He wouldn’t let anyone harm me. And Aiden had put his hands on me when I’d asked him not to. “I’m sorry,” I said again.

“I don’t know why you’re apologizing. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No?” I gestured to his black eye.

“You’re not responsible for your ex-boyfriend’s actions.”

I knew that. But I still felt guilty. I bit my lip so I wouldn’t say “I’m sorry” again. “Does it hurt?”

“It feels like someone punched me in the face.” He smiled and then winced.

I took the ice pack out of his hand and held it against his eye for him. I’m so so sorry. Despite what J.J. said, he was hurt because of me.

“How’d he know where you worked?”

“Earlier this summer I left him a message with my address, asking him to ship all the stuff I left at his apartment. Which he never did. But I don’t know how he knew about Sweet Cravings.” I pressed my lips together. “I guess he followed me there…”

“From where? How long has he been here?”

“I don’t know how long he’s been in town. But I ran into him when I was leaving my apartment. I asked him to leave. I couldn’t have been any clearer about it. And I thought I lost him on the boardwalk. I guess I was wrong.”

J.J. nodded. “So today was the only day you saw him?”

“Of course.”

“What were you two talking about before I came?” he asked.

I knew that J.J.’s ex had cheated on him. I knew he was already worried about long distance with me this fall. But he had nothing to worry about. “He kept saying what happened between us was a misunderstanding and that he wanted to talk.” I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure he lost his mind.”

“No, he just finally realized what he lost.”

Maybe. I didn’t want to be talking about Aiden anymore. “Good. Because he did lose me. I’ve moved on.”

J.J. smiled but his heart wasn’t in it. “He seems to still think he has a chance. If you end up moving back…” his voice trailed off. “You might think differently.”

This conversation was ridiculous. I’d never ever get back together with Aiden. I was freaking in love with the man sitting in front of me. But this wasn’t the moment to tell him. Not when Aiden had just been here. I didn’t want J.J. to think I was saying it because I felt bad. When I did tell him, I wanted him to believe it. I wanted him to say it back.

It may not have been the moment to tell him I loved him. But it was a good moment for some other news. I lowered the ice pack from his eye. “Well, I absolutely won’t be moving back.” Despite the heavy conversation, I couldn’t help but smile. “Because I got into the University of New Castle.”

“You got in?” He didn’t sound surprised, just excited.

“Mhm.”

This time his smile was as real as mine. “You got in!” He grabbed me around my waist and pulled me backward onto the bed.

I laughed as he hugged me tight, like he never had to let go. “I got in!”

“I knew you would. Congrats, Jellyfish Girl.”

I smiled against his neck.

“Oh my God, what happened?” Kristen asked.

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