And now that we’d both declared our feelings, all I wanted to do was lay her down, kiss every inch of her body, and show her exactly how much I loved her.
But since I couldn’t do that, I showed her with my kiss how much I wanted her.
Her and only her.
My friends must have turned around and seen us, because there were whoops, screams, and cat-calls.
“Ow-ow. Get it, Liam,” Ollie yelled.
I couldn’t see him, but I lifted my freehand in the air and waved my middle finger around.
“Wade’s finally going to get laid!” Brady joined in, and I jabbed my finger in the air again. Fuckers.
I broke the kiss and cupped her face in my hands. “Where have you been all my life?”
She glanced down, and a blush blossomed across her cheeks, but didn’t respond. I took her hand once more, and we joined everyone at the top of the hill. Everyone except Talia, that is, since she had to wait below by the water.
I stood by the edge with Ari and my friends, all of us lined up in a row.
“Don’t think,” I told her, “just jump.”
One by one, Jeremiah, Brady, and Ollie jumped into the water below.
Ari reached for my hand, and I entwined mine with hers.
“Together?” Her eyes spoke of so much more than the jump.
“Together,” I echoed, and we took the plunge.
Ari
Hawaii was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Considering I hadn’t seen much of the world, I knew I probably wasn’t the best judge, but I doubted many places could surpass the island.
I found myself up early, standing on the balcony with a cup of coffee. The sun hadn’t even risen yet. I didn’t want to sleep, though. I couldn’t sleep when there was so much to see and remember. Every little detail was one I wanted to memorize and file away to keep forever.
Liam’s competition was the next day, and we’d be heading back home the day after. I didn’t want to go. Not so soon, anyway. The previous few days had been some of the best of my life laughing and having fun with him and his friends. I guessed they were my friends now too. They had been for a while, if I was honest with myself.
Honesty didn’t come easy to me anymore. Maybe it never had.
The door behind me opened, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Liam step out. A pair of loose, gray, pajama pants hung low on his slender hips and his chest was bare. I might’ve stared. No, I definitely stared. His dark hair stuck up messily from sleep, and it helped to soften the blunt edges of his cheekbones. His blue eyes were foggy with sleep, but there was a smile in them when he saw me.
“Hey.” His voice was deeper than normal from sleep.
“Hi.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart pounded in an out-of-control rhythm. It usually did that around Liam, but it had grown more pronounced since we both openly admitted our true feelings.
Liam came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my body. He kissed my cheek before resting his chin on my shoulder and gazing out at the water with me.
After a few quiet moments, he reached for the coffee mug I held. “Can I have some?”
“Of course.” I let him take the mug from my hand.
He took a few sips and handed it back, returning to his original position. “Want to go do something?”
“Right now?” I questioned. “It’s kind of early.”