Summer Ever After: A Sweet Romantic Comedy

Chapter 33

“Areyou sure we have to go to dinner?” Walker leans over to my side of the golf cart, trailing his lips down my neck in a tranquilizing way.

This entire afternoon has my heart ramming into my rib cage. I’ve never been in this position before, where the physicality in my relationship matches the emotional bond. I’ve liked guys before, thought they were interesting and enjoyed their company, but my feelings went dormant from there.

The opposite is happening with Walker. He excites parts of me that I didn’t even know existed, pooling my stomach with heated attraction over and over again.

Despite the nibbles on my ear, I focus enough to answer him back. “It’s important to Capri that we’re at dinner. Tonight, she wants to tell you about her relationship with Tristan.”

“But I already know,” his lips mumble against my skin.

“Pretend you don’t.” I dip my head back, giving Walker room to work while also keeping one eye on the surrounding area so we don’t get caught kissing in a golf cart down the street from Tala’s house.

I’m a sixteen-year-old who’s out past curfew, and it’s kind of fun—if I don’t think about Capri.

“Fine, we’ll go inside to dinner, but first, one more kiss.” Walker cups my cheek, gently moving his mouth from my ear to my lips. Chills ripple over my skin as I relax against his fiery touch.

If he keeps this up, we might never make it inside.

The truth is, I don’t want to go to dinner either. I’d rather hang out with Walker alone. I know we’ve been together all day on the golf course, but there were so many people around. I felt like they were watching us like spies Capri hired to catch me in my deception. But even with the guilt, the few stolen kisses I shared with Walker behind palm trees and down in bunkers weren’t nearly enough.

I’m like a forty-year-old woman with a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs—never satisfied with just one delicious piece. Each time I pop one in my mouth, I tell myself it will be the last one, but then I just keep coming back for more until the entire bag is gone.

That’s how I feel with Walker.

One touch, one kiss, one moment is not enough to satisfy.

I briefly close my eyes, giving in to his tempting kiss, until a golf cart in the distance jerks me to action. I scoot away from him before anyone sees.

“Relax, Jane.” Walker laughs as the teens drive by. “What’s the worst thing that will happen if someone sees us?”

“Oh, I don’t know. They could tell Capri, and she’d feel bad that I kept this secret from her and that I went against her wishes to stay away from you.”

“If you’re that good of friends, she’ll forgive you for a little thing like us making out in a golf cart.”

That’s the problem. This isn’t a little thing to me. Walker Collins kissing me and wanting me is the biggest thing that’s happened in my life. It even beats the time I had dinner in Nashville with my parents and Taylor Swift. These are more than stolen kisses to me. They’re dreams coming true.

I know it sounds cheesy and pathetic, and I’ve consumed far too many happy-ending stories in my life, but I can’t help it.

The hardest part is casually playing off my feelings, because in one week, Walker leaves Sunset Harbor, and he isn’t coming back.

I’m the idiot over here using gasoline and matches, hoping I don’t get third-degree burns when the fire starts. Capri was right to tell me not to get involved. She’s trying to protect me from a broken heart, but it’s not like my heart was fine before I jumped all in with Walker.

I was miserable.

Every second I wasn’t with him, my heart ached.

I’d never felt lonelier in my life than I did this last month when I wanted Walker but couldn’t have him. And that’s saying something for an only child whose parents worked out of town a lot.

In nine days, that heartbreak will return with a vengeance, but I don’t care. I’ll deal with the aftermath of my choices when I get there. For now, I’m only thinking about how good it feels to be with him, enjoying the ride while it lasts.

But even in this twitterpated era, I have enough sense to keep Capri in the dark until this whole thing blows over, and I can show her I’m fine—or at least fake that I’m fine. I know she’ll forgive me. I’m just not looking forward to the disappointment in her eyes. I’ve always put our friendship first—until now.

“Well, I’m giving it a few days before I tell her about us.”

I don’t want to lose this dream state where falling in love is the only thing that matters.

“I’m not complaining.” A charming smile pulls across Walker’s mouth. “Sneaking around is kind of fun.”

“Don’t use the word sneaking.” I grimace, feeling bad. “I’m a good, honest person.”

Walker laughs as I stand, straightening my dress.

“I’m going in.”

“Okay.” He grabs the keys like he’s coming too.

“No, no, no. We can’t go in at the same time. They’ll know we came together.”

Walker drops his head back, laughing. “Jane, this is ridiculous.”

“It’s not.” I hold my palm up like a stop sign. “You can come inside in five minutes.”

“Fine, I’ll see you in five minutes.”

Dinner was rough.

Somehow, Walker ended up sitting right next to me, and his favorite game is grabbing my knee under the table at that ticklish spot that makes your body convulse.

Apparently, he doesn’t know the meaning of keeping things on the down low.

I swear Capri was eyeing us the entire time. The only thing that could’ve made the evening worse was if Walker had started playing footsie with me.

Thatwould’ve pushed me over the edge.

I clear a stack of plates, carrying them to the kitchen sink. Before I even have a chance to rinse them, Walker is behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist—reminiscent of him teaching me how to swing a golf club earlier today.

“Can we leave yet? I have other plans for you.”

My heartbeat pulses loudly in my ear as I turn my head to him. “What makes you think you get to drive me home tonight?”

He leans in, tugging my lips with a soft kiss. “I heard a rumor you were looking for the perfect guy this summer.”

“And you think that’s you?” I murmur against his mouth.

“Who else can rock an argyle shirt?”

I laugh, spinning in his arms and locking my hands around his neck. “I’ve always loved a man in argyle.”

“That’s good news for me. It’s my favorite pattern.”

His dreamy smile steals my breath, and just as I go on my toes to kiss him, Capri’s voice gets louder. I push Walker away, slamming him back into an open drawer behind us. I don’t even check to see if he’s okay. I’m busily washing dishes.

Capri stops the second she enters the room. Her brows bunch together. “What are you guys doing?”

“Nothing.” My smile is a bit crazy and my voice a tad high. “Walker is just clumsy.”

The crease in her brow softens but doesn”t go away completely.

“Yeah, I tripped and fell into a drawer.” He eyes me playfully as he exits, but I immediately glance away. Longing glances across the room will tip Capri off. She’s not stupid.

“Something’s weird between you two,” she says, bringing another pile of dishes over to the sink. “You didn’t cut the cord, did you?”

It would be an easy answer.

I could tell her about us and move on with my life in innocence.

For some stupid reason, I don’t.

“What? No! I told you that was over, and I meant it.” Just digging my grave even further.

“I’m worried about you, Jane.”

My smile is genuine as I look back at her. “You don’t have to be worried. I’ve never been better.”

I just wish I could tell my best friend about what’s making me so happy, but I can’t.

For the first time in my life, I’ve kept a secret from Capri, and I hate it.