Chapter 29
Justin
I follow Summer through the dunes, back to the car, and across the bridge like a heat-seeking missile.
Her blonde hair guides me like a halo and she moves quickly, completely unaware of her effect.
I can’t believe a year ago I almost let her go because of my own hang-ups.
I would have missed out on all of this. On her.
I kiss her in the dunes, against the Jeep, at the stoplight blinking by the pier. I kiss her against the tree outside her trailer, against the smooth metal door, and again once we’re inside.
Her hip bangs against the table and my head grazes the ceiling, but I don’t stop. She doesn’t stop. When her knees hit the edge of the bed, I push her hair out of her face and say, “Thank god you came back.”
Her forehead furrows. “You didn’t think I would?”
I don’t know how to tell her what it was like over the last nine months.
Missing her. Craving her. I doubled down on my studies—hanging out with Pete, who understood.
I ignored every other woman that walked past me, my thoughts solely on Summer, two states away.
I thought about her when I laid in bed at night, on the way to class, in the shower.
And now she’s here and we’re alone. I don’t know how to say all of that without sounding desperate and lame, so I just kiss her sweetly, then harder until she pulls me on the bed.
I don’t know how to say the words but I show her. I show her how thankful I am for her. How much I care for her, and give her the biggest ‘welcome back’ a guy can manage.