Chapter 24

Our eyes lock, and when the carousel stops, he grabs my waist and helps me to my feet. When I meet his gaze everything around us fades away. I’m deeply in love with this man, and when he looks at me like this, there is no doubt about how he feels.

“I’m really fucked this time,” I whisper, knowing he’s my end game, too.

“Me too. No one else I’d rather be fucked with though,” he says, taking my hand as a group of rowdy kids runs past us, laughing. One has a water gun.

I chuckle, nodding at the attendant as we move through the exit. Cash shakes his hand, and the guy stuffs a twenty dollar bill in his pocket.

When we walk away, Cash wraps his arm around my upper back, pulling me to him. He inhales my hair and kisses my head. I hold him around his waist as we stroll toward the center of the town square.

We’re being public in public, and no one gives a fuck. This is how it should’ve always been and how it will go forward.

Relief and happiness flood through me, and I squeeze him tighter, knowing we’re flying free. He smiles, and his dimple sets my soul on fire as we cross the plush green grass. Most are waiting for the fireworks show on blankets and lawn chairs. Scents of sweet fried bread float through the air, and my thoughts sprint toward nostalgic memories. This man always intended to come back for me.

“What we had scared the shit out of me. I wasn’t ready for you.”

“Are you now?” he asks, his voice silky smooth.

“Yes.” A laugh catches in my throat because it’s the truth. “So ready.”

“Music to my fucking ears,” he whispers as the first boom of fireworks spread above him in the sky. I watch his face light up in shiny blues and reds.

The crowd oohs and ahhs, and I take in the moment, glancing at him with stars in my eyes.

He smirks. “When you look at me like that...”

“Like I want you?” I ask, moving in front of him.

“Like you have me, Valentine,” he says, his hand sliding across my cheek.

“Do I?”

“Absofuckinglutely. You always have.” He cups my face, kissing me so intensely that I nearly forget to breathe. We’re lost, and neither of us has a map as we navigate forward, soaring full speed ahead. The destination doesn’t matter, just as long as we’re together.

Glittery fireworks shimmer above, and we’re teeth and tongue and pleasure. It quickly grows desperate, just like it does any time we’re caught up in the moment. Right now, there is no difference other than not caring who sees us. I want everyone to know this man is mine and has been.

No more hiding.

When we pull away, I’m nearly gasping for air, trying to regain control but wanting to lose it all with him. I laugh against his lips with my fingertips lightly pressed against his cheek.

“Are you happy?” I ask, smiling.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted,” he says, lightly painting his lips across mine, causing my heart to flutter.

We stop to watch the sky fill with shimmering colors as the fireworks crackle. Sparkles fall from the sky as my sister London sings her heart out in the distance. When the finale ends, I brush my nose against his, threatening to steal another kiss. I want to leave and end our night right here and right now.

“Cash? Remi?” I hear from beside me.

Vera smiles brightly, wearing neon green Ray-Bans on top of her head. Festive red, white, and blue stars are painted on her cheek. I remember what it was like to be eighteen and not have a care in the world.

“Did I miss something? The two of you are making out in public now?”

I glance at Cash, and we laugh. She does not know what’s happening—I don’t anymore, either.

“Are you drunk?” She questions with shock written on her face.

“No,” I shake my head.

She holds out her arms. “Hello?”

“We’re together. Remi’s my girlfriend,” Cash says, pulling me close and meeting my eyes. His claim makes me blush.

“Girlfriend,” I say, nodding, getting used to the word. It’s foreign but oh, so right.

“Please tell me I’m the first one to know!” She’s overly excited even if the gossip tea is ice cold.

Cash chuckles. “Not quite.”

“I always find out everything last—the joys of being the youngest. Well, I’ve always liked you,” she tells Cash, then glances at me. “He always brings donuts when he has coffee with Dad.”

My eyes widen. “You knew?”

“Wait, you didn’t?” she asks, confused.

Cash chuckles as a deep voice yells my sister’s name from across the grass. She immediately scans the area and grins when she sees who called for her. “I gotta go. Congrats. If you run into Mom and Dad, you didn’t see me, okay?”

“Who is that?”

“I gotta go.” She hugs us and then jogs away, meeting her friend. I take a mental snapshot of the dark-haired guy who pulls her into a hug.

Cash twirls my hair around his finger, wielding my attention. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Reading my mind?”

“That would be too convenient.” He grabs my hand, and our bodies are close as he walks in a protective stance.

We stroll through the crowd and cross the back of the area where everyone is dancing. As we sneak away, my gaze focuses on London strumming her guitar, entirely in her element. She’s singing a Dolly Parton song, and when she spots me and Cash together, she smiles wide.

“Finally,” she says, holding the guitar pick between her fingers and pointing at us. Then she hits a high note, not missing a beat. Pro fucking level.

A few heads turn in our direction, but no one knows who or what she was referring to, except me and Cash. When I glance at him, he beams, and I pull him away. The music fades in the distance, and people sprinkle the sidewalks, moving between the Fourth of July celebration and the public parking area.

“You got your keys?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

As he holds out his palm, I remove the fob from my pocket.

“You know I don’t let anyone drive my baby,” I mutter as I dangle it above his hand, then drop them.

“I’m not anyone, Valentine. I’m your future husband.” He opens the door for me. “I think you know that, though.”

“Yes, I do,” I say. My heart flutters when I climb into my car. He pushes the passenger door shut, and as I buckle, he slides onto the leather seat, climbs inside, and cranks the engine.

A smile meets his lips. “Fuck, this car is almost as sexy as you.” Cash pushes in the clutch, reversing out of the parking lot.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“To relive old memories,” he says, hauling ass down the main drag until we’re zooming out of town.

Seeing him with that hat on, driving my car like he owns me, makes me want to do unimaginable things to him, but I can wait a little longer. I roll down the window. My hair flies around, and he smiles with soft eyes. He doesn’t have to tell me where we’re going. My heart knows.

We get out of the car when he parks on the side of my parents’ garage. As soon as I’m on my feet, he lifts and carries me into their backyard, only setting me down when we’re at the base of the tree house.

“Haven’t been here since us,” I admit.

“Your mom told me,” he says.

“Suppose she was paying attention.” I look up at the boards nailed to the tree, checking each before putting my total weight on them as I climb. When I poke my head up through the floor and climb in, I glance around. The ceiling isn’t high enough to fully stand, so I stay hunched over.

The glow-in-the-dark stars Harrison tacked on the ceiling when we were teenagers are still in place, even after all this time. A few strings of fairy lights hang above, and I reach over to click the button, and they come on. The room glows in a warm orange.

Immediately, I’m transported back to when Cash and I would drink and share secrets in the dark until we became each other’s, or at least he became mine.

“I remember it being bigger in here,” he says, pushing himself up with his muscular arms. His biceps bulge, and I can’t help staring at him; he’s mine, after all. I’m brought back to the night when I slid his fingers inside my panties, and I nearly begged him to touch me.

That summer, I wanted to give him my virginity, but he wanted to give me forever.

We move across the small space and sit beside each other with our backs and heads rested against the wall.

“That’s how you were in my memory,” he says.

I deviously grin as I unbutton and unzip my shorts. When his fingers brush across my clit, my hips buck upward, and I’m catapulted back to that night.