away. I don’t run. I don’t stomp. I don’t make a scene. I simply go.
Steps hurry behind me, but I don’t look. I’m not surprised when it’s Atlas who catches up to me as I burst outside.
He grabs me and swings me around, planting a kiss on my cheek. “You go, Glenn Coco. I’m so proud.”
I smile. At least some is.
Despite hundreds of texts and daily Facetime calls, I’m beyond excited for Hayden to get home. I’m sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket when I hear motion in the hall. It’s still fairly early in the evening, barely past six, but Molly who came home yesterday is already asleep.
Shoving the blanket off, I hurry to the door and yank it open, unable to stop my grin when I see him in the hall.
His hair is a little lighter from being in the sun so much—he sent me numerous photos from the beach and told me about his love of surfing, something he’s missed being on the east coast—and his face is lightly stubbled like he shaved it clean this morning but is already growing back. He wears a loose gray sweatshirt and black gym shorts, simple but delectable.
“There’s my girl.”
My heart soars at his words and I jump at him, letting him gather me in his arms. I wrap around him, not wanting to let go. He smells mostly the same, but there’s a hint of salty sea air that wasn’t there before.
“I missed you,” I mumble into his shoulder.
“Not as much as I missed you, beautiful.” He sets me down and finishes opening his door so he can set his suitcase inside. I follow him in, staring at him like I’m afraid he’s going to disappear any second.
I haven’t said a word to him about my decision to move to L.A. with him. Since it’s spring break I haven’t been able to talk to my counselor, but with my grades it should be easy enough to transfer to another college.
Hayden turns back to me and pulls me into the secure embrace of his arms. I let him enfold me in those big arms, laying the side of my head against his chest.
It feels like every beat of my heart is saying the same word over and over. Home. It makes me even more confident in my decision to do this thing with him.
I tilt my head back and he cups my cheeks, lowering his mouth to mine. I sink into his touch, my lips following his lead. Unable to hold back my moan, he swallows the sound and a tiny groan rumbles in his throat. Pulling away, he rests his forehead to mine. “I have to stop, or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and take you to bed.”
“Do it,” I challenge.
“Don’t tempt me.” He takes a step away from me. “Are you hungry? I can order in.”
I shake my head. “No, I ate earlier.” I follow him down the hall where he tosses his clothes from his suitcase into the washer. Leaning against the wall, I watch his movements, the way the muscles in his arms bunch and flex, his powerful thighs, and perfect ass.
He smirks over at me, having felt my eyes on him. “Like what you see?”
“Absolutely.”
He starts the washing machine and closes the closet door. “You look like you have something on your mind?”
I bite my lip, worry nagging at me. “Do you still want me to go to L.A.?”
He sighs, taking my hand. He leads me back out to his couch and tugs me onto it so we’re sitting side by side. “I want you to do whatever makes you happy. Would I love to have you in L.A.? Yes. But if you want to stay here, I support that too. That’s what partners do, support each other. I can fly in on weekends, holidays, whatever. We’ll still see each other. I’ll make sure—”
Climbing onto his lap, I silence him with a kiss. He grips my waist, his fingers teasing underneath my shirt. The kiss escalates quickly, but I know I have to stop, because I need to get this said. I pull away from him, taking a moment to catch my breath before I look into his eyes.
“I’m moving to L.A. with you. I’m going to transfer schools, I don’t know where yet, but I want to be near you. I’ll live in the dorms during the school year and before that … I don’t know, if you don’t want me