“Absolutely,” Jayden sail without missing a beat, his voice wendy and more. We’ve got forever aliead of us
The certainty in his yare made Arianna’s whole face light up with pere joy. She hanted him a parea at stationery and settled interthe beade him, already lost in thought shed what to tell their future urbes
Layden finished first, sealing his letter with a satisfied grin and immediately craning his neck in see what Arianna teas writing
“Excuse me, nory,” she said, quickly covering her paper with both hands. “Eyes on your own work
“I’m already done,” he protested, waving his sealed envelope as evidence. “Verre taking former
Arianna stuck her tongue mot at han and scribbled a few ponte lines before folding her letter and shoving it into an envelope with dramatic fourth
As Jayden reached for the collection slot to deposit both letters, curiosity got the better of him. He held Ariana’s envelope up to the light, spunting like he might be able to see through the paper.
“Jarden!” she warned, laughing. “Don’t you dare try to trail my letter”
She knew him way too well.
With an exaggerated sigh of defeat, he dropped both envelopes into the slot. One year from now, they’d get the back. One year from now, they’d read whatever ritkulous things they’d written and laugh about this perfect afternoon.
The thought should have filled him with excitement. Instead, something cold and sharp twisted in his stomach
One year from now. Would they even still be together? Would she even still be
When they stepped back outside, the late afternoon beat was still brutal. A person in a giant teddy bear costume was standing in the blazing sun, handing out flyers to the few brave souls willing to venture onto the scorching pavement.
Jayden accepted a colorful flyer advertising an evening beach event–live music, food trucks, and a bonfire under the stars. It looked like exactly the kind of romantic night they both needed.
Before he could ask Arianna if she was interested, she’d already ducked into the convenience store next door.
She emerged moments later with an ice cold bottle of water, which she immediately offered to the person in the bear subt.
“Here,” she said with that radiant smile that had been destroying his composure since middle school. “You must be dying in that thing.
The mascot accepted the water with what Jayden could only same was gratitude, given the enthusiastic nodding
Watching this simple act of kindness, jayden felt that all too familiar stab of guilt pierce through his chest. She’d always been like this–thoughtful. generous, looking out for people who couldn’t look out for themselves.
And he’d convinced himself she was capable of hurting people. He’d been so blinded by his own pain that he’d forgotten who the really was.
The self loathing threatened to pull him under again, but Arianna must have sensed his mood shift because she slipped her arm through his grounding him in the present moment.
“That guy reminded me of you,” she said casually, ke
as commenting on the weather.
Jayden looked at her in confusion before the meglory slammed into him with devastating clarity.
The ammer after eighth grade. He’d been determined to take Arianna on a proper graduation celebration with money he’d earned himself, so he’d
- gotten a job as a restaurant mascot. The pay was awful and the costume was like wearing a portable sauna, but he’d been so fucking determined to prove he could take care of her.
“Wait,” he said, the pieces suddenly clicking together. “How did you know it was me in that costume?”
Arianna’s grin was pure mischief. “Because I was working at the boba place across the street. I wanted to earn money for our trip too.”
The revelation, hit him like a physical blow. A
1202
All those years ago, they’d both been secretly working toward the same goal, both trying to create
Almost in Love with You: Before That Cruel Summer Took Everything
Chapter 23
something special for each other, and he’d never even knowit.
Jesus, how had they been so young and already so devoted to each other?
By evening, the oppressive heat had finally started to herak. The beach was transformed into something magical–fairy lights strung between palm trees, tiki torches casting dancing shadows on the sand, the kind of romantic setup that belonged in movies.
They found a spot on a blanket near the small stage where a guitarist was tuning up for the evening’s entertainment. A server brought their drinks–something tropical and pink for Arianna, a local craft beer for him.
As the music started and the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, Jayden tried to lose himself in the moment. This was perfect. This was everything he’d dreamed about during those lonely years in New York when he’d thought she was dead.
But even as he watched Arianna sway gently to the music, her face glowing in the warm light, that familiar terror kept clawing at the edges of his
mind.
This is too good to be true. Something’s going to go wrong. She’s going to disappear again.
The thoughts spiraled faster and faster until he felt like he couldn’t breathe. He reached for ber hand desperately, lacing their fingers together e physical contact could somehow keep her anchored to reality,
Please be real Please don’t leave me again..
Arianna just have felt his grip tighten because she turned to look at him, concern flickering across her features. Before he could say anything, before he could try to explain the panic that was eating him alive, she leaned over and kissed him.
It was soft and sweet and tasted like pineapple, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed pink and her eyes were sparkling with amusement
“Hey,” she said gently, her thumb tracing circles on the back of his hand. “You’re supposed to be here with me, not lust in your own head. What’s got you so distracted?”
