“Great. I picked up some boxes too.”

She studies my face as she comes in the door and I help her with the bags. “You okay?”

“Yeah. It feels good to have it done with him.” I set the groceries on the kitchen counter.

She doesn’t ask how it went. I’ll tell her later. He’s irrelevant now.

She moves to stand next to me and takes my hand. “How much stuff do you have to ship home?”

“Not much: my clothes, shoes, trophies, gifts I picked up for Callie. My bedroom furniture is cheap, and I’ll leave it. I have to warn you—my shit is everywhere. My closet…you might need a hazmat suit. I own more shoes and clothes than most girls.” I pause, feeling off-kilter. “Thank you for helping me pack up three and a half years.”

She stares at me, seeming to read my mood. “No regrets, River. I’d take one day with you over a million days with anyone else.”

Unease rises and I sigh.

“I see the worry on your face. We don’t know how this will end,” she finishes softly.

I pull her to me.

I don’t know what the future holds, but she holds it.

“It will always end with you,” I reply, studying her face. “I’ll wait.”

Her throat bobs, and I watch as she takes a long breath then nods. Our separation is a topic neither of us wants to address.

“After we pack, I’ll make us dinner. BLTs sound okay?”

I nod. “I can eat bacon all day long. Did you check on June?”

A smile curls her lips. “Yeah. Carl found her a TV and set it up. When I left, she was letting him stand in the doorway of the RV and watch with her.”

“He’ll win her over in no time,” I say. “I’m going to miss him. I’ve seen him almost every Sunday for years.” I kiss her palm. “How was your day?”

She lets out a breathy laugh. “I’ve gotten some acceptance emails.”

“Oh?”

She nods, that jerky one. “Brooklyn Law, kinda figured that one. Emory in Atlanta, very topnotch, Wake Forest in North Carolina, and Pepperdine in California. All were random shots in the dark when I applied, but they want me.”

A lump of cement lands on my chest. “I see. Which one will you pick?”

“I don’t know,” she says, looking away for a moment before meeting my eyes. “Emory is prestigious and they’re offering a scholarship. It’s not far from Braxton, and it feels familiar. It’s close to Carl and June in case they need something. I mean, I’ve never had a home, but Georgia feels like home in a weird way. It’s the place I’ve lived the longest. It’s where I made friends with Lila and Colette. I met you.”

I picture her at a fancy law school. Without me there.

This is her dream, River. Hers. You have football; she has this.

“Yeah, that’s great. Congratulations. You should pick that one, then.”

The truth is, I don’t know where I’ll be in the fall.

She smiles. “As for the rest of my day, I took exams and packed for the ski trip. I haven’t even napped, and I should be exhausted, but I feel kind of crazy, like I could maybe lift a car with my bare hands. Is that weird? It’s just…being with you, this feeling, it’s like nothing I’ve ever had.”

That’s us, Rainbow.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” I say with wonder in my voice as I pull her between my legs and feel the magic settle around us. She’s the center of my storm, my tranquility.

“Yes,” she whispers right before I kiss her.

25

“Finally! You’re here, bitch! About time!” Lila shouts as I walk in the ski lodge’s lobby on White Face Mountain. My Uber just dropped me off after my flight. Excitement curls inside me, and I squeal her name, let go of my suitcase handle, and run for her just as Colette comes around the corner with a drink in her hand, sees us, and joins us, shrieking.

I laugh as we jump up and down.

“So glad classes are over, and we can be together!” Lila calls, whooping as she takes a sip of her cosmo. Much classier than Fireball. I giggle.

“Still wish you were coming home with us, but I get it,” Colette adds. “Parents and all that jazz.”

“I’ll see you in January with the semester starts,” I remind her. I don’t want to think about the fact that I won’t see River in January. “And we have this trip.”

“Our flight was so early,” Lila complains. “Be glad you got to sleep in.”

I nod. I barely slept.

I couldn’t.

I’m terrified I’ll miss a moment with him.

Last night, we packed his things in record time, took them to the post office, then came back and had dinner. After cleaning, he locked up and we went to my place and crashed. We got in my bed, and in between kissing, we talked. And talked. We couldn’t shut up, trying to catch up on the little things about the person you love. He hates food that’s green. His favorite color is blue. He doesn’t do politics. He wants to have four kids someday. He dreams of living on the same mountain where he grew up. We slept on and off, his body curled around mine protectively, and when he woke me up at two in the morning to get to the airport, he kissed me so long I thought he might miss his flight.

I glance around. It’s the evening, and people come and go in the lobby, most of them dressed for dinner. There’s a restaurant to my left and an open area to my right that’s a bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the walls, providing a view of the snow-covered mountains just outside. It’s a winter wonderland and my breath hitches. No wonder he loves this place.

We have tonight.

Tomorrow he leaves to be with his family, and I’m staying to be with Lila and Colette then flying home to meet up with my parents.

I don’t want to think about not seeing him every day.

I don’t want to think about us not being in the same city.

“How are the slopes?” I ask Lila as we head into the lobby, my gaze taking in the elegant interior. “This place is gorgeous.” Giant antler chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and a rustic timber and stone fireplace crackles around a luxurious sitting area dotted with dark leather couches and chairs. I spy a few students from Braxton, my eyes drifting as I search for him.

Lila laughs. “Fantastic for people who can ski. I tried the bunny thing, got an instructor, kinda hot looking, but I fell on my ass more times than I can count. Benji skis like a pro, of course. So infuriating. Thank God he left that lizard with Marilyn from the bar. Should I hook up with him?”

“I’m staying out of that one,” I murmur as I scan the bar area. I see Kian sipping on a beer. He notices and sends up a hesitant wave.

I snort and wave back.

She follows my gaze and giggles. “I knew he wouldn’t work out, but you have to admit, that revenge thing worked for you and River.”

I nod. “How’s the room?”

Someone breaks away from the bar, and my heart skips a beat. He’s tall with broad shoulders, eyes low on me as he stalks our way.

He’s wearing jeans, a cream-colored fisherman’s sweater, and heavy boots. His hair is mussed, his cheeks flushed. He only has eyes for me as he reaches us and hugs me, his nose in my hair, and I sink into him.