“I am,” I admitted. “But I’ll survive.”


    He looked like he wanted to say something, then stopped. Just nodded.


    By the time dinner ended, the stars were out. He walked me back to the vi, his hand warm and low on my back. My thoughts were swimming.


    Just before we reached my door, he stopped.


    His gaze held mine. Serious. Intense.


    “When we get back to L.A.,” he said slowly, “I want to do a lot of things to you… and with you. If you’ll let me.‘


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    Then his fingers brushed my lips, featherlight.


    “Would you let me, Emily?”


    I nodded, too affected to speak.


    His eyes dragged over me onest time. “Goodnight.”


    And just like that, I knew sleep wouldn’te easy tonight.


    The breeze slipping through my window carried that ocean–salt scent I was slowly getting addicted to. The morning felt quieter than usual, almost like even the ind knew we needed azy start. I stretched on the bed, not ready to face the world yet, but too awake to drift back to sleep.


    A soft knock eventually stirred me, followed by Sophia’s voice through the door. “Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. We’re hiking today! You have ten minutes to look hot and functional. Move!”


    I groaned but smiled. Functional and hot? Challenge epted.


    Minutester, we were all gathered outside the vi, kitted up for a trek. The path we took wound through lush trails, asionally offering postcard–worthy views of cliffs meeting turquoise water.


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    Jay stood in front, dramatically tying a bandana around his head like he was about to lead a jungle expedition. “Alright team, today’s mission: survival, style, and sass.”


    Sophia rolled her eyes. “Jay, it’s a hike, not a documentary.”


    Leo nudged me. “Is Liam carrying your water bottle? Honestly, just date already.”


    Before I could respond, he chimed in, “The sexual tension is exhausting to watch.”


    I blushed and mumbled something unintelligible, eyes fixed on the horizon.


    Liam, who had just slung his bag over his shoulder, caught the exchange and smirked, saying nothing.


    The bickering started early, but so did theughter. Jay had brought a Bluetooth speaker and insisted on narrating our hike like we were in an action film. Sophia was yelling at him to shut up five minutes in.


    Liam stuck beside me the entire time. He carried my water, offered his hand when the path got steep, and threw subtlements about how I needed to start working out more, which I countered with a well–aimed elbow to his ribs.


    “Are you always like this?” I teased.


    “Like what?”


    “Gentle. Protective. Sweet.”


    He gave a one–shouldered shrug. “Only when I care.”


    The way he said it made something warm curl up in my chest.


    Noah and Linda trailed behind us, their conversation low but increasingly tense. I kept ncing back, and by the time we hit the midpoint rest stop, their voices were no longer low.


    Raised voices sliced through the buzz of birds and wind.


    “You don’t listen, Noah. You never have,” Linda snapped.


    “That’s riching from someone who shuts down every time something real happens,” he bit back.


    Sophia gave me a look. Jay quietly mouthed, “Iing drama.”


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    The argument escted fast. Harsh words. usations. And then Linda walked off


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    Leo and Owen jumped into action. “We’ll take Noah back,” Leo said, clearly trying to keep the energy from sinking.


    Sophia grabbed Linda and started walking her in the opposite direction,forting her <fn6cb8> Content originallyes from F?ndNovel</fn6cb8>


    We stood there awkwardly for a second until Jay broke the silence. “So… are we still hiking, or is it downhill from here, literally and emotionally?”


    We made it to the end of the trail with fewer people but slightly lighter energy. Someone suggested we go jet skiing to lift the mood.


    Liam handed me a life vest with a smirk. “You’re with me. Non–negotiable.”


    didn’t argue.


    When the engine roared to life and we skidded over the waves, I clutched him tightly from behind, myughter swallowed by the wind.


    “Scared?” he shouted.


    “Of you? Always.”


    Heughed and sped up. I leaned into him, cheek against his back. It was wild, freeing, and stupidly romantic.


    At some point, he slowed down and turned us toward a more private cove. He turned off the engine and let the jet ski rock gently in the waves.


    “I wish time would just freeze,” I said softly.


    “That makes the both of us,” he murmured, ncing back at me over his shoulder.


    He reached up and gently brushed a wet strand of hair off my check, his fingers trailing just a second too long.


    The wind, the waves, the way he was looking at me, it all slowed, like we were hovering in a bubble outside of time. My heart mmed against my ribs.


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