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Living in a city like Harvest Hollow, with its historic and adorable downtown, all encircled by a ring of gentle mountains, has been great. I even enjoyed the brief snowfall we had and love the idea of experiencing four full seasons.

I like it here. I like my house. I like this loft.

But home for me is the sea breeze and the cry of gulls. It’s seagrass waving in the dunes and sand under my bare feet. A house with a view of the ocean. Air that tastes of salt and makes my hair wild.

I hesitate, but there’s no reason not to be honest. If Camden and I don’t have matching priorities or ideas of what the future holds, it’s better to know it now.

“I can’t imagine a life where I don’t end up back on Oakley Island,” I confess, nerves making my chest feel tight.

Camden doesn’t look surprised. “It suits you,” he says. “You look like you were born for the beach.”

“Where did you grow up?” I ask.

He stiffens. “Wisconsin.”

I wait, hoping for him to say something about where he grew up or if he ever thinks about going back. Anything at all about his past or maybe where he sees himself settling down.

Could I just ask him? Absolutely.

But something about his expression and the way he reacted to my question has me hesitating. Logan and Parker interrupt anyway, so I make a little mental note:talking about his past equals sensitive topic; pry later and pry gently.

“Did you have fun at the game?” Parker asks me, her eyes bright. Her arm is hooked around Logan’s waist like she’s not going to let him out of her direct proximity.

And he looks like he has no plans to go anywhere as he asks Camden something about the game.

“Loved it,” I tell her. “Seriously. So much fun.”

“Yay! Hockey is the best. Anytime you want tickets, let me know. I’ve got you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Camden gets two free tickets per game anyway,” she says, then lowers her voice, “but he probably doesn’t even know how to access them since he hasn’t ever had anyone come to a game.”

Camden and Logan are laughing about something that happened on the ice earlier, so they’re definitely not listening.

It makes me wonder about his family, especially after the way he reacted to my simple question about where he grew up. Though I’m honestly relieved he’s never brought another girlfriend to see him play.

Someone calls for Parker, and she and Logan wander off.

Camden raises an eyebrow. “Shall we get rid of our coats then get some food? I’m starving.”

We make our way back toward the back of the loft, pausing for brief hellos, and I scan the room to locate Liam. As I predicted, he’s in the library area. His plate of snacks has been discarded on a coffee table while he peruses the shelves.

“I never liked to read,” Camden confesses, his gaze cutting to the floor. “School was always a struggle. If I’m being honest, Liam intimidates me a little. He’s so smart.”

I lean into Camden. “He intimidates me too. He’s definitely smarter than me and more academically inclined than I ever was. His ability to retain facts amazes me.”

It’s funny—we managed to sidestep these kinds of conversations last summer. Talking about Liam and reading isn’t exactly deep, intimate conversation or anything, but I feel like the things we talked about while we were on Oakley were barely surface level.

We were tryingsohard to stay casual, even though it didn’t work, that we skipped out on the most basic of basics. Still—I got to know Camden the man. Not a list of his likes and dislikes or a plotted-out history but who he is at his core. How he treats others. What makes him smile on a sunny day.

The way he cherishes the people who matter to him.

We’ve got some catching up to do on the basics we skipped. Clearly. Though some normal topics, like Camden’s childhood for example, might be complicated.

We reach the back of the loft, where there’s a little alcove. The bathroom door is open in front of us, and Evie is just coming out of a room to the right. She holds a finger to her lips as she pulls the door closed.

“Hey!” she says, giving me a quick hug.