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I hear her laughing, too, and despite the terror I feel over the possibility of falling for my best friend out of the blue, I’m filled with this blindingly warm sensation. Trying not to suck in lungfuls of water, I picture a literal sun bursting to life inside me.

That’s how it feels, being touched by Sally. Laughing with her.

Being loved by her.

Without thinking, I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her down with me. Her body feels solid and soft.

So fucking soft.

I wait for her to push me away, to unhook my fingers from around her middle.

She doesn’t.

In fact, she puts her hands on my waist, her pinkies curling around my hips. My body lights up at the contact, but we don’t go any further.

Instead, we hold each other underneath the water for a beat. And another. I kick my feet to keep us from going too deep.

The quiet is soothing, even if the desire pounding through me is anything but.

Even if the creeping knowledge that something’s changed between us, that some big shift just happened, won’t quit looping through my head.

Just when I’m about to burst with the need for air, Sally uses her hands to gently push me up to the surface. I don’t need the help, but I take it anyway, keeping my hands on her so I can take her with me.

We’re both breathing hard when we emerge from the water. The light catches on Sally’s eyelashes, the fullness of her lips.

There’s a sudden, sharp drop in my chest. She’s so damn beautiful.

“I do miss you,” I blurt. “All the fucking time, Sally. I worry you’ll forget about me. I’m happy you’re living your dream—don’t get me wrong. But life…it’s suddenly all so different, you know? My parents died. And right now, with you, is the first time I feel like I might not die too.”

She blinks, her eyes getting misty. Her hands move up, dropping from my torso so she can wrap her arms around my neck. We kick, our legs brushing underneath the water as she pulls me in for a hug.

My brain short-circuits at the feel of her tits pressed against my chest.

My heart stops beating at the feel of her warm tears leaking onto my shoulder.

“You’re not gonna die,” she says thickly. “I won’t let you. I miss you too, Wyatt. Sometimes…God, at school, it gets lonely, and I find myself wanting to be back on the ranch with you so badly that I can’t sleep.”

My pulse is going apeshit at the idea that Sally has missed me as much as I’ve missed her. Guess part of me really did worry she’d forget about me. That she’d fall in love with some asshole frat guy and never come back.

“You need to sleep if you’re gonna ace your classes, Sal.” My voice is different. It’s deeper. Rougher.

Sally pulls back, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she searches my face. “I’m doing just fine in that department. Which is why my professors let me move my exams.”

“You really didn’t have to come.”

“You really think I’d leave you alone to face this?”

Everything inside me melts. I squeeze her harder, resisting the urge to press my lips to her throat. “You’re like sunshine, you know? Sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I always feel so much better when you’re around.”

Her swallow is audible. “I’ll be your sunshine anytime, Wyatt.”

I should end this conversation right now. Thank her for her kindness and get dressed. Get her home safe. The cold water’s burned off my buzz; I’m fine to drive.

But when I try to unwrap my arms from around her body, I can’t.

When I try to tell her we need to go, I don’t. The words refuse to come out of my mouth.

My entire being rebels at the thought of letting this girl go. Every single one of my cells screams at me to keep her here, to make her mine.