Page 39 of How You See Me (You and Me Duology #2)

“Hey! You can’t be in there.”

Of all the times we could be interrupted, why this—

Hayes jumps up and separates from me like it’s his commanding officer barking at us, not a bald park staffer unlocking the gate with a frown.

I hide my snicker and grab his hand.

“Sorry,” I chirp on the way out, breathless and flushed, not sorry at all. Well, I'm sorry the fun had to come to an end.

We bolt back to camp, laughter spilling out of us as the van comes into view.

“We are so naughty,” he teases, scooping me up and cradling me.

“You haven’t seen naughty yet.”

He growls, teeth nipping at my jaw. “I really, really like the sound of that.”

◆◆◆

We’re back on the road, behind schedule again—but no one’s complaining.

After making great use of the van’s comfortable bed, we hit the showers.

Hayes ducked into the men’s bathroom to take a shower, knowing he could finish up before me and be waiting when I emerged.

But I pulled a trick of my own. I snuck into his stall when no one was looking, including him, and it was more than worth the risk.

The utter shock on his face, followed by something far more carnal and much, much better will live rent-free in my brain forever. I not only surprised him. I surprised myself.

I’ve never been so brazen. But something about Hayes strips away my layers, revealing a different, bolder person. He makes me feel wanted in a way that’s new and deeply addicting.

Not that he hasn’t made me feel wanted before. Every touch, every glance, every kiss has both ruined and saved me. There’s no going back to the person I once was.

This morning, he took his time with me, then washed my hair and body with those capable hands.

I can still feel them on me now and force the memory out of my head before I beg him to pull over and repeat it.

“Where are we heading today?” I ask, trying to distract myself with scenery and innocent conversation.

“Sedona, Arizona. Ava would love the red rocks there.”

“Oh, no.” I jolt upright, my sketchpad sliding from my lap onto the floorboard.

“What?” he asks, brows lifting.

“We forgot to get a rock in Albuquerque.”

He chuckles, easy and light, and reaches over to lace our fingers together. “I love how much that means to you. We’re good. I found one during my workout.”

“Thank goodness.” I exhale in relief, retrieving my pad and pencil. “I was about to tell you to whip this van around. ”

He lifts our joined hands to his lips. Soft, lingering, tempting. My insides go up in flames. I swear, this man could light me on fire with a single breath.

“Have you updated Jordan lately?” he asks.

“On our trip or our status ?”

“Definitely our trip. Pretty sure he doesn’t want to hear about the rest.”

“So, I shouldn’t tell him about your performance this morning? Because it was . . .” I let the sentence hang for a bit. “. . . quite impressive.”

“You can tell the whole damn world if you want—just leave Jordan out of it.”

I laugh. “I think I’ll keep that to myself. Can’t risk other women discovering my secret and trying to steal you away.”

“Impossible. I already told you—you’re the ice cream sundae.”

“And that’s good, right?”

“To me, there’s nothing better.”

My heart flutters, flips, then face-plants. I lean over and press a kiss on his cheek. “Does that mean you want to continue this when we get home?”

“You said ‘yes’ to the official question, and we told our families. If that doesn’t scream long-term, I don’t know what does.”

That earns him another kiss, and I take his mouth this time. The van swerves slightly as he fumbles with the wheel, catching me before I tumble through his open window.

Using his shoulder for balance, I force myself back to my seat instead of his lap where I’d rather be .

“But we’ll never make it there if we crash,” he grumbles, trying to sound stern, but his smirk betrays him.

“It’s all your fault,” I inform him. “You and your insistent sweetness make me reckless.”

Those kissable lips twitch. “That’s fine. Get as crazy as you want. I’ve got you.”

There he goes again. “I know you do. And it goes both ways, you know?”

“I do.” His grip tightens around my fingers, his expression serious. “Jordan won’t recognize you when you get home.”

“Speaking of my brother, let’s see if he’s awake.”

I reach for my phone and tap Jordan’s name.

“It’s early there. He might be on his way to class.”

When he doesn’t pick up, I send a text.

Me: We’re leaving New Mexico and heading to Arizona. Check out what I did yesterday.

I attach a photo of me and Hayes in the hot air balloon and hit SEND.

Jordan: Shut up! No, you didn’t .

Me: I did, and it wasn’t even scary.

Jordan: Wow. Just WOW.

Me: Why didn’t you answer my call?

Jordan: On the bus. Too loud. Was texting you when your pic came in. Glad you’re having fun.

Me: I am. Hayes thinks you won’t recognize me. I’m a new woman!

Jordan: Please tell me that’s a reference to you getting over your fears.

Jordan: Never mind. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know .

Me: It’s both. Anyway, I’m mad at you for keeping Hayes to yourself all these years. [mad face emoji]

Jordan: You always said he was too grumpy.

Me: He has a good reason. You knew he was amazing and sat on that information while I attracted losers.

Jordan: Sorry, Jo Jo. I’m not a matchmaker. That’s more Nora’s department.

Me: How’s my soon-to-be sister-in-law?

Jordan: Perfect as ever.

Me: Tell her I said hi. I’ll get you both matching T-shirts at the next stop.

Jordan: She won’t wear it.

Me: That’s what makes it funny! Love you, lil bro.

Jordan: Who are you?

Me: Don’t worry. I’m still me. Just happier. And in love.

Jordan: Excuse me?!!!!!!!!!!

I check on Hayes. His focus remains on the road, blissfully oblivious.

Me: You read that right. I love your best friend. How’s that for a juicy secret?

Me: Don’t tell him. He doesn’t know yet.

Jordan: Why would I do that? But isn’t that a little fast, Jo? It’s only been a week.

Me: How fast did you fall for Nora?

Jordan: Touché. Be careful.

Me: Aren’t I always?

Jordan: Not what I mean.

Me: He’d never hurt me.

Jordan: Not intentionally. Not everything’s under his control.

That last text needles at me. I can’t shake the feeling that Jordan knows something.

It’s early. I get that, but Hayes has been a dream. No, better than a dream because I could never have fathomed this paradise with him on my own.

I don’t want to spiral, but doubt creeps in like a shadow under a door. The thought of losing Hayes at the end of this trip or ever makes my stomach roll.

I force the thought away. Live in the moment, Josie .

“I need cake,” I blurt.

“Behind your seat.”

“What? It wasn’t there this morning.”

He shrugs. “Had a feeling you’d want it.”

Grabbing the box, I find a fork waiting inside and melt. His thoughtfulness has no bounds. I scoop up a bite and hold it out for him.

“How in the world were you single?”

“Guess I was waiting on you.”

Good gravy and all the fixins.

“There you go again, being all sweet and romantic, but seriously. Why didn’t you date before?”

His shoulders rise, hold, then fall back into place. “Dating someone in the military isn’t easy. You leave. You miss things. You get called away at the worst times, and the people you care about wait for news, good or bad, every day. I never found anyone worth putting through that.”

My heart clenches. “Am I worth it?”

“Josie . . . ”

“I need to know, Hayes.” I set the fork down. “You said you want this to continue. But are you sure? You won’t change your mind when it gets hard?”

His hands tighten around the wheel. “Where is this coming from?”

“Will you answer the question, please?”

He takes a moment, fueling my insecurities. “I can’t predict the future, Josie. How do you know you’ll want me in a month?”

“Because I love you.”

His hands jerk, and the van veers off the road. “Shit.”

Gravel sprays under the erratic wheels, and he slams on the brakes, parking in a cloud of dust. After switching off the engine, he sits motionless, his focus on the endless landscape out the windshield.

Every second of silence stretches my panic thinner, tighter. I shouldn’t have said it. Those three words are too heavy, and we’re too fragile. It’s too soon.

Say something. Anything.

I already know what’s coming. He’ll let me down easy and put space between us. That’s what people do. They mean well —but they always leave.

This is where he hurts me, unintentionally, like Jordan—

“I love you, too.”

My heart drops into my stomach. “What?”

“I said . . .” His gaze finds mine, his voice steady with a blazing fire. “I love you, too. ”

I can’t speak. Can’t breathe. Every ounce of bravery I’d scraped together to guard my heart from breaking crumbles to dust. “Hayes.”

“Did you really think I couldn’t?”

“I—I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never been . . . I didn’t think before . . .”

“Did you mean it?”

“With all my heart and soul and everything in between.”

Tears sting, but I hold them back. I won’t miss any of this. This moment or this man.

“Okay, then.” He throws open the door, strides around the front of the van, and wrenches mine open. “Come here. I need to hold you.”

I don’t need to hear anything more.

I launch into his arms, draping around him like he’ll disappear if I let go. I never, ever want to let go.