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Audrey – Two and a half months after My Favorite Color is Mistletoe
The highway stretches out ahead, bright and shimmering under the spring sun, and I feel lighter than I have in days. Spring break at last. I tuck my bare feet up on the dash, the breeze from the open window messing with my hair. Jax drums his thumbs on the steering wheel, sneaking glances at me every few minutes. Each time I catch him, he grins wider, as if he can’t help himself.
I scroll through my playlist and dial up the volume on an upbeat country song, singing along louder than necessary. Jax groans good-naturedly. This only makes me sing louder.
He laughs. “Who sent the Carlton Landing travel playlist this time?”
“Hudson.”
“Well, I think I could do better.”
“Is that so? Maybe you’ll have to prove that by helping me curate the next list.”
He reaches over, his hand warm on my knee. “Gladly. And this song won’t be on it.”
I put a hand to my chest and suck in a breath. “How dare you?”
He grins at my theatrics.
Everything feels so easy—so natural. And so real. No pretending, no fake stories, no awkwardly hiding how I feel. Just Jax and me, and Carlton Landing for spring break.
Well…the two of us and my whole family.
We’ve had a fantastic two and a half months together this semester. We’ve gone on several dates—we finally went on that movie date with ice cream and a long walk afterward—and I’ve enjoyed cheering him on at intermural basketball, and he visits me in the tutoring lab often. It’s been a busy few months, and now I’m looking forward to relaxing together at the lake.
We fall quiet, hands still linked, and I watch the scenery fly by, sunlight flickering through the trees. Once we’ve turned onto the long, winding road to Carlton Landing, I sit straighter. “Hey, let’s stop at the lookout like last time and take a new selfie.”
“Good idea.”
Jax parks, and we slide from the car, clasping hands again to approach the cliff overlooking the lake. He glances over, hair ruffled by the wind. “Are you excited to be back?”
“It’s crazy how different things will be this time. In December, there were so many secrets and nerves and the constant fear of someone finding out and ruining everything.”
“Well, they did find out.”
I squeeze his fingers. “But everything wasn’t ruined.”
He shakes his head, pushing a strand of hair out of my face. “Not at all. In fact, I think it’s perfect.”
I chew my lip, grinning like an idiot. “Me too.” I squeeze his fingers. “So, yeah, I’m ready. It was complicated before, but also awesome. It’s a great story, but I’m ready for things to be normal and to make new memories here. With you.”
A dimple flashes on his cheek. “I’m looking forward to being your real boyfriend this time. Nothing fake.”
I grin. “Good. You were a terrible Greyson.”
He gives me a wounded look. “Hey, I was the best fake boyfriend you ever had.”
I lean over and kiss his cheek, my lips lingering, voice low. “You’re definitely the best real one.”
His lips turn up into a smile as he shifts to face me, catching my lips with his. I slide my hand over his shoulder as he lifts his free hand and takes a selfie with the sparkling lake behind us.
I giggle against his warm lips. “Hey, I wasn’t ready.”
“You said you wanted to make new memories.” He shifts me to stand next to him, his arm slung over my shoulders, and extends his phone again. “Smile.”
I do. I couldn’t stop my grin if I wanted to.
We return to the car, and when we near the bottom of the hill, the nerves return for just a second—it was so awkward to walk in last time, pretending.
Jax’s shoulders also seem to tense.
I reach to squeeze his shoulder and run my fingers through the hair at his nape. “Hey, relax,” I whisper. “This time, you’re just Jax.”
His shoulders relax. “I know.” He lifts my hand to kiss my knuckles, and my heart does this ridiculous, wonderful flip. “Jax and Audrey, back where it all started.”
“It’s that Carlton Landing magic. And I think you mean Audrey and Jax.”
He laughs, and as the lake comes into view, sparkling and endless, I crank up the music. I start singing again, voice tumbling out the window, free and wild. Jax laughs and sings with me, and as we cross the stone bridge into town, I know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.
Thanks again for signing up! I’m so glad we’re friends.
And I’m excited for you to learn what’s going on with Lucy in the next book. (Coming soon!) Don’t forget to find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads. And just so you know, Instagram is my favorite place to have bookish conversations. Hope to see you there!
