Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Nolan gave an adorable squawk. “You were? You do?”
“I love you, Nolan. Honestly, I’d probably be in love with you even if you had gone back to New York. But you stayed, and all winter and now spring, my feelings have only grown.” I swallowed hard. I could have said the words weeks earlier, but brains were weird. I hadn’t been ready on Valentine’s Day, and the longer I’d gone without saying it, the more pressure I’d felt to find the perfect moment to tell him.
“I love you too. But you probably knew that.” He gave me a meaningful look. He was so much freer with his affection, something I’d been profoundly grateful for as I’d worked through my own complicated feelings.
“I like hearing it.” Despite the audience still swirling around us in the courtyard, he leaned in for a fast kiss. “And I’m sorry I kept you waiting. Again.”
“I’m always going to wait for you.” He locked gazes with me as he nodded. “Always. Take your time. I’ll be here.”
“Thank you.” I kissed him back, not nearly as fast. “I love you.”
And I wouldn’t keep him waiting forever for a more permanent commitment. I’d simply have to find—or make—the perfect moment because Nolan Bell wasn’t going anywhere.
Thirty-Three
Another successful Lights Festival is in the book, ohana. Our school is so grateful for the talents of Mr. Bell and Mr. Winters, who went above and beyond in organizing this year’s program. We raised a record amount of money and had tremendous fun in the process. Enjoy these pictures, and enjoy your break!
NOLAN
“Wake up.” A bony elbow nudged me, but I didn’t have to fully rouse myself from a cozy sleep to know who it belonged to.
“You have to be kidding me.” I let out a quiet groan. Maybe if I was subdued enough, Merry would fall back to sleep, but he poked me again. “It’s the first day of winter break,” I offered. Merry threw off the covers in reply, so I tried one more time. “Surely the kids aren’t up. It’s not even dawn.”
It was still dark outside, and whatever Merry had planned, it better be good. I shivered as I sat up in bed.
“Come on,” Merry urged, tugging me the rest of the way out of bed.
“You are so lucky I love you.” I squinted at him as he flipped on a light.
“I am.” He hummed as he pulled on pants, the happiest morning person on the island.
“Are pajamas suitable attire for this crack-of-dawn awakening?” I asked right before he tossed me a sweatshirt and jeans. We’d sold out of the shirts featuring original student artwork at the Lights Festival.
“Nope.” He shrugged into his own sweatshirt.
“At least we match.” Huffing, I followed him out of the bedroom. The twinkling red foil tree was the only light in the dark apartment. “There is zero sun yet.”
“Yep.” Merry continued to steer me toward the door.
“We’re going outside?” I frowned at him. We’d snuck off to the hot tub more than a few times, but this was early even for that. “Aren’t you worried about the boys?”
“Nope.” He led me to his car, where I immediately discovered the reason he wasn’t worried. The boys were already in the backseat, Barney sitting up tall between them. They looked almost as awake as their father, happily chowing down on some of the bagels my parents had shipped in lieu of coming for the holidays.
“Are we sure I’m not dreaming?” I blinked. Yep. Boys and dog were still there.
“We’re sure.” Merry opened the passenger door and handed me a thermos. “Get in. And this is your coffee.”
“Bless you.” I took a long sip as Merry headed out of the apartment parking lot. “I’m confused but grateful.”
“Don’t be confused—” Ryder was in the running for perkiest Winters that morning, but Legend quickly elbowed him.
“Shush. Don’t give—”
“Both of you, quiet for the drive,” Merry said sternly, then gentled his voice. “Nolan’s still waking up.”
“Oh, feel free to enlighten Nolan.” Smiling, I turned toward the backseat, but the boys mimed being unable to speak, which left us all chuckling. And me no closer to figuring out what Merry was after as we headed north.
“I thought your parents were coming down for Christmas Day this year.” I wouldn’t complain about an impromptu trip to North Shore, but we had a pretty tightly scheduled holiday week between his family and mine. After Christmas, we were headed this direction for an amateur surf competition the twins and Merry were all competing in.
“You can keep on guessing.” Merry pulled off almost as soon as we hit the two-lane highway headed to North Shore. He turned toward Kualoa Beach, which was one we hadn’t been to yet.
“A new beach?”
“Best sunrise on Oahu,” Legend loudly bragged. “They’ve even put it in movies.”
“Legend.” Merry used a warning tone. Both boys seemed even bouncier than usual as Merry found a spot to park. Curiously, we weren’t the only vehicle in the parking lot at this insane hour, nor were we the only sleepy people emerging.