“Oh, Rogan.” Eve shakes her head. “This is so beneath you.”

I ignore her. “It’s official. Best friends forever.”

Harper is silent for a beat, taking me in, a twist to her lips, a squint to her eyes. Uh-oh, I know that look. It’s not good. She’s cooking up something.

“We’re friends?” she asks.

“I mean, the bracelets kind of confirm that.”

“Ah, right, and friends talk to each other about everything, right?”

“Basically.” What’s she getting at? Whatever it is, I prepare myself.

“Okay.” She trades a look with Eve, who looks just as confused as I feel. “So you don’t mind giving me dating advice.”

Oh, fuck no. She’s not playing fair. I’d rather hurl myself into the frigid harbor. But of course I don’t say that. I play her game, even if it’s torture.

“Of course. What kind of advice do you need?” I ask, ignoring the horrible taste I have in my mouth.

“Well, you know. Carson and I were catching up the other day, and I was thinking about asking him out. What are your thoughts?”

Was she really talking to Carson? He is so not her fucking type. Preppy and too nice. I’ll have to have a little conversation with the history teacher over at the school.

“Carson’s a great guy. Specializes in boring his dates with fun factoids about deceased presidents. But I did hear he always picks up the tab and orders dessert. That’s a good guy in my book.” I tack on a smile, which I can tell irritates her immediately.

“Dessert is nice,” Eve adds.

A wicked idea pops into my head, and I try not to smirk. “And since we’re on the topic of dating . . . do you know who I ran into at Cumberland Farms the other day? Denise Whitaker. She asked me—”

Getting in my face, finger pointed at me, Harper hisses, “If you go out with Double-Ds Denise, so help me God, I will castrate you.”

And that’s the exact reaction I was looking for. This might be easier than I was expecting; if she didn’t have feelings for me, there’s no way in hell she would have had that kind of reaction to Denise.

“What’s wrong with Denise?” I ask, even though I know exactly why Denise is a big no.

“Are you kidding me? She tried to screw you every time she saw you. No way in hell are you going out with her. She just wants your dick.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I smirk.

Harper holds up her wrist and tugs on her friendship bracelet. “If you want this godforsaken thing to stay on, then yeah, it’s a bad thing.” She spins on her heel and stalks to the kitchen.

Wincing, I turn to find Eve eyeing me suspiciously. “I don’t think I like what you’re doing.”

“What am I doing?” I ask, anything but innocent.

“I don’t know, but watch yourself, Knightly. I’m on to you.”

Brig: Friendship bracelet? Nice touch, bro.

Reid: Screw the friendship bracelet, I can’t believe you had a write-up in the newspaper.

Griffin: I was just about to text that. Ren was giggling all morning. Dude, what’s going on?

Brig: We convinced him to fight for Harper.

Griffin: Who’s we?

Reid: Me and Brig.

Griffin: Are you insane, Rogue?

Rogan: They were the only two available at the time . . . and they imposed on my solitary confinement.

Brig: ^^^ AKA, sitting in his car . . . again.

Reid: It’s weird that you do that. We can see you, man.

Rogan: I never said I thought I was invisible.

Reid: Still weird.

Griffin: A little weird.

Rogan: Fuck off, Griff. You do it all the time.

Brig: ^^^ He has you there, old man.

Reid: He did it last Sunday and played the drums on the steering wheel.

Griffin: It was fucking RUSH! How many times do I have to tell you I can’t just turn the radio off when Tom Sawyer plays?

Brig: I’m the same way with Ed Sheeran. He has me by the balls.

Reid: . . .

Rogan: I don’t know what to say to that.

Griffin: Galway Girl is good. Ren loves that song.

Brig: Fuck, yeah. Galway Girl **Does Irish Jig** that shit is my jam.

Reid: Can we please get back to Rogan and Harper.

Rogan: Nah, I’m good. Let’s stick with Ed Sheeran.

Griffin: Reid’s right. What’s with the friendship announcement?

Brig: Friends first . . . LOVERS next. It’s the perfect plan.

Griffin: Christ. Are you really taking Brig’s advice?

Rogan: I’m ashamed to say, yes.

Reid: From the way I saw Harper stomping around the general store this morning, I’m guessing she’s not too thrilled. But . . . she had her friendship bracelet on.

Rogan: Did she?

Brig: ^^^ was that desperation in your voice?

Reid: I think it was.

Griffin: For sure, with a voice crack, easily.

Reid: Voice crack for sure.

Brig: Definite voice crack.

Rogan: Fuck off, all of you.

Brig: <Ross Gellar Pivot GIF>

Griffin: <Aston Kutcher Laughing GIF>

Reid: <Man Riding Ritz Cracker GIF>

Jen: I fear for all the women in this town.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

HARPER

Sophomore Year, Syracuse University

“Tomorrow—you and me, right?”

I apply a light coat of Chapstick to my lips. “Yup. We’re going to see a movie up in Pottsmouth, right?”

“That’s the plan.” My dad smiles and pulls me into a hug. “I’m going to miss you. This summer break went by too fast. That event-planning internship at the inn took up all your time when you weren’t with that Knightly boy.”

“I know.” I sigh, leaning my cheek against his chest. “I wish I didn’t work so much, but I don’t want you to have to foot the bill for me all the time.”

“You know I don’t mind, sweetie. I just want you to get an education and experience college, something I was never able to do. Your mom would have wanted the same.”

I smile sadly and wrap my arms around my dad’s waist. “I miss her.”

“I miss her too. But I will tell you this: she would be proud of the woman you are today.” He tips my chin up. “And she would have really liked that Knightly boy.”

“You think?”

He nods. “Oh yeah. She would have loved him. He’s a good guy. I trust him with your heart.”

“That means a lot, Dad.” I give him a quick kiss on his cheek, slip my sandals on, and then take off down the hall. “I’ll be home late.”

“And where are you going, missy?”

Knock, knock. The door cracks open, and Rogan peeks his head around, his smile when he sees me hitting me square in the heart.

“Hey, you,” he says quickly before stepping into the entryway and walking over to my dad to give him a handshake. “Mr. Sanders, it’s good to see you.”

“You too,” my dad says with a wink. Uh, that was weird.

“Where are we off to?” I ask Rogan, slipping my hand in his. He squeezes it tightly.

He smiles down at me. “How about some ice cream and then a stroll down the Harbor Walk?”

“Sounds like a plan to me. That okay, Dad?”

He nods. “Just have her home before midnight.”

I roll my eyes. “We’re in college, Dad.”

“And you’re still living under my roof. Midnight.”

“You have my word, Mr. Sanders.”

With a quick wave, we head out to Rogan’s truck, the summer evening just warm enough for a T-shirt and shorts. The waves crash against the rocks, and the salty sea air envelops me as I take in the moment. Summer in Maine is my favorite time of the year; it soothes the soul in a way no other season can. Tonight is going to be no exception. I can feel the buzz in the air; it’s perfect for one last romantic night.

Rogan opens the door for me but doesn’t shut it; instead, he holds on to the top and leans in, his strong shoulders and biceps pulling at the fabric of his shirt. God, he’s so hot.

“Where’s my kiss, Harp?”

“Oh, I apologize.” I chuckle, leaning forward, my palm sliding up his chest to the back of his neck.

His lips press against mine, and I’m instantly lost. We’ve spent every free moment we’ve had together. With his training and work, and my interning and waitressing at the inn, it’s been almost as tough as school, but worth every minute.

His tongue swipes across my lips, and I easily open up to him, letting him explore and mold our mouths together. I scoot in closer and encourage him to dive deeper, but instead, he pulls away and groans.

“Fuck, not here, Harp.”

“Where? On the Harbor Walk?” I tease.

He raises his eyebrows. “Do you really think we’re going to the Harbor Walk?”

“We better not.” In a haughty voice, I say, “Take me to the manor.”

Chuckling, he presses a chaste kiss on my nose and then shuts the door. “I hope you’re ready to get naked,” he says as he slides behind the wheel, “because it’s been too goddamn long since I’ve seen your tits.”

I can’t hide my smile. “Rogan, how dare you speak to a lady like that?”

He puts the truck in drive and pulls out of the driveway, eyebrows wiggling at me. “Harp, you’re going to hear a lot worse when I get between your legs. The minute we step into that house, you’d better strip.”

“And what are you going to do?”

Eyes darkened, lips wet, he says, “Watch.”