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  He smiled, cocking his head. I still got flutters when he looked at me like that.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You two really miss each other.”

  “Of course, we do.” I shrugged. “It's like you and Eli. Or Tommy and Miles.”

  “Speaking of Miles…he’s just waiting for me to mess up."

  “Mess up, how?”

  Jude winked, squeezing my knee.

  “Mess up with me?” I squeaked.

  “He thinks you’re the finest thing he’s ever seen.” He snorted. “He likes all pretty girls, though…that's just how he is.”

  “Speaking of players…”

  “Nah, he’s a good kid,” he said. “He'd probably relax if he found the right girl.”

  “Doesn't seem like he's in a rush to settle down to me.” I sniffed, thinking of his antics with Ivy over New Year’s. They’d had quite the torrid love affair the following week. “Ivy?”

  “Come on—she’s almost as bad as he is.” We left the highway for a smaller road. Jude accelerated, passing an old pickup truck. “Anyway, Caroline should come down. Tickets are a lot cheaper now than they were at Thanksgiving.”

  “That’s true. I’ll let her know.” I made a mental note to text her soon. Caroline had been close to tears the last time we’d spoken, angry and sad and annoyed with herself for wasting time with Jeremiah—her words, not mine.

  Who knew? Maybe she’d find a worthy distraction on St. Croix.

  ~

  “Ready, Alina?” called Jude, his voice muffled by the music coming from the living room.

  Zipping my backpack, I grabbed a sleeping bag from the closet hall. “You sure you don't want this? It’s pretty cozy..."

  “Only one of us can fit comfortably in that and all of my plans are for two.” He leered at my sundress, wiggling his tongue.

  Snorting, I tossed the sleeping bag back into the closet. “Okay, but if I get cold tonight, you're gonna get it."

  “That's what I'm hoping for,” he said, earning a smack on the arm...and a kiss on the cheek.

  Shutting off the music, I locked the door and followed Jude outside. The Jeep was packed full, several wooden pallets from the bar sticking precariously from the back.

  “You sure those are gonna hold?” I asked, eyeing the mess of bungee cords.

  “Held every year so far,” he assured me, cranking the engine. “We do Christmas tree bonfires in January, too.”

  Finagling my stuff into the Jeep, I climbed up front with Jude. We were going camping. Eli, Nora and the girls had left earlier, wanting to make sure things were getting set up down at Ha'penny Beach.

  “I haven’t been camping in forever,” I said, anticipation bubbling through my veins. “I can’t wait!”

  “Yeah, me too,” said Jude, passing a slow-poke on the main road. He glanced at me, a smirk dimpling his cheek. “We can actually chill on the beach instead of fuckin’ around with the turtles.”

  “Shush, you.” I laughed, shaking my head. “I like fucking around with them.”

  “I like fucking around with you.”

  I bit my lip and smiled, enjoying the way his dark, shining eyes traveled over me. He still made my heart skip and race and go crazy, and I suspected he always would. God, he was handsome.

  The sun was nearly down, the last of its light shining a brilliant orange. Breathing deeply, I settled back and admired the passing scenery of an island that had become so familiar to me. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe it was home.

  Jude’s phone rang. He turned down the music to answer it, and I could tell by his tone it was Eli.

  “We need to stop for ice,” he said, tossing the phone onto the seat.

  I nodded, turning toward him. “Eli says you guys have been doing this since you were kids.”

  “Yeah. Lots of camping—summer Easter weekend, Christmas tree burn…lots of memories.” He smiled fondly, nodding. “Did you ever camp, growing up?”

  “Actually…I used to go with my Dad. Down to the Keys.” I paused, squinting at the windshield. The ache in my chest, remembering those days, was as pleasant as it was painful. “Sometimes we’d drive his friend’s RV out to Key Largo, near where he grew up. But mostly we pitched our tents at Bahia Honda or Curry Hammock. They’re state parks.”

  Jude glanced at me, nodding.

  “Camping’s a little different there. You have to make reservations because it gets really busy and crowded…but my dad knows everyone. He has connections up and down the Keys. We always got prime spots.”

  “Sounds fun.”

  “It was. We went swimming and played Uno and grilled fish…he went fishing a lot. Sometimes I went with him, but other times I just hung out while he went.”

  “By yourself?”

  “I liked it. I read a lot. Sometimes there were other kids, and we’d play, hang out or whatever.” I paused, remembering. “He could always see me from wherever he was.”

  “I’d like to go sometime,” Jude said. “Key West’s always been on my bucket list.”

  “We will,” I promised, adding it to my mental list of things we wanted to share. “All the Keys are pretty special.”

  We stopped for a bag of ice and extra beer before continuing. Ha'Penny was on the South Shore, near the farmer’s market Nora and I usually went to. It took about fifteen minutes to get there and then another five to bump down the dirt road. Several vehicles were parked already, and in the near distance, a thin trail of smoke floated up from a fire. Jude backed the Jeep up so getting the pallets out would be easier.

  Eli walked up; he must’ve seen us coming.

  “Hey, guys,” he greeted. “Need a hand?”

  I waited until they’d hefted the first few pallets out before dealing with our bags. On the beach, Sadie, Sydney and their tribe of friends whooped and played, tanned, little feet kicking up sand. I looked around, impressed by the level of organization. The tents were set in a loose, wide circle around the bonfire. One guy was grilling while a couple set up a makeshift bar comprised of coolers and wooden tables. Blue tarp, tied between trees, flapped overhead, providing protection. Nora emerged from one of the tents, Silas tied to her back in a sling.

  A cheer went up as Jude and Eli tossed the pallets into the fire. The flames licked up toward the deepening indigo sky, sending embers flying. Except for the Taylors—and Bodhi and Jen, who arrived minutes after us—this was a different crowd than I was used to; lots of young families. Jude introduced me around and then we settled into an empty spot to erect his tent.

  We swam and drank and ate, playing cards and then tag with children who passed out seconds after the last marshmallows were roasted. Despite being such a low-key gathering, it lasted well in to the night. By the time we crawled into Jude’s admittedly cushy tent, silly with sleepiness, it was ten past two.

  Sometimes during the night, Jude woke me, shaking me gently.

  “I’m too tired,” I mumbled, rolling over.

  “I wanna show you something,” he whispered.

  I yawned. “Now?”

  “Yeah…I saw it when I went to take a piss."

  “Thanks for the visual.” Yawning again, I followed Jude out of our tent and to the water’s edge. The night was dark, a slender sliver of a moon hanging between stars. The breeze blew, and I shivered as I tightened my hoodie.

  “There,” Jude whispered, touching my arm.

  Squinting in the darkness, I tried to see what Jude saw, but couldn’t. I poked my toes into the tepid water. “Where?”

  “There.”

  And then I saw it: little glowing things, coming closer as the water broke on shore. Bioluminescence. My heart expanded, as big as the sea, the sky, and I bent to get a better look.

  “It’s everywhere,” I said, barely a whisper. “I love it.”

  He crouched beside me, agitating the water with his hands. “I know you do.”

  “I’m glad you showed me.” I said, wishing I could just bottle and save the beauty. I loved
that Jude had sensed I’d prefer this to sleep.

  Back in the tent, I brushed the sand from my feet and slipped beneath our blankets. Jude tucked me close, my back to his front. “Night.”

  “Night.” I smiled in the dark. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Chapter Four

  Jude’s house had begun to feel like my own, but there was something special about the quiet, cozy familiarity of my little place. I loved lying in bed when I first woke, listening to the rustle of the flamboyant tree, the mourning doves cooing outside my window. Next door, Eli left for work way before I did, and I often heard Nora getting the girls ready for school. I’d hear the sweet up and down of their chatter as they made their way from the porch to the car, and then the crunch of tires over gravel as they all left.

  Back when I’d worked at Café Coco, I’d had some brutally early mornings, but Larsen’s didn’t open until eleven. Jude went in early a couple days a week to do paperwork or deal with orders, but I didn’t have to be there until ten. On the days I closed, I went in even later. School was about to start up again, but for now, we tried to keep our schedules alike.

  Thanks to the cruise ship that had docked that morning, Monday was crazy busy. I rode in with Jude and didn’t see him again until four, when I headed down to the bar for a belated lunch break and a beer.

  “How’s it going up there?” Maggie asked, tossing her towel aside.

  “Insane. But I made great tips.”

  “Good.” She grinned, tapping the bar. “Wanna try the new one from St. John’s?”

  “I’d love to.” I nodded, tucking into the grilled chicken salad I’d brought from upstairs. “Where’s Ivy?”

  Maggie jerked her thumb in the direction of the office. “Talking with Jude. Her sister came by.”

  I frowned at the bar. “Ah. Talking business?”

  She shrugged, opening a bottle of beer and placing it in front of me. “Not sure. They’ve been back there a while.”

  I was nearly done with my food by the time Jude emerged with the twins. His face relaxed into a tired smile when he saw me. “Hey, babe.”

  Ivy waved, but Ariel simply hugged her sister and left; long, blonde hair blowing in the breeze.

  “Hey,” I said, wiping my mouth. “Busy day, huh?”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Jude said, scrubbing his hand over his face. “Actually, you do. Bodhi says it’s been non-stop at the restaurant.”

  “It has,” I agreed.

  Ivy gave me a quick hug, joining Maggie behind the bar. Her bright, green eyes glittered with excitement. “So, it’s happening! It’s really happening.”

  Jude squeezed my thigh. “I’m gonna grab a bite to eat.”

  I nodded, returning my attention to Ivy. “The event planning?”

  “Yes! Jolie’s going to be here on Thursday, and we have our first event Friday. Here. A birthday party for some Ivy League chick she knows from way back.”

  “That’s awesome,” I said, grinning.

  “We’ve been ironing out the details all day…we’re having it catered…Jude’s bringing on a couple of extra servers to help…and that lady, Ms. Talia, is making the cake. The birthday girl wants it to look like a sand castle. The whole bar will be decked out in cream and gold and…” Ivy’s eyes took on a glazed look as she rambled.

  “Sounds incredible,” I said, finishing my beer, and I meant it. I’d been to Ivy’s parties, so I had no doubt she’d kill it professionally.

  “And I know you’re starting classes soon, and you usually don’t work Fridays, but we need you,” pleaded Ivy, polishing glasses with gusto.

  Jude plopped down beside me with one of Bodhi’s famous veggie burgers and a side of sweet plantain chips. “I’ll share my tips with you,” he said, knocking my sneaker with his.

  I chuffed quietly, amused. Ariel could go fly a kite, but I’d do anything for Ivy and Jude. “Of course, I’ll help. It’ll be fun. I’m proud of you guys.” I eyed my boyfriend, who looked cute even with ketchup on his chin. “Stuff like this’ll be a great way to get through the slow season.”

  Ivy beamed, kissing my cheek, then went down the bar to help a customer. Jude drew closer. “I like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “When you talk like that. Like you get it.”

  I smiled a little, warmed. “I do get it.”

  He nodded, eyes burning into mine as he tapped my chest, where my heart beat beneath my Larsen’s t-shirt. “I know you do. It means something to me.”

  I knew what he meant. Sliding off the barstool, I stood between his legs and hugged him. “I’m not just here on island, Jude. I’m here with you.”

  “I’m here with you, too.” He ran a hand down my braid. “Count on that.”

  I backed up, gazing at him. That’d scared me once, depending on other people. Besides my mom, and maybe Caroline, I’d always kept a loose grip on people. Even Theo, to an extent. But things were different with Jude. “I know.”

  ~

  That night, we had dinner with Nora and Eli.

  I helped cook, as I'd been doing lately. This worked for Nora, because these days she needed all the help she could get, and me, because I was becoming a much better chef.

  “You're becoming a foodie,” teased Nora, watching me add spices to the olive oil we'd be using for dipping bread. “I know that's Jude's influence.”

  “Probably…we’ve been watching an alarming amount of the Food Network lately.”

  “And frequenting farmer’s markets, and all those finicky restaurants in town,” Nora said.

  “Alas, I thought I’d left such food snobbery behind in Miami,” I joked, thinking of Theo’s expensive tastes. “But Jude certainly holds his own.”

  “What about Jude?” he walked in, dropping an empty beer bottle into the recycling bin with a clang.

  “We’re discussing how your foodie ways are rubbing off on Alina.”

  Jude grabbed another beer from the fridge before coming to peer over my shoulder. “Mm. That looks good."

  “Nora did most of it.”

  “I did not. You did the rice and beans all by yourself.”

  Jude dropped a wet kiss on my neck and left again, leaving me loved and flustered. We’d been extra close since our talk at lunch. Sometimes it was just the little things.

  “You ready for school Monday?” asked Nora.

  “So ready.” I nodded, stirring. “Kind of nervous, too.”

  “Really?” Nora chuckled, squeezing my arm. “But why? You’re not a first year.”

  “I am down here.”

  “You won’t be the only one. This is a new group, isn’t it?”

  “Mostly. I think two or three guys were here last year…one girl’s from St. Thomas. Everyone else is from the States.”

  “New things are kind of scary,” Nora agreed. “But I think you’ve got this. You’ve been back at the beach with us for a couple of weeks, now.”

  That was true; hanging with Nora and Clarissa and all the regulars between Sandy Point and Jack’s Bay had me feeling like I’d never left. Still, having to acclimate to a brand-new group, especially in an academic setting, could be nerve-wracking.

  Later, back at Jude’s, I snuggled up in bed and scrolled through the pictures on my phone. I probably needed to clean up my camera roll, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it—the entire time-line of my relationship with Jude was preserved so perfectly on it. He’d surprised me on Valentine’s Day, plotting with Caroline to get back at me for my New Year’s stunt. He’d only been able to stay for two days, most of which we’d spent in bed, but he did make me fruity pink drinks all day and took me out for dinner at a swanky restaurant a friend of a friend had recommended to him. We’d shared lobster and steak and then got it on for hours, worked up by the tension that’d been simmering all night.

  Some pictures were ones we’d shared while apart, like St. Patrick's Day. I hadn’t done much for the holiday, but Jude had kept me updated
as it was a big day for the bar. St. Croix went nuts with a massive parade and tons of green beer, green everything. Larsen’s was covered in glitter and green paint by the end of the day, and so was Jude.

  I flicked though my pictures, pausing on one of us on his birthday, just a few months back in June. That had been a real whopper of a celebration. I blushed, remembering cake-scented kisses and drunk sex in his office.