Xander’s hand rested warmly on my thigh the entire drive home, his thumb drawing slow, soothing circles that made it hard to focus on anything else. The streets blurred past us, but all I could think about was how quickly the day had flown by—from waking up in his arms, to girl night chaos, to being claimed so publicly at school. Now the sun was dipping low, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks, and our time together was ending.
When the familiar gates of our house came into view, my chest tightened.
Xander pulled the sleek G-Wagon to a gentle stop right in front of the driveway. For a long moment, neither of us moved. He turned off the engine and shifted toward me, those emerald eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that still made my heart stutter.
“I’m going to miss you,” he
