BRO IF YOU SAW ME POST
THIS EARLY ITS CUZ MY
WEIRD ASS CAT WOULDNT
STOP LICKING MY PHONE AND HE
PUBLISHED IT????
girl i unpublished so fast

but i am hurrying to finish so i don't
get y'all's hopes up IM SORRY

—

I could taste the salt in the air. That was the first thing I noticed, followed by the unmistakable feeling of familiarity upon stepping out of the airport.

Only this time, I wasn't alone.

"Jesus fuck, it is hot," Dallas whined from beside me, sunglasses already pushed over his eyes and fingers tugging at the collar of his T-shirt. "I didn't miss this."

"I did," I said, closing my eyes for just a second to bask in the sunshine.

Only a few moments later did a mini van with the speakers bumping Kanye pull up to the curb in front of us. The window rolled down to reveal none other than Erick in the driver's seat and a less-than-impressed Aubrey sitting in the seat beside him. I couldn't even fight my grin at the sight of them, no matter how ridiculous my best friend was.

Aubrey scowled. "Make him stop, Uncle Meek."

I nodded in understanding at the now nine-year-old before reaching into the car and flicking her dad on the forehead. He gasped in shock and took off his seatbelt like he was ready to get out and fight me, making Aubrey laugh loudly from the other side of him. Instead, he got out and threw his arms around me, then Dallas.

"Now this is gonna be the best summer ever," he said when our bags were loaded in the trunk and we were seated in the backseat. Dallas looked at me and smiled, grabbing my hand from my lap. "Phoebe loaded up on alcohol, boys, and Grace brought brownies."

"Ooo, brownies," Aubrey cooed.

"Not for you," Erick said quickly. "They have, uh, walnuts in them and you're allergic."

She pouted while I snickered from the backseat. I couldn't believe we were back in Florida already. It felt like just yesterday I was getting tackled by Erick in the middle of the airport, feeling unenthusiastic about the concept of being here and away from home.

Now?

Well, now, I was the happiest I'd ever been in my entire adulthood. Even though it had only technically been two years since we kissed at midnight on New Years, if anyone asked, we were about to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Our real anniversary from the summer we met. Neither of us remembered the exact date of that night on the beach when he confessed his feelings towards me, but we settled on a random date.

And what was better than a beach vacation with the love of your life?

While Aubrey complained to Erick about how she wasn't looking forward to sharing a room with Chris's son Jeremiah because he was annoying, I stared out the window at the palm trees and the big buildings surrounding the road we were on. Dallas squeezed my hand and I looked over at him with his hair blowing in the wind and a big, goofy grin on his face.

"Do we get the pleasure of sleeping in the Nemo room again?" Dallas asked. I giggled to myself just at the memories tumbling back.

Erick scoffed. "Why would I put you disgusting lovebirds in a room with two twins? You got a full mattress this time for all your unspeakable activities. But you're on the same floor as me this year, so keep the volume levels down."

Poor Aubrey's ears.

The rest of the drive was just chock full of playful banter and catching up. Erick was telling us how their son, Alex, was finally saying more than two words and that he expected us to volunteer to babysit again. Playing house with Dallas excited me more than it should have.

Eventually we were at the house. The great big blue monster was still as overwhelming as I remembered. I could hear seagulls and the sound of the waves crashing to shore as we got our bags out of the trunk. Aubrey was telling us all about how third grade was and that she was totally ready for fourth. It made me feel old.

Carlos greeted us at the door. He hugged me so tightly, the breath was knocked out of my lungs. It had been a minute since the four of us were together, mostly due to the many obligations keeping us busy. Work, kids, wives, Dallas. Same shit, different year.

"I missed you," he cried into my ear.

Then he hugged Dallas. Oddly enough, the two of them got along better than any of the other boys. I didn't see it coming since they were pretty much polar opposites. Carlos was loud, a bit ditzy, and a party animal, while Dallas was more reserved, obnoxiously intelligent, and kept to himself. I think Carlos had a bit of a bro-crush on him, even if he'd never admit it. Come to think of it, he probably would admit it. Proudly.

Dallas laughed when Carlos mentioned some inside joke between just them. "You can't say that around Thomas. He'll cry," he said, making me scowl at the both of them.

"I don't care about your stupid jokes," I said, turning on my heel to find everyone else. They laughed as I walked away. It secretly thrilled me that they were so close. we

The night was spent with drinks and laughter and music and night swimming and everything I could want from this vacation on just the first night. I was drunk and happy by the time I slid into the sheets. Dallas was setting his alarm while I cuddled into the sheets giddily, waiting for him to join me.

"I didn't think I'd be back here," Dallas sighed contently, one hand pulling the sheets back for him to slide in. "Kinda feels weird. Like deja vu, but without the constant pining after you."

I tutted, tucking my chin under the blanket. "As if you're not still pining."

He prodded my neck with his fingers, not only tickling me but also indicating that he wanted to cuddle. I lifted my head with a laugh so he could slot his arm between my neck and shoulder. He then curled me into his chest like he always did, masking me with his scent.

"I'm always pining," he said and I could hear his smile. "When you go to work, all I do is cry until you come home. All day. Buckets of tears."

"I knew it," I said seriously, nuzzling into his bare chest.

Dallas hummed sleepily. I thought about our cats as I drifted off, hoping they were doing okay with the tri-weekly drop in from Garrett—who did not like cats and refused to promise to give them any pets while we were away. I still wasn't sure how Dallas convinced his best friend to even do it since he already owed the guy a trillion favors for this, that, and another.

Back when Dallas and I first got together, he managed to get Garrett's dad to score us tickets to a Harry Styles concert since he worked for one of the venues. They were nosebleed seats and I could only see Harry on the big screens, but it was the greatest night of my life—but don't tell Dallas that. Or maybe do.

All things considered, Nelly Furtado and Tim were fine under Garrett's care, right?

"Are you worrying about the cats again?"

I stiffened, craning my head back to catch a glimpse of Dallas's face. His eyes were closed but he looked smug.

Son of a telepathic bitch.

I fell asleep in his arms, thus ending the first day of this much-needed vacation.

Unfortunately for us, the summer flew by. It was months of absolute joy and unadulterated fun, purely fueled by my favorite people. This time, I didn't hole myself up in bed when the weather was beautiful, or worry about some toxic ex-fling that was staying in the room down the hall, or even drink away my problems.

It was all just vitamin-C, gorgeous sunrises, faulty pool floats, core memories, and my painfully beautiful boyfriend.

"Come on, babe, keep up," Dallas huffed, breathing through pursed lips in rhythmic puffs of air. "Don't tell me this vacation is making you lazy."

I rolled my eyes, wincing at the sweat dripping down my forehead and down my neck. After letting out a petty groan, I tugged on his shirt to get him to slow down.

"I never agreed that this 'morning run' thing would continue on the trip," I heaved, holding my knees as I keeled over. Dallas scraped his shoe in the sand while he patiently waited for me to catch my breath. "You forced me to do this."

When I looked up, Dallas was removing his shirt and draping it around his neck. I would have gawked at the sight if I didn't feel like my lungs were collapsing. "Might I remind you that you insisted you start coming with me," he said pointedly. "I don't know why you're so tired. You were doing great back home."

"Because I've been drinking and eating a lot more than I do at home," I said with a bite.

He smiled down at me, blocking my view of the sun rising just beyond the horizon line. I'd rather stare at him, anyways. "Then you just have to work twice as hard. Come on, we'll run to the third pier instead of the second," he said, a bit of a weird glint in his eye. "Don't make me drag you."

"I think I'd prefer it," I grumbled, standing up to full height and swiping the sweat off my brow.

Dallas surprised me by grabbing my clammy, sweaty cheeks and planting a chaste kiss on my mouth just before running off. I scoffed and ran after him, trying to match his pace, but the sand made it difficult. The beach was almost desolate this early in the morning, save for some metal detecting grandpas and some early bird's observing the sunrise. I eventually caught up with Dallas as we passed a fit female jogger who nodded at him as they crossed paths.

We always ran without speaking much. I suppose there was nothing to be said when you were focused on your breathing and clearing your mind as Dallas like to say.

At the second pier, I was hoping he'd change his mind and put me out of my misery sooner rather than later. Unfortunately for me, he kept running, so I was forced to follow. I mean, I could have stopped and waited for him to run to the third and back, but I wanted to finish for him. I knew he never would, but I didn't want him to think I was weak. Even though I was. Very weak.

"This is a bit excessive," I managed through strangled breaths. Dallas would yell at me not to exert so much energy into whining, but that would mean he'd have to do the same thing. I could tell he was thinking it by the look on his face. "Babe. Babe. Dallas. Dal-Pal. Dally. Baby boy. Er . . . Daddy?"

He twisted his neck towards me with a horrified expression. "Would you stop it?" he snapped, his cheeks filling with color. I grinned in victory, though with the cramps in my ribs, I wasn't feeling very victorious.

"Can we take a nap when we get back?"

He ignored me. I scoffed again, but closed my mouth this time. Even though I wouldn't admit it out loud, he was right about not talking while running. Concentrating on my body's movement while timing my breaths did help, but I wasn't going to tell him that. He was smug enough.

The third pier was finally nearing and I let out a less-than-attractive moan of happiness. Beside me, Dallas was effortlessly jogging at his own set pace, but I couldn't take it. I picked up speed and started running full-barrel toward the pier.

"What— wait!"

I just kept running and running, the idea of going back to the house, taking an ice cold shower, and then taking my ass to bed until Dallas brings me some yummy breakfast all too enticing. He was catching up behind me, all the while telling me to slow down.

Finally, I approached the pier. We liked to stand under them for the shade, always a cool breeze from the ocean circulating underneath to give a sense of reprieve from the brutal sun. I reached behind me to hook my fingers around the collar of my shirt and tugged it over my head, tossing it on the sand and collapsing beside it. Dallas stood over me hesitantly, eyes scanning all around us.

"Holy . . . shit . . . I've never . . . ran that fast . . . in my life."

I closed my eyes, enjoying the break from the sun. My skin was noticeably tanner this summer compared to the last time we were here since I hadn't gotten out much. These morning runs certainly helped with that.

Dallas nudged my leg. "Are you better now?"

"No," I groaned, sitting only halfway up on my elbows. "You're being weird."

"No, I'm not," he said, but it was the way he said it that made me quirk an eyebrow at him. But that's when I saw it. Behind him. On the barnacle sprinkled, waterlogged column.

I jolted upright, suddenly not needing to breathe at all anymore. He noticed my change in behavior and stepped back, eyes glued to me. Somehow, I managed to pull myself to my feet and step closer to the column for a better look. Dallas didn't say a word and, at the same time, no words came to mind for me at all.

It was our photo. The one from our first summer together—the one that he had hanging on his cork board the first time I went to his place. The unimpressed aquarium picture with matching T-shirts.

"What—" I began, glancing over my shoulder, but stopped.

There were more.

I stumbled to the next column where a photo of the two of us in suits at one of his fancy work shindigs, standing on the balcony at a gorgeous hotel in Vegas. Nailed to the wood right below it was another photo from Dallas's birthday last year when I made him a cake and smeared icing on his face. He retaliated with sugary frosting on my nose and I snapped the picture just for the memory.

The third column had one of my favorite pictures of us. It was around Easter that year we got together officially. We dressed nice to have brunch with Erick's family. There was a gorgeous hibiscus tree in their backyard where we stood for the photo, pink flowers surrounding our honeymoon-phase inflicted smiles.

I wasn't sure we ever left the honeymoon-phase.

"Dallas—" I tried, but fell short.

Below that photo was my second favorite photo of us. I had gotten Ebony to come over with her camera to take some really corny family photos of me, Dallas, and the cats. Somehow we got Nelly Furtado on my lap and Tim, who was batshit crazy when company was over, to sit still on Dallas's lap. We smiled from ear to ear.

The forth and final column had two more photos. One was at Christmastime two years ago and we'd fallen asleep on my mom's couch with me practically on top of him, his hold keeping me from falling onto the carpet. The second photo was a selfie where I was kissing his cheek and he had the sweetest little smirk on his lips.

I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Was this happening right now?

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned around to face Dallas. He was standing there, holding his elbows in a way that was just so not him. In a way that made it so obvious that he was nervous. I was unable to stop my grin as he took a few careful steps towards me.

"This is the part where I make my super cheesy speech," he said, his arms falling at his sides. I felt tears pricking at my eyes, but willed them to go the fuck away for this. "I love you, Thomas. I love you more than I . . . fuck, I said wasn't going to cry."

Sure enough, his perfect blue eyes were glistening with tears. That made me start to cry, which made the whole thing worse. But better.

"Everything that we have is everything that I've always wanted. The way you make me feel safe and loved and warm . . . it's all you. You are the warmth and the love and the safety. I can't imagine living the rest of my life without you by my side and—" Dallas paused to rake his fingers through his hair anxiously. "I hope I never have to, if I'm being honest."

I shook my head in response to that, probably looking like a sweaty, crazy mess. In the corner of my eye, I saw him reach into the pocket of his athletic shorts. My breath hitched in my throat and all of the love poured out of me before I could even stop it.

Before he could even pop the question, I grabbed him and kissed him hard. I bought him a second to relax, and for myself to relax, but neither of us were relaxed because this was really happening. I kissed him chastely one last time before letting him finish.

He dropped down to one knee, hopeful blues looking right up at me. I bit my lip to muffle a shaky laugh, swiping a hand over my cheeks.

"I said I was going to marry you someday and I meant it. So, Thomas?" He paused for dramatic effect. I blinked twice in anticipation. "Will you marry me?"

A while ago I said I never had any interest in getting married. To marry someone was to give every single part of yourself to another person without knowing what the future might hold, without knowing the consequences. My parents set an awful example of how terribly things could go, but . . .

With Dallas, there were no consequences.

I wanted to jump into the unknown with him. I wanted to face the monsters and the struggles and the arguments—but only with him. I wanted the good days, the great days, the best days, but I wanted the worst days with him. Because the worst days with the love of my life couldn't possibly be that bad, so long as it was him.

So I said, "Uh, duh? Yes!"