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by May, McKinley

  "Wow." She laughs as she plants herself on my thigh. "That was a lot of information to take in."

  "Crazy, right?" I say as I wrap an arm around her, my hand coming to rest on the curve of her hip.

  Another fiery explosion fills the air, followed by a murmured "oooh".

  "Senior year's gonna be..." she pauses, searching for the right word.

  "Weird? Fucked-up? Interesting?" I offer.

  "That last one." She smiles and turns, ponytail grazing my cheek as we observe the colorful display. "Senior year's gonna be interesting."

  "Pssst. Weston. Weston...."

  Someone whispers my name as a finger jams into my pec repeatedly.

  "Weston! Holy crap—you really do sleep like a log."

  I slowly blink my eyelids open, waiting for my vision to focus in the dark master bedroom. Once it does, I make out my bright-eyed girlfriend straddling my stomach. She's got on my boxers—rolled up three times so they'll fit—and a tiny black tank-top that reveals a sliver of her flat stomach. Her hair's piled on top of her head in a giant, messy bun that reminds me of a cinnamon roll.

  So damn cute.

  "Hey, sleepyhead," she says quietly as she continues to poke me. "I've been trying to wake you up for ten freaking minutes. Your ribs are probably gonna be bruised from the amount of poking and prodding I've been doing to you."

  "Yeah? Let me return the favor," I mutter as I reach up and start tickling her ribcage with unyielding force. "Teach you a fucking lesson."

  "Oh my gosh! Oh my—Stoppp!" Uncontrollable, wheezy laughter overtakes her as she tries to swat my hands away. "I'm gonna pee my pants or wake up the whole house if you don't quit. Maybe both!"

  I give her one last squeeze before releasing my grip. Yawning, I glance behind her.

  "Baby," I groan as I get a glimpse of the clock on the wall. 3:16 a.m.?! "Why the hell are you awake?"

  "Why the hell are you asleep is a better question," she whispers as a beaming smile lights her face. She bounces up and down excitedly. "Come on."

  I rub my tired eyes, realizing sleep is no longer on the agenda.

  Not with the girl who's either an insomniac or has her holidays mixed up and thinks it's Christmas morning.

  Stretching my arms above my head, I yawn again. "Where are we going?"

  "Outside." She tugs on my biceps until I finally relent and sit up. "Come on!"

  Weaving her fingers through mine, she drags me down the hall and into the living room. The TV's on, the flickering blue lights revealing all of our friends sleeping soundly in various positions. There were plenty of beds available, but looks like everyone passed out while watching a movie.

  I spot Vaughn and Rayne tangled in an armchair together, Cameron sprawled out and snoring on a couch that's too short for his long-ass legs, and Sydney curled up in a roly-poly ball on the floor.

  Not paying attention to where I'm going, my foot rams straight into a freaking rock.

  Turns out it's Diego's head, but same difference.

  He stirs, mumbles something about blueberry muffins, and drifts right back to dreamland.

  With a silent laugh, Lexie shakes her head and whispers, "Watch where you're going!"

  Not even a second later, she stumbles over a massive pile of blankets and quilts.

  I grip her hand and shoot her a sardonic grin. "Watch where you're going."

  Suddenly, the blanket-blob emits a creepy as hell Frankenstein-moan.

  "Mmmhmfghummn."

  "Wait." Lex catches my eye, crinkling her nose in confusion. "Is that a person under the—"

  Before she can finish the question, a hand jerks out from the lump and grasps her bare ankle.

  "Ahh!"

  She takes off in a dead sprint with me right on her tail. The screen door slams shut as we dash into the dark night, both of us cracking up laughing.

  We come to a stop a few feet from the water, hands on our knees as we try to get air in our lungs.

  "Who the hell grabbed you?" I ask.

  "I have no idea," Lexie says breathlessly. "But I'm convinced it was a corpse. They had the coldest hands ever!"

  "Freaky." I chuckle and straighten. Scratching the back of my neck, I glance around. A warm breeze rustles the leaves above and crickets chirp in the distance, the calming sounds of nature piercing our quiet surroundings.

  "What are we doing out here, Barbie?"

  "Starting a tradition." She skips a few feet away, picks some things off the tall grass, and returns. "Every 4th of July, we're going to get up in the middle of the night, go outside, and light a sparkler."

  "3 a.m. sparklers?" I grin as she shakes a long and narrow box. "Sounds good to me."

  She fishes out two of the hand-held fireworks and gives me one. After she fumbles with the match a few times, I take it from her. With a swift stroke, I strike a flame and light her sparkler. She touches hers to mine until they're both shimmering between us.

  "So beautiful," she murmurs.

  I stare at the golden sparks, watch as the stray embers fly off, fluttering for a few moments before they fade into the darkness.

  These things are freaking mesmerizing.

  Sharp crackling sounds take over as Lexie spins around, twirling hers in a circle with child-like wonder.

  "Make a wish," she instructs.

  "What?"

  "Make a wish before it disappears! And wave it through the air. Loosen up and have fun with it!"

  She bites on her lip, waiting, and I do what she wants. Hell, I go even further and perform a full-out rhythmic dance with the thing just to please her.

  I'd do damn near anything to see that gorgeous smile aimed my way.

  When the flames fizzle out, she gracefully collapses on the ground with a content sigh. I join her, laying on my side and propping my head up with one hand. The earthy scent of wet grass and burnt charcoal engulfs us.

  "What did you wish for?"

  "I can't tell you yet." Her melodic laugh is music to my ears. "Later."

  "When's later?" I ask impatiently.

  She motions me closer, emerald eyes glittering in the moonlight.

  I lean in, her smooth hand caressing my cheek as she presses her lips to my earlobe.

  "Meet me here next summer," she whispers. "Same time, same place, and I'll tell you."

  Those honey-soaked words hypnotize me, her warm breath on my skin sending chills down my back.

  "I'll be here," I mumble as she pulls back. "Ready and waiting. July 4th."

  "It's my favorite holiday," she says with a soft smile, and that doesn't surprise me one bit.

  Lexie was made for July.

  Her hair's a shade lighter from the days spent outdoors, a white-blonde color that can't be replicated from a bottle. Her skin's sun-kissed and golden, a smattering of freckles making an appearance on her shoulders and the bridge of her nose. She smells like watermelon and sugar and I can't get enough.

  But she doesn't just give off summertime vibes.

  She is summer.

  Happy and wild and alive...I've never met anybody quite like this girl.

  She always brightens my day with her infectious energy, makes me feel like a carefree kid with the vibrant enthusiasm she has for life.

  How did I get so lucky to make her mine?

  "There's one more thing I want to add to our tradition," she announces suddenly.

  Rising from the ground, she graces me with a coy smile and darts off towards the pier.

  I chase after the energetic firecracker, my bare feet padding against the wooden planks. When she gets to the edge, she pulls the ponytail from her hair, letting it flow in long, loose waves down her back.

  Teeth grazing my bottom lip, I watch with awe as she grips the hem of her shirt, slowly peeling the material over her head. She rolls the boxers down, kicking them to the side with a flick of her ankle.

  Oh hell.

  Before I've had a chance to fully appreciate the gorgeous sight, she dives into the inky waters below. She b
reaks the surface moments later, silver moonshine highlighting her sweet face.

  "Jump in."

  I instantly remove my sweatpants, cannon-balling into the warm lake. My feet touch the moss-covered bottom as I stand, my shoulders just above the water.

  "Big fan of this tradition-addition," I say as she swims over, latching her naked body onto mine. When her pert nipples graze my chest, I squeeze my eyes shut and groan into the night sky.

  Her lips meet mine as we float together, savoring the quiet moment, basking in one another's touch.

  "So you'll do this with me? Indulge my crazy, middle-of-the-night antics?" she questions as she breaks the kiss.

  "Of course."

  "Every summer?"

  "Every summer 'til the end of time. I'll do anything with you, baby," I answer, sincere emotion threaded in my tone. "I want to do everything with you."

  And that's exactly what I wished for.

  No matter what I do, no matter where I go, I want Lexie Montgomery by my side. Today, tomorrow, always and forever.

  Because if she's with me, I know one thing for sure.

  Life's going to be freaking perfect.

  Thanks for Reading!

  :) :) :)

  I appreciate you taking the time to read my book!

  A billion zillion thanks!

  About the Author

  McKinley May is an outdoors enthusiast, has an unhealthy addiction to cheesecake, and absolutely loves to salsa dance (despite her two left feet). She spends her time writing, hiking, and watching way too many cooking shows.

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  Connect with Me!

  Email: authormckinleymay@gmail.com

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  More by McKinley

  The Treehouse Boys Series

  Vaughn Steel: Hard as Steel

  Weston Paine: No Paine No Gain

  Cameron Collins: Coming April 2020!