“The Sydney side. You’re amazing and colorful, full of life. So, yes, the bright side.”

“I can’t wait to see you.” I smile, holding the phone to my ear. “All right. I should go. We’re having dinner and then Tanner and I are going out.”

“Okay. Have fun. Enjoy the time with your man and forget about Tara.”

I wish that last part was as easy as the first. Tanner and I have no problem enjoying ourselves. We never have.

After we take the jet skis around the lake, we take the boat to his favorite spot and jump in the water. He rests on a floatie and I wrap myself around him.

“I love being out here at night.” I tip my head back and look up into the dark sky. “It feels like it’s our own personal lake.”

“Someday we can build a house right over there.” His lips find my shoulder and one hand lifts from the water to point to an unbuilt area between two houses. They set far enough back from the water that the spot still feels private.

“A lot of assumptions in that statement.”

He chuckles softly. “You don’t think the land is for sale?”

“That was at the bottom of my concerns.”

“Well, you’re stuck with me and I’m going to have a place here someday, so pick your spot.”

“Stuck with you, huh?”

“Like glue.”

“I don’t need glue. That should be obvious after two years.” I swallow thickly. “Even if things didn’t work out between us as a couple, I’d still want you in my life.”

“Same, babe. We need those best friends forever necklaces where we each get half a heart.”

“I am not wearing BFF necklaces with you.”

“Matching tattoos?”

I groan. “That’s like the kiss of death for any relationship.”

“I’m going to think of something,” he says. “Some symbolic way to show the whole world we’re two peas in a pod. Peas in a pod… maybe there’s something there.”

Shaking my head, I can’t help but laugh. “You’re the least sentimental and symbolic person I know.”

His jaw drops.

“Don’t even pretend to be offended. You throw away every birthday card and handwritten letter, photos…”

“It’s just stuff. Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the sentiment.”

“I suppose.”

As we go quiet, I’m lost in my own thoughts about his sister and everything she said. I want to ask him what will happen with us when we get back to Valley, but I can’t bring myself to ask. Before Tara mentioned it, I hadn’t thought of myself as a rebound, but is that what I’ve been? Not just this time, but always?