“You two are really together then? A couple?”

“Yeah.” I chuckle. I swear I couldn’t convince people we were just friends and now they don’t want to believe we’re more than that. “We’re really together.”

“I don’t get it. I’m sorry. I don’t. I think it’s entirely too convenient you finally get together when it’s only the two of you out here at the lake. Why now? What’s different?”

“You’re analyzing it way too hard.” I laugh it off but worries I hadn’t even considered cross my mind and there’s a pit in my stomach that wasn’t there a minute ago. Things are different now, aren’t they? Or are we screwing up our friendship by giving in to the chemistry between us?

“I don’t want to see you get hurt and it seems like every time you get serious with someone else it ends because of your friendship with Sydney.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Why did things end with Amelia?” she asks pointedly.

“Aaaaand, I’m going to bed. See you in the morning, Tara.”

Inside, I toss my beer in the recycling and head to my room. Sydney’s not in my bed so I go across the hall and crack the door. It’s dark, but I can tell it’s her.

I kick off my shoes and undress then slide onto the mattress in front of her. Dark lashes flutter and then open and slowly her lips pull into a smile.

“Hey.” She nuzzles into me and I wrap my arms around her so I can pull her close against me.

This is what’s different. This feeling when we’re together. A completeness I’ve never felt before. Being best friends with Sydney was great, but being her boyfriend is everything. Maybe it took us getting away from Valley to figure it out, but we were always inevitable. I knew it before I ever admitted it to myself.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I whisper against her skin.

She hums her agreement and snuggles closer and her breathing evens out immediately.

The next morning I wake up to an empty bed. It still smells like sex in this room which makes me grin and also wish Sydney hadn’t already left. I pull on my jeans and head out to find her.

Tara and Corinne are on the deck in their suits, but I find Sydney sorting clothes and putting them into the washing machine.

“We need to have a serious conversation about waking up so early.” I drop a kiss to her shoulder.

“It’s after ten.”

“Really? Fuck, I’m surprised Tara let me sleep in so long.”

“I think you had about fifteen more minutes before her patience ran out.”

“Tanner, fucking finally!” my sister screeches as she shuts the sliding door behind her. “Get dressed, let’s go!”