The nurse checks the monitors and the readout of his vitals. "It was probably a minor muscle spasm. When we're unconscious, our involuntary systems are still working, and sometimes that causes a muscle to jolt."

"It doesn't mean anything?"

She shakes her head. "No."

Deflating, I sink back down into my chair and wait.

Chapter 26.

Waukegan, Illinois 19 Months Ago My first semester at J. Vernon went as planned, with Maverick and I seeing each other at least once a week. On the off days, we called.

Now, it's New Year's Eve, and Maverick rented a cabin for us on Lake Michigan.

Finley leans her head on my shoulder, s.h.i.+vering. "Quite different than last year, huh?"

I peer into the cabin. Maverick and Jake are still in the kitchen, making us a fancy dinner. No girls allowed, they said, so Finn and I are sitting outside on the porch swing.

"Colder for sure," I agree, blowing hot air into my cupped hands. The outdoor heaters are running on high, but it still feels like zero degrees out here.

"How many paintings did you do this week?"

"Three good ones. The scenery around here is almost dreamlike. Especially with the morning frost and ice-covered trees."

"Sounds freezing."

"Hey, Finn?"

"Yeah?"

"You like Maverick, don't you?"

"Absolutely. He's perfect for you."

"What about you and Jake? Seven months is a long time. I'm not sure if I should be worried or proud."

"Jake's a goof. He makes me laugh and the s.e.x is great, but is that enough?"

"Enough for what?"

"For love?"

I stroke Finn's hair. "Maybe. Do you think you love him?"

"I don't know."

"Does he love you?"

Finn's quiet as she considers this. "How'd you know you loved Maverick?"

"Because he encourages me and wants me for me. When he smiles, it's genuine. When he laughs, it's contagious. When he kisses me, it's bliss. Nothing is forced, and nothing comes with strings attached. It's just him. It's just us."

"Is that what love is? Like, friends.h.i.+p with benefits?"

"Yeah, I think so. Accepting each other-the good, the bad, the scars, the joy-and walking through the potholes and the clouds, side by side."

"I told Jake I loved him once. I wanted to hear what it sounded like out loud, but once the words were out, I regretted them. Other than you, I've never loved someone I wasn't related to, and I wasn't ready. It didn't feel right, you know?"

"What did he say?"

Finley sits up to look at me. "That's the scary part. He said he loved me too."

My best friend isn't like me. She isn't a hopeless romantic, never gets googly-eyed over puppies, and groans every time I suggest we see the latest rom-com at the theatre. Men have one purpose in her life, and when she's through with them, she moves on to the next.

So Jake verbally reciprocating her sentiments is a big deal, but not the way it is for most girls. The fear in Finley's stare is blazing crimson.

"How long ago was that?" I ask.

"Last month."

"Has he said it since?"

She curls her lip between her teeth and nods. "I can't say anything back."

I reach for her, and she lays her head back onto my shoulder. "Earlier today, he asked me if I loved him. I told him of course I did. Then he asked why I never tell him. I never meant for things to go this far."

"You could always tell him the truth. That you need more time."

She pulls away and stuffs her hands into her pockets. "He'll know I lied when I told him."

"It's better than trying to keep up the lie. And maybe if you explain it, he'll understand."

"Yeah, maybe." Then she breaks into a half-grin. "We're a mess, you know that, right? You and me and this stupid game of love." She sings the last part and sticks out her tongue.

"True," I say, "but the beauty of the game is that in the end, there aren't any losers."

"It's not the end I'm worried about."

"You can't have an ending without a beginning and a middle."

A knock on the French doors makes me turn. Jake is there, waving us inside.

I face my best friend again. "Give him a shot. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise you."

She stands up and sticks her hand out to me. "Come on. Let's go see what meal those boys have probably ruined."

"So much faith you have."

Finley pulls me to my feet. She's giggling now, her mood quickly s.h.i.+fting to hide what's beneath the surface. I'm the only one she allows to see her exposed.

Jake opens the door for us, and Finley wraps her arms around his waist, kissing him. Maverick is standing behind a chair he's pulled back at the table. There're candles and wine, and the aroma in the air holds the hint of oregano.

"I'm impressed," I say, sitting down.

Maverick scoots me forward. "It's a special day."

Finley takes the chair beside me, and Jake sinks down next to Maverick, who lifts his gla.s.s.

"A toast," he says. "To the last year, the best year of my life. To Alieya, the woman who's made this the best year of my life. And to good friends I've had the honor of sharing the year with. Here's to the next one. May it bring even more joy."

We raise our gla.s.ses to the center of the table for a group clink. Maverick's smile widens. His gaze hasn't left mine, and I swear there's a new reverence there.

Maverick serves the pasta and the four of us talk, laugh, and reminisce over the past year. Finley changed majors again, resulting in the need for an extra semester at J. Vernon. Maverick tutored Jake through tax law. Jake still failed, which earns him a seat at summer school.

"More wine?" Mav asks when he sees my empty gla.s.s.

"I shouldn't."

"Come on. It's our last night out here."

He's flas.h.i.+ng me that s.e.xy smirk of his that I can't say no to. I'm such a pushover.

I give him my gla.s.s. "Fine."

He turns to the wine bucket he's got a few feet away from the table. Something about keeping an eye on it so Finley doesn't give him the third degree for getting the wrong pairing. Which doesn't make sense, because if he bought the wrong wine, she'd know by tasting it. So far, she's made no mention.

He puts my full gla.s.s on the table before sitting back down. Then he starts up a conversation with Jake. His attention s.h.i.+fts to me every few seconds. Finley has a stupid grin on her face, and I'm pretty sure everyone here has had too much to drink. Weirdos.

I roll my eyes at my BFF and take a sip of the Tannet.

"Your boyfriend sucks at wine pairing, just so you know," she says. "Tannet with Italian? He's clearly a sociopath."

"Is that how they determine personality disorders nowadays?" I tease.

She huffs. "They should. More accurate, I'm sure."

I take another drink and stop halfway through my swallow.

"What's this?" I ask, seeing something at the bottom of my wine gla.s.s. Is it...?

My heart jumps into my throat. I didn't notice Maverick get up, but he's standing beside me now. He takes the wine gla.s.s from me and finishes it off. Then he gets down on one knee.

"What are you doing?" My voice is so low, I barely hear it.

He takes something out of his mouth, fisting it so I can't see. "Half a year ago I saw you on the sand, clutching your leg as if it was going to fall off. Even with that pained expression you wore, you were the cutest jellyfish victim I'd ever seen. I didn't want to tell you then, but I paid off the Jellyfish King. In return, he promised to arrange the whole situation of you getting stung. I hope that doesn't diminish on what's happened between us since then."

I smile, the nerves falling out with a chuckle.

"I've waited for what feels like a lifetime for someone like you. You're pa.s.sionate, smart, loyal, funny. You inspire me to be a better man. I want you by my side for the rest of our lives, taking on the world together. Just you and me."

He opens his hand. Inside lies a silver band with a sparkling diamond in the center. "Alieya, will you marry me?"

I exhale, my heart beating twice as fast as it should. "This is crazy, you know that, right?"

He grins. "Crazy doesn't scare me."

I look at him. Really look. I see the same man I saw in Cancun. Caring, witty, charming. After only a week of knowing him, I left my life in Kentucky and moved hundreds of miles to be closer to him. Our bond has only grown.

My heart steadies at the thought, and I smile back. "It doesn't scare me either. Yes. Yes, I'll marry you."

Oh, how he beams at me! I puff out a laugh as he slips the ring onto my finger. I don't even look at it. Why bother when Maverick is in front of me, the man I just promised my life to?

I fall into his arms as soon as he's standing. We're crazy, possibly stupid, but we don't care. Stupid, crazy love is what we have.

"I love you, Jellysnack" Maverick says through his kisses.

"I love you too. I'm so happy right now."

"I want to keep you this happy."

"You won't," I say, because it's true. Relations.h.i.+ps are messy.

He takes my face between his palms, eyes growing serious. "I will, Alieya. I'll always want you happy."

That's my Maverick. Making me believe in the impossible.

Someone clearing their throat ends our reverie. I twist to see my bestie tapping her wine gla.s.s with her nails.

"That was the most cliched proposal ever," Finley says, but she's happy for me. She's not even making gagging noises.

"Eh, sports game proposal might beat that." Jake turns both of his thumbs downward.

"Beats ring in a wine gla.s.s? Never."

"Sports ones are all public and s.h.i.+t. As if anyone in a crowd full of strangers cares. They don't. They came for the game."

"So that makes them more cliched?"

"Yeah."

Finley shakes her head, motioning to me for help. I shrug.

She bites her lip seductively at Jake. "We'll settle this later. Winner gets-"