The laughter and bright glow of the fire fades as we walk in the brisk night air. Anxious butterflies have replaced the knot in my stomach. I focus on him, his hand, his smile, his eyes—and try to forget the horrible welcome I received when we got here. That was exactly the thing I was trying to avoid. Luckily, Heather wasn’t among the gaggle of blondes that looked like they wanted to push me in the fire. I have a feeling dating Nick Marino is going to be bad for my health. Mentally and physically. It’s obvious to me and everyone else that I don’t belong with Nick. But I can’t leave. I don’t even want to. He’s like a drug and I can’t say no.

I’m not even sure any of this is real. I would say I’m dreaming, but I never dream this big. Nick grips my hand and pulls me closer. He leans towards me and I feel the warmth of his breath on my face. That’s real. He is real.

“You make great lattes,” he says with a little laugh.

“That wasn’t the first latte I made for you.”

“I know,” he says with a smile.

He knows, which means he has noticed me before today. “So, is that why you asked me out, you like my lattes?” He must’ve asked Matt to send the message so we could meet properly. Knowing this makes me feel better about Nick and me becoming us.

He sort of laughs then bumps me with his shoulder. “Nah. You seem like an interesting person and I thought it would be cool to hang out.”

“Yeah right, I’m the least interesting person you’ll ever meet.” The only interesting thing about me is the one thing I can’t tell him.

Nick stops walking and turns to face me. We’re standing so close, no wind passes between us. He slides a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You really want to know why I asked you out?”

I could care less. The why doesn’t matter, all that matters is now. This moment. Staring into those perfect hazel eyes. Nick runs his finger across my jaw and stops under my chin. Is he going to kiss me? The last time I kissed a boy was over two years ago. It was in a closet during a Christmas party at my father’s firm. His name was Charles, the son of the CEO. His breath tasted like peaches from the cheap brandy he had hidden in his coat pocket. The kiss was sloppy and wet. I am so ready for a new first kiss. I don’t care if we just met. Kissing a boy like Nick isn’t something that happens every day. Screw the rules.

A sly smile forms on his lips. I feel his breath on my mouth, my lips part, waiting, wanting. He’s going to kiss me. Nick Marino is going to kiss me.

He leans in closer, his lips brushing my ear. “It’s your lattes,” he whispers. “It could also have something to do with the fact that you’re beautiful.” He kisses my cheek and backs away with a playful grin.

Did Nick Marino just call me beautiful? I know I’m not horrible looking, but the positioning of my nose and the curve of my lips have nothing to do with why I find his compliment shocking. I find it unbelievable because I know I’m not up to his standard. I’ve seen his standard: Katie. She could do a Victoria’s Secret catalog shoot tomorrow without having to puke her dinner. She was perfect. And he didn’t want her.

I don’t douse myself with make-up every morning or give two shits about my hair. I never wear perfume and I can’t even remember the last time I plucked my eyebrows. Nick and I don’t match on so many levels, yet being here feels right.

Nick swoops down and picks up something from the sand. He examines it for a second then puts it in the pocket of his jacket. I think it was a shell. Oh lord, he collects shells too. My heart bursts into song. You can’t look like Nick and collect shells. It’s just not fair. I’m going to fall in love with this boy, whether I want to or not.

“How old are you?” Nick spins around and walks backwards, facing me.

“I just turned eighteen.” My birthday was last Saturday. I had to work and I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. Lucy brought me a cupcake from the hospital cafeteria during her lunch break and I let her and Patty sing “Happy Birthday” to me in the back room. Celebrating didn’t feel right without my parents.

Nick stumbles back and puts his hand over his heart. “Oh man. You’re older than me.” He’s blushing like this really bothers him. “I won’t be eighteen until next month.”

“Good thing you told me this now, because I have a rule about dating guys younger than me.” Nick raises an eyebrow, and I realize he’s reacting to the fact that I just said the word dating. “I mean, I’m not saying I want to date you.” Nick clutches his chest again. “I mean, of course I want to date you, if dating you was an option.” I feel my face turn red hot. “I just need to shut up.” Just run now, Dani, before you make a bigger fool of yourself.

Nick reaches out for me. I let him take my hand and pull me to him. “To be honest, knowing you’re older kind of makes me want you even more.” He runs his hand down the side of my face then turns around and continues walking down the beach.

Being wanted by Nick is the best feeling in the world.

Being wanted by Nick is the scariest feeling in the world.

I don’t like needing things, because when you don’t have them anymore, it hurts. The idea of Nick not wanting me someday is almost worth walking away right now. Almost.

We are pretty far from the bonfire. Pale moonlight and the fuzzy orange glow from the parking lot is the only thing lighting our path. I stumble a few times and bump into him, not totally by accident.

“Whoa.” Nick catches me. He takes my hand and pulls me into his arms, holding me as we walk. My hormones are raging in a way that I never knew was possible. All of Lucy’s lectures on birth control and safe sex make a little more sense now. Even when I was making out in the closet with Charles, I never felt like this. Nick and I are just walking, and thoughts of him ravishing me won’t stop running through my mind.

“So, you’ve lived in Eureka your whole life?” I ask, desperate to say something.

“Yep. Depressing isn’t it? But I’m out of here after graduation. I have some things lined up in San Francisco.” He lets go of me to pick up a rock, then he throws it into the darkness ahead of us. The gesture looks so juvenile. So unlike something the man walking beside me would do. His face looks like it belongs on the cover of a romance novel. There is nothing about Nick Marino that says boy, even if he is only seventeen.

“I applied to CAL, but I’ll probably live in San Francisco.” I don’t want him to think I’m stalking him if we end up living in the same city. Even though I would totally stalk him; he’s so stalkable. “Did you apply to San Francisco State or USF?”

“Oh yeah, school.” Nick stares at the sand as we walk. He runs his hand through his hair and clears his throat. “I do have to go to college, it’s a family thing. I just don’t know where I’m going yet.” Nick pauses. “My family owns a bunch of property around town. I don’t know what you’ve heard.”

I remember what Mary said about Nick’s family being the largest developers in California, but it’s Mary. How credible can she be? “Not much. I hate gossip.”

“Me too.” Nick smiles and takes my hand. He corroborates Mary’s story about his family, only he tells the story like he’s embarrassed. “It’s no big deal. Besides, it’s my family’s money, not mine. I don’t want any part of their business.” Nick’s tone turns hard. “I’m going to make my own money. I’m going to take the Marino name to places it’s never been before.”

The fact that he separates himself from his family’s wealth is commendable. He isn’t a typical spoiled rich kid. Not that I thought of him as one, but hearing the conviction in his voice when he talks about making his own money tells me he’s passionate about his future. It only makes me admire him more.