Chapter 9

Then I quickly ran to the car and got in. Dylan leaned over to fasten my seatbelt.

"You got up so early today. Have you had breakfast yet?"

I leaned in and kissed his cheek.

Dylan was startled, nearly bumping his head on the car roof, the tips of his ears turning bright red.

"Naomi, you..."

I smiled. "I've wanted to do that for seven years."

He turned his head away, not looking at me but unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.

"I've never asked you: Why did you suddenly come back to the country?"

"Because I wanted to see you."

The rain blurred the view, making his eyes seem especially moist.

"All these years, you haven't been well. You haven't been happy."

"I thought you must need me."

His tone was firm. "As long as you need me, I'll do anything."

In that moment, it felt like we were back in high school.

The bright, vibrant boy was the moon that many secretly held in their hearts.

But he only shone for me.

He was still that boy who, in the afternoon, would lie