Luke

We didn’t take it slowly. We said we would, and we both had every intention to, but just like falling in love, the course of our relationship seemed to be out of our hands.

Maya likes to blame me. In my defense, though, it wasn’t like I could keep my hands off her at school the next day, not when she was looking all prim and proper with her tight bun and her turtleneck sweater. I took one look at her and had to ruffle those perfectly smooth feathers. I had to rile her up and see the passion in her eyes. I mean, I just had to. There was no other option.

So I kinda sorta announced to the world that we were a couple by making out with her for all the world to see and then taking my dazed and lip-swollen girlfriend by the hand and walking with her to her next class.

When one freshman had the gall to give us a shocked look I explained to him in no uncertain terms that he’d better stop eyeing my girlfriend like that.

So yeah—subtlety had never been my forte.

People adjusted quickly. Or at least, I assumed they did. I didn’t care if anyone else liked that we were a couple or not, and Maya had never cared what our classmates thought so we existed happily in our own little world for the rest of the school year.

I made good on my promise to teach Maya how to swim, and I’ll tell you what—she was a natural. Also, I might have been a fantastic teacher. Maya says it’s a little of both. Whatever, my girl took to the water like a fish and next year when we’re back in Mexico with our families again, I can’t wait to take her into the ocean.

Maybe we can even sneak in a little late night swim without my brothers or the moms around. And yes, it’s already been decided that we’ll all go back next year. This year was tough on my family but we’re all in agreement that my mom made the right decision with Mexico. Not just because I fell in love—although that was the best perk in the world—but because it set a precedent for my family that we would be moving forward. Things might be different but different didn’t have to mean bad. Would it be easy? Not always, but then sometimes the best things in life are the ones you have to fight for. The ones that make you face your fears and become a better person.

I’ve changed thanks to Maya and the way she challenges me on a regular basis. I can’t slide by with a smile or a cocky attitude around that girl. She knows me too well. And I’d like to think that Maya’s changed for the better thanks to me too. She’s been more open—with me at least. She’s learning to experience her emotions rather than run from them.

We’re good together, she and I. And it’s all thanks to that trip to Mexico that we found that out. When our moms came to us with the idea of doing the same trip next year, our answer was a no brainer. We’ll both have a break from college and will need the rest and relaxation of a sunny beach. Maya will be back from Harvard, and me?

Well, I’ll be back from Harvard too.

That’s right. I got into Harvard.

Maya couldn’t believe it either. I hadn’t even told her that I applied because it was such a long shot. But then, once my coach and I looked into it—it wasn’t such a long shot. Their athletics divisions weren’t top notch and they were in need of a brilliant swimmer—AKA, yours truly.

My grades had always been good—not Maya-good but good—and even though I applied to other schools in the greater Boston area, I managed to do the unthinkable.

“You got into Harvard.” Maya repeated it several times when I told her. It was during one of our swim instructions and I’d thoughtfully waited until she’d had both feet on the floor of the pool before surprising the hell out of her.

I was all for a good surprise, but I didn’t want my girl to choke on water over it.

As it was, she stared at me for so long I couldn’t hold back a laugh. She was just so cute when she was stunned.

To be fair, she was rarely caught off guard. Maya was too smart for that. The only times I’ve seen her really thrown off her game were when I’d told her I loved her for the first time and when I told her I was joining her at Harvard.

Both times will go down as some of the best moments of my life.

“So, what,” she finally managed. “They’ll let just anyone in these days?”

I grinned as I scooped her up into my arms. The only thing cuter than a stunned Maya was a Maya who tried to crack jokes.

“Admit it. You’re over the moon right now,” I said. I knew she was but it was fun to razz her about her serious lack of effusiveness.

She grinned at me as she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me with all the passion in the world. My girl might not wear her heart on her sleeve, but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel. Maya was the most loving woman I knew. Kind, sensitive, and thoughtful in the extreme.

And she was mine.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed it, reviews are always welcome. If you missed the first three standalone romances in the Briarwood High series, you can find them here:

For more YA romance by Maggie Dallen, check out her Summer Love series. Turn the page to read a sneak peek from her latest, full-length standalone novel in the series, .