Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Real wasn’t bad.
But it was . . . complicated.
It was parents and friends getting involved.
And the whole school knowing.
And . . . and crush cuffs. Which meant being “hopefuls.” Which
meant . . .
“Okay,” Fitz said, blowing out a breath, “I think I know what’s
going on.”
He led Sophie over to the Panakes tree, waiting for her to sit in the
soft grass before he sat down across from her—mostly giving her
space.
But their knees touched.
And Sophie’s entire world narrowed to that tiny point of contact,
everything fluttering so wildly that she couldn’t meet his eyes. So she
leaned back against the braided bark of Calla’s tree and watched the
wispy branches dance around them on a soft night breeze that smelled
like flowers and the ocean and was laced with the faintest whisper of a
sweet melody.
As far as romantic settings went, it was pretty much perfect—
especially since this was where they’d already had a couple of other
“moments.”
And Sophie realized then . . .
Those really had been moments.
She hadn’t been misreading the situation.
She’d just been too scared to believe it.
And now . . . she was terrified.
“So,” Fitz said, watching her fidget with some of the fallen
blossoms. “Do you want to say it? Or do you want me to guess? Or do