Free Together We Heal by Chelsea M. Cameron Page B

tie.

 
     

    I COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time I had this much fun. Sure, I loved hanging out with my friends and doing things with them, but this was on a whole other level. My face hurt from smiling. That had definitely never happened to me, like, ever.
    Max seemed more open and free when we were on the road. He sang along with the playlist, which kept going as the miles increased. We passed through Maine into New Hampshire and I just stopped asking questions. It didn’t matter. Whatever we did, it was going to be a blast.
    We had to stop for coffee and to pee a few times.
    “I shouldn’t have worn this dress,” I said. It was a bit on the tight side and I wanted to just unzip it and put on something more comfortable.
    “There’s extra clothes in the bag in my duffle,” Max said, pointing to the backseat.
    “Why didn’t you tell me that until now? Jesus.” I reached in the back and grabbed the bag. Holy shit, he had tons of stuff in here. Several changes of clothes, toothbrushes, PJs. I was both shocked and impressed. Somehow he’d gotten these clothes without my knowledge.
    “What the hell are we doing tonight, Max?”
    “You’ll see,” he said.
     

     
    I MADE HIM stop so I could change into a t-shirt and jeans. He changed also and I took off the makeup.
    “It was fun while it lasted,” I said.
    “If you like it, wear it. If you don’t, don’t. Doesn’t matter to me either way,” Max said, messing his hair back to its normal level. It still boggled my mind that Max liked me exactly the way I was. I’d probably never figure it out.
    Then it was back in the car for more driving. We passed through state after state and I ended up falling asleep. The next time my eyes opened, I heard Max’s voice.
    “We’re here.”
    It was nearly four a.m. I blinked a few times and finally realized where we were.
    “Do you think you can get up and walk? We just have a little bit farther to go.” I nodded and got out of the car. My legs protested and I stretched my back a few times as Max got some more stuff out of the car. He’d really gone all out for this date. I didn’t know a whole lot of guys who would drive someone all night like this.
    Putting the bag over his shoulder, he grabbed my hand. I’d switched out my heels for sneakers. It was pretty chilly, but not as cold as Maine.
    “I’ve never been to Atlantic City,” I said as we walked through the nearly empty parking lot and toward the boardwalk.
    “Me neither. But I always wanted to, so here we are,” he said. We made it down to the sand and then we found a flat-ish spot. Max spread a blanket out and pulled out some Pop Tarts and orange juice.
    “You thought of everything,” I said as I sat down and he handed me one of the foil-covered Pop Tarts.
    “I tried to. I wanted to make this first date epic. You know, raise your expectations so high at the beginning and then just disappoint you for every other date,” he said and I lost it laughing. I was tired and achy, but it didn’t matter. It also didn’t matter that it was going to take us nearly an entire day to get back to school. I had the day off tomorrow, so we were good, but still. This was quite the epic date.
    We both uncapped our orange juice and clinked the plastic bottles together.
    “To sunrises in Atlantic City,” he said.
    “To epic boyfriends,” I countered.
     

     
    IT TURNED OUT even better than I thought it would. We were both exhausted, so we lay back on the blanket. Trish cuddled into my chest and we watched the sun rise on the ocean. Life was a series of moments and this one, right here, was one of the best. I had my girl and she was happy and that was all I needed right now.
    Since it wasn’t really even spring yet, the beach was pretty much deserted. Soon it would be dotted with tourists, but apart from the occasional jogger, we had the place to ourselves for now.
    We both fell asleep for a little while. I was woken my phone ringing.
    “Nooo,” Trish said,