Aliyah's POV

The ride back felt colder than the wind warranted. The salt air bit at my cheeks, but it wasn’t the kind of cold that came from the weather. I kept my arms around Asher’s waist, but only because I had to, not because I wanted to. My cheek rested against his back, and I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing beneath the worn leather of his jacket.

The road hummed under the tires, a low, constant vibration that seemed to echo in my chest. Every bump made my ...