A Summer to Remember

chapter 18





I spent the remainder of the weekend at Adrian’s. We spent our days inside watching movies and playing video games and we cooked dinner together both Saturday and Sunday night. After dinner on Sunday, I decided it was time for me to go home.

“Please stay,” he begged as I grabbed my makeup bag and toothbrush out of the bathroom.

“You have to work early in the morning, or else you know I would.” I gave him a kiss as I walked into the bedroom.

“But I want you to be here when I get off work tomorrow.”

“Well I can come by when you get off.” I grabbed my clothes off the dresser and laid them on the bed to be folded.

“No, I mean I want you to be here. Every day.”

“I can come over every day, but usually you’re so tired.”

“No, I don’t think you understand.” He sat down on the bed, grabbed my hands, and pulled me between his legs. “I want you to be here every day, all day. I want to wake up to you in the morning and go to sleep with you at night.”

“You’re crazy.” I giggled nervously. I tried to pull my hands away but he gripped them a little tighter.

“I am. I’m crazy about you. Will you move in with me?”

I felt my heart jump into my throat. He had to be kidding me. This was the first weekend we’d spent alone, just the two of us. I couldn’t just go moving in with him, he was losing it.

“I can’t just move in with you.” I tried not to sound overwhelmed.

“Why not?” Disappointment spread across his face. He was serious.

“Because you do realize we’ve only known each other for a couple weeks, right?” Was this normal? It was hard not to wonder if he’d done this before. He seemed so sure of himself.

“Ava, just so you know, I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Like what?” I looked down at our hands. I swear sometimes it was like he could read my mind.

“Like ask a girl to move in with me.” I felt a sense of relief flood through me. “But I can’t help myself. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. You’re amazing and I want to spend as much time with you as I can before…” I looked up at him. “Before I have to leave.”

I could feel the rims of my eyes filling with tears. Just the thought of him leaving upset me and we’d grown so close in such a short amount of time. I couldn’t imagine what it’d be like after we’d spent a whole summer together. But moving in together? I didn’t even know what I was doing. He was going to have to leave when summer was over, but I was still choosing to fall for him when I knew I was going to end up getting hurt in the end.

“Don’t be upset. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He pulled me in and hugged me.

“I don’t want you to leave.” I wiped away the tears with the back of my hand. I was consumed with so many different emotions, confusion being the major one.

“I have to, Ava. Not many job opportunities just pop up like this. People work years to get a job like this.”

“I know. It just sucks.” All of this sucked! But moving in with him? I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that! Or was I? I didn’t know anymore. I really needed to call Lily.

“We’ll just take it day by day.” He brushed my hair away from my face. “So will you please move in with me?”

“That’s a big step.” I pulled back and looked at him. “Give me the week to think about it and I’ll let you know by Friday. How does that sound?”

“Not the answer I wanted, but it wasn’t a no, so I guess that’ll have to do. You’ll still come over every night though, right?”

“Right.”

“Okay, let me grab something real quick.” He hopped off the bed and ran out of the bedroom. I started folding my things and putting them in my bag. “Okay, close your eyes and turn around.” I did as I was told. “Now hold out your hand.” I held my hand out and giggled a little, from nervousness mostly. I felt him set something in my hand. “Okay, open your eyes.” I opened my eyes and there was a key sitting in the palm of my hand. Not just any key, but the house key that was in the grill Friday night when I came here.

“What’s this for?” I asked, a little confused.

“I want you to have it. In case you want to come over before I get off work or if you just want to hang out here during the day.”

“Don’t you need it in case someone else needs to get in?”

“Nope. It’s all yours. Please, just keep it.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a hug. “I think it’s time for me to head home. You have to work in the morning and I don’t want to keep you up.” I kissed him.

“I wouldn’t mind.” He picked me up and threw me on the bed, then climbed on top of me and started kissing my neck.

“Okay, maybe I can stay a little longer.”