Page 71 of Summer After Summer

“I almost did a million times.”

I watch the shadows cross the ceiling. Something about this night still seems impossible, but if it’s a dream I don’t want to wake up. “What stopped you?”

“My pride, mostly.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to be rejected again.”

“I never rejected you in the first place.”

“I know that now. But then … it was a weird time. With everything with my uncle and then that stupid thing with Ashley.”

“She feels really bad about that.”

“She told me.”

I turn on my side and snuggle into him. “When you ran into her?”

“I think that’s why she asked me to pick you up. She wanted to make it up to me.”

“That’s not why.”

“Why then?”

I squeeze his hand. “Because she saw how devastated I was after you left. How it wasn’t ever the same with anyone else …”

He turns to me. “Not for me either. I told you then that I’d never felt this way before, and I meant it. This. You and me … it’s special.”

My heart feels like it’s melting, and we kiss, sealing something, I’m not sure what. We pull apart.

“When I saw you leave at the funeral, I wanted to leave too. And then I was lying in bed, trying to sleep, and all I could think about was how I couldn’t stand to be away from you for one more minute.”

I pull my hand away, feeling a chill. “This is about your uncle.”

“No, Olivia. No. I was coming here this summer before that happened.”

“You were?”

“Ask my aunt if you don’t believe me.”

“I’m not going to do that.”

He pulls me into his arms. “I was coming here this summer.”

“Why?”

“You need me to say it?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Because I told you I’d be here in five years, and I wanted to keep that promise. Even if you wouldn’t see me. Even if I had to spend the whole summer convincing you to give us another chance.”

He was coming here this summer. For me. I am dreaming.

“Really?”

“Really.”

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