Page 83 of Bright Lights and Summer Nights

EMMA

I’m dying at the mental picture of you so pregnant you’re about to pop running from him.

MARGO

I need this baby out of me immediately. Maybe then he’ll let me get fresh air.

EMMA

My final guess is you’re having a girl!! Can’t wait to prove both you and Winnie wrong.

MARGO

It’s a boy. I’m convinced of it.

EMMA

Can’t wait to snuggle your precious little girl!

I laugh, finding myself hilarious. Throughout Margo’s entire pregnancy, both she and Winnie have sworn she’s having a boy, and I’ve been adamant about the fact that she’s having a girl. Her due date is next week, and I’m ready to prove both of them wrong.

I look down at her response when my phone vibrates again in my lap.

MARGO

Can’t wait for you to come home so you can get all the baby boy snuggles. When are you and Preston coming back to Manhattan?

My stomach drops at her question. Preston has to be in Manhattan in two days for the start of practices. He’s made it clear that he wants me to come back with him so we can continue to spend time together, but even though I’ve told him I will, something still makes me uneasy about it all.

I think I’m just nervous that once we leave the Hamptons and the real world catches up to us, our perfect summer bubble will burst. I look over at him, finding him still on the phone with Ryan. They’re deep in conversation—probably because Preston officially notified the team this will be his last year. The word hasn’t gotten out to the public, but I know it’s been making him anxious to finally make the announcement.

I take a deep breath, not wanting to think about how much things are about to start changing with the upcoming football season. Whatever happens when we trade our summer nights for both the bright lights of the stadiums and the public interest in our relationship is something we’re going to have to figure out.

All of this might feel better if I had an idea of what my next steps are. Sharing my life on the internet—as well as my outfits and favorite products—kind of fell into my lap. I just hired a manager who helps me secure brand deals, but I still don’t know how long this will last. My life is nowhere near figured out, and I hate that part of me wonders if that will get in the way of the relationship me and Preston have built.

Sadness washes over me as I look down at my phone and type a response back to Margo.

EMMA

It’s our last night here so we come back tomorrow. Think Winnie’s excited for me to finally stop crashing at her place?

I throw the joke in there to try and lighten the mood, but I still feel a little sad that my time here is coming to an end. If anything, I feel even more lost than when the summer started. I have a relationship that I desperately want to hold on to but also know will be hard to navigate once the season starts and we rarely see each other. We’ve both avoided the topic of what’s next, wanting to just enjoy the time we do have together.

I keep reminding myself of the comment Winnie made before I left for my trip. Maybe it does take getting lost to be found. At least I hope it does because right now, I’m lost in how I feel for Preston. Every day we spend together, the feelings I have for him grow stronger and stronger.

It’s equally as terrifying as it is exciting.

“Sorry that call took so long.” Preston’s hand snakes around my waist as he turns my body to face his.

I smile, trying to push the fear of the future to the back of my mind. “Don’t worry about it.”

“You ready to go?” He presses a kiss to my cheek.

I nod.

For our last night here in the Hamptons, we’re going into town for some shopping and dinner. The smart thing to do would probably be to hang out at the house or book somewhere private so no one sees us, but I want one last night to feel normal with him. I know things will change when we get back to Manhattan.

It’ll be harder to hide, and soon, our relationship will be confirmed. We’ve had numerous conversations about being ready for the spotlight, and I think I can handle it, but for one more night, I want to pretend he’s just a guy and I’m just a girl and we can do normal things together.

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