Page 39 of The Night We Met

The music starts and I wait for my cue. Before I know it, I look out to the crowd that’s still growing to see them singing along and dancing in their seats. I lose myself in the song, swaying to the music, as this song conveys what I feel when I’m with Mason.

When the song ends, I take my bow. Still in disbelief that I finished that song without my voice cracking. I can’t believe I sang that song to begin with. Go big or go home, right? I sing about six more songs until we take a little break. Surprisingly I’m not nervous anymore. I walk toward Mason who’s got a huge smile on his face.

I wrap my arms around his waist and kiss him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I just pushed you in the right direction. That was all you babe.” Mason says and moves my hair out of my eyes.

For the next twenty minutes I ask Mason what he thought of the songs I chose and what songs I should sing next. I love that he pushes me to go after what I want even though I don’t know if I want it.

The guitarist taps me on the shoulder and nods to the stage. “That’s my cue. Don’t drink too much.” Then I kiss his cheek and I’m off to the stage.

“Well I see we have some new faces in the crowd. If you’re just joining us, I’m Kamryn, this is Cody on the guitar, Mitch on the keyboard, and Tony on the drums. For this next song, I may just need Mitch. If any of you are Adele fans, then on her first album she did a cover ofMake You Feel My Loveby Bob Dylan and I had literal goosebumps. So if you don’t mind, then that’s what I’m gonna start back up with.” I nod to Mitch and he starts the piano intro. I feel the thud of the keys in my chest and let the lyrics flow through me and out into the crowd.

Any Adele song can make anyone feel something. Yeah, I may not relate to a ton of her songs now that I’m happy with Mason. But that doesn’t mean I can’t act.

We decided the second half of this should be ten songs.The songs that we’ve done have ranged from old to new, country to pop to hip hop to singer-songwriter.

“This last song is by Lady Antebellum. I was hooked when I heard a cover of this song on YouTube. Since I go to school in South Carolina I’ve gotten back in touch with my love for country music. Nothing says country music like listening to Darius Rucker at a football game. But anyways, the last song of the night is calledAmerican Honey.”

This song is summer in a bottle. I would be crazy not to sing while here. So that’s what I do. It’s something about this song that takes me home. Summers in Philly while doing nothing and everything. Yeah, Philadelphia is far from the south but that’s what this song reminds me of. It reminds me of home.

The crowd cheers for us when we’re done. But I step aside and make sure all the love is showered on the band.

“Thank you guys for letting me sing tonight. I had a lot of fun.” I tell them while they start to pack up their equipment. “Well, if you guys are ever in Columbia let me know. I’ll come out and watch.”

Cody is the first to speak up. “Of course. I think you may have gotten us more exposure, so thanks for that. Take care Kamryn.”

“Yeah. You too. Bye guys.”

After the intensity of performing, Mason and I decided to keep the rest of the summer in the beach house simple. We only had a week left and relaxing was the main priority for us. Morning walks on the beach, laying out, movie marathons, waking up making love and going to sleep making love, and so much food. I got to know more aboutMason on a deeper level in that month than I have in the last 9 months we’ve been together. And sleeping in the same bed and sharing the space made me more confident that we could live together for real, without any problems.

And before we know it, our time in the beach house has come to an end and we’re driving back to Mason’s parents’ house. I will time to slow down or come to a halt. But that’s not the way time works. Time is inevitable. Time is constant. Time is always moving.

After spending the weekend with Mason and his family, I make the drive back up to Pennsylvania where I’ll be until it’s time to go back to school. Mason heads back a little earlier than me for camp and then we’re off to the races for another year of school. My second year and his final year.

I didn’t think I’d be the girl that found the one to spend her days with so soon. But every relationship that I’ve admired has been one that started this early. Look at my parents. They found each other at eighteen and have been married almost twenty years together. I want that.

But can I have it?

It’s weird crying over saying goodbye to someone, even knowing that you’ll see them soon. Mason and I are good at goodbyes. Every away game I was there at the bus loading zone, seeing him off. We would wait until the last possible second before he had to get on the bus and take his seat.

Did I get weepy when I left him to come home? A little.

But I feel like that’s a good thing. If I didn’t feel what I feel for Mason, then our goodbyes would be easy. There’d be no tears and we would laugh about it the next time wesaw each other. Yet in the time we’ve been together, the bond we’ve formed as a couple and the growth with us as individuals, it means more than words can explain.

I’m pulling down my parents street and blasting out the last of a Lady Gaga song when I pull into my parents driveway. I see their cars in the carport and my sister's car on the street.

Me: I’m home.

Mason: Okay, great. Come back now.

Me: Don’t tempt me. I’ll see you in a few weeks.

Mason: Counting down the days. I love you.

Me: I love you too.

Saying those words, whether in person or over text, never gets old. I put my phone in my purse, turn off my car, and open the trunk to get my suitcase out. Getting out I stretch my legs before walking to the back and hefting out my suitcase. I risk a glance across the street at Liam’s parents house, but see no movement.

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