Page 52 of Rival Summer

"Can we please not talk about all your other dates?" I joked.

As she settled in, I leaned against the truck, watching her with a half-smile on my face. She didn't know it, but when I pictured my future, I saw her. Yes, baseball was there, too—it always would be. But more than that, I saw us lying in the bed of my truck under the stars, lost in a place where everything else faded away. If we’d had a terrible day, if we could hardly handle the shit we were going through—none of it would matter If we could have moments like this.

"Turkey sandwiches? And is that... cheesecake?" Chandler's squeal of delight pulled me out of my thoughts. Her excitement buzzed like the twinkle lights surrounding us, illuminating her in a soft, warm glow.

"Because they’re your favorites," I said, watching her face light up as she unwrapped a sandwich with care.

"Best date ever," she cheered before taking a bite, and I couldn't help but laugh at her pure joy over a simple turkey sandwich.

"Wait until you try the cheesecake—it’s from Maria’s," I added. The sun had dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, a backdrop I would never get tired of.

As beautiful as the sunset was, it was only the beginning. Darkness crept in slowly, the vibrant colors fading from the sky. I watched, almost holding my breath, for the moment when she saw the stars.

"Look, Boston!" Her face lit up with wonder as they began to reveal themselves one by one until the entire sky was filled with twinkling lights.

"Amazing, isn't it?" I whispered, taking it all in. She nestled into me, her head resting against my chest as I put an arm around her.

"Beautiful," she responded, her gaze fixed on the sky. I watched her, mesmerized more by the reflection of the stars in her eyes than the sky itself. She was a part of this universe, but here with me, she grounded me in a way nothing else ever had.

I whispered in her ear. "They've got nothing on you."

Her eyes met mine, wide with surprise, and I felt the truth of my words resonate deep within me. I had been to this spot countless times before, but the view of her—her gentle kindness, her unwavering loyalty, the quiet strength in her questioning gaze—was so much more powerful than any starlit sky.

"Thank you," she said softly.

We sat there, surrounded by the tranquility of the night as time seemed to stand still. It was just us, the stars, and the quiet beating of our hearts.

"Chandler," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. For not stepping up last summer, for keeping you at a distance this year."

She shifted slightly, tilting her head to meet my gaze. "Boston, I never gave up on you," she said, confidently. "You're strong enough to get through anything. The real you... you light up a room just by being there. You make all of us smile, make us better. I knew that the real you was still in there. We all need that Boston—I needed that Boston again.”

The reflection of the night sky danced in her eyes, but all I could see was her belief in me—unwavering and sincere, even if I didn’t believe I deserved it. "What if I'm not that Boston anymore?"

Chandler took my hand, her grip firm. "It's not something you can or can't be, Boston. It's just who you are—you, at your core." She squeezed my hand. "And I know you'll find him again."

I looked down at our intertwined fingers, feeling the strength that always seemed to emanate from her. Her confidence in me was both a comfort and a challenge, and despite my doubts, I knew that she was the reason I was slowly making my way out of the darkness.

"Trust me," she added, as she kissed me on the cheek. Her hazel eyes were reflecting the soft glow of the twinkle lights around us. "Although," she confessed, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her features, "I might see you a bit differently than everyone else—I did sort of have a crush on you growing up."

"Don't know how I missed something like that."

She fiddled with the ends of her wavy hair, a bashful smile playing on her lips. "Guess you were too busy worrying about baseball. Nothing new there," she teased.

I couldn't help but smile. "Facts," I conceded, leaning in slightly. "And what about now? Do you still have a crush on me?"

Chandler bit her lip, an impish glint sparking her gaze. "I guess you'll have to wait and see," she retorted.

I took her hand in mine, locking my fingers around hers. As if sensing the heaviness of the moment, she turned her attention back to the stars, breaking the brief silence with a dreamy tone.

"Know what I wanna be?" she mused, tracing a finger across the constellations.

"What?"

"A star," she declared with a wistful sigh.

I couldn't help but snicker. "I think you're aiming for the wrong kind of star."

She nudged me playfully. "You know what I mean. I want my own Hollywood star. To be an icon of my time, like Jennifer Aniston."

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