by A. R. Perry
So, I do what I should have done all those years ago, and lean down, planting a soft kiss on her lips. She sighs, pulling me closer and I give in, deepening the kiss.
Somewhere in the background Jay shouts about ripping off my nuts and Scarlett laughs, telling him to shut up, but neither of us pays any attention. I pull her closer, threading my fingers through her long blond curls and make a promise to myself that I’ll give this everything I have. No fear. No reservations.
With the most beautiful summer sunset as our backdrop, I let go of my doubts and kiss the girl of my dreams.
It only took us fourteen years to get here, but we have a lifetime to make up for lost time.
With the sealed letter clasped in my shaking hands, I race up the porch steps and knock on the front door of Shane’s house.
Ms. Novak answers with a giant grin. “Lyla. So good to see you.” She pulls me in for a hug, surprising me with the strength in the way she squeezes.
It took half a year, but the doctors figured out the right combo of medications. In the past month she started working part-time and even takes a group exercise class at the gym twice a week. There’s still driving restrictions to deal with, but I have no issues volunteering when I’m free.
“Is Shane here?” I ask when she lets me go.
“Out back, prepping the grill.” She glances at my hands. “Is it here?”
“Yup. Came right over. I couldn’t wait.”
“Well, go on back.” She steps out of the way and I race through the house, almost knocking over a lamp in my haste.
Shane’s eyes light up the second I step outside. I take a moment to admire the way he looks in a tight black T-shirt and cargo shorts before I launch myself into his arms.
“Hey,” he laughs, holding me up.
“Ew,” Jay grumbles from the table.
Dang. I was so concerned with the letter in my hand I didn’t notice him sitting there. This is probably the hundredth no PDA strike since spring break began. But hey, I have to watch him make out with his girlfriend almost every day so he can shut up about a hug.
Jay and Shane have patched up their friendship for the most part. I swear it took me almost knocking them over the heads before they admitted they were just being stubborn. It’s been bumpy, especially since Shane and I are still going strong, but I give it until Christmas before they are where they used to be.
“It’s here!” I shout.
Shane sets me down and snags the envelope. “Did you open it?”
“No. I came right over here.”
“Sure Mom will be happy about that,” Jay grumbles into his cup of lemonade.
“Shut up and go do something in the kitchen.”
He takes the not-so-subtle hint, leaving Shane and me alone on the back patio. “Do you want to open it?” I ask.
“No, you do it. I’m too nervous.” He shoves the envelope back into my hands and I waste no time tearing into the paper.
As my eyes scan over the writing, I try to calm my heart rate. Once I decided where I wanted to go to college, Shane and I started making so many plans. Where we’ll live. How to spend our free time. Everything rides on this one letter.
I squeal and start jumping up and down when I read the words I’ve been dreaming about since applying. “I’m in!”
“That’s my girl!” Shane wraps me in a bear hug and spins me in a dizzying circle.
“For a second I thought they were going to deny me! It took so dang long to arrive. Scar got her acceptance last week.”
“You’re in, baby!” Shane plants a kiss on my forehead, then my cheek, finally coming to rest on my lips.
With our excitement running wild, we receive another strike when Jay pops his head outside and yells at us to break it up.
Surprisingly, he’s been chill with Shane and me dating, but he draws the line at any kind of public display of affection. Even hand-holding is forbidden when he’s around.
Whatever. He’d better get used to it though because come the fall we will all be attending UCLA together since Shane transferred there earlier this year.
“I can’t believe it.” I run a hand across my forehead. “I should call Scar.”
“You sure? The second she finds out, she will go into planning mode. Not that you have much say about anything in your dorm.”
“Seriously. I keep telling her she should go into interior decorating, but she’s so intent on pissing off her parents she won’t select a major.”
He laughs. “I’m so proud of you.” Shane cups my cheeks. “All those weeks of you ignoring me while you studied were worth it.”
“Winter break was killer knowing you were right down the road and I couldn’t see you every day.”
“Only a couple more months and then you’re all mine for the summer. Well, after camp.”
I grin. We decided to do one last summer as counselors—after I convinced my mom to loosen the reins. Although, my newfound freedom might have to do with her tightening grip on Jay. She wasn’t too happy when he finally told her about his live-in girlfriend. But I’m not complaining. Even Scarlett agreed to go back to camp, which almost gave me a heart attack. She’d never admit it, but she had fun. Or maybe she’s hoping to find true love with one of the other counselors. I swear, for weeks after Shane and I decided to give this a go, she wouldn’t shut up about how my life was some romantic comedy and that she needed to take notes. All she has to do is slow down for a second and realize there are plenty of guys who would give their left leg for a chance with her.
Her next-door neighbor, for example, who finds any and every excuse to be outside when we are.
Last week he washed his car twice as we sunbathed on the front lawn.
“If I try hard enough, I bet I can end up on Mr. River’s bad side and he’ll throw us in a cabin together.”
“Highly unlikely since I might have mentioned we’re dating.”
I slap him on the arm. “Why would you do that? Now he’ll try everything to keep us apart.”
“Eh. He’s a grumpy old man sometimes, but love is his weakness.” Shane freezes as soon his words click.
“Love, huh?”
“Well…I… You know what I meant.”
I grin, enjoying torturing him. After all, we’ve been dating for almost a year and he hasn’t had the guts to spit those words out to my face.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I ask, giving his side a pinch, and his entire face reddens.
“I’m proud you got into UCLA?”
“You said that.”
“I can’t wait to spend this summer with you?”
“Said that too.”
He takes a deep breath, pulling me closer until my face is pressed against his chest and I can feel the rapid beat of his heart. “How about how I’m so in love with you I can’t imagine a future without you in it?”
I smile, relishing in those three words I’ve been wanting to hear from him for so long. “Good to know.”
He groans. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
“No. I also wanted to tell you I think next year is going to be amazing.” Okay, I’m being a bit of a brat, but you only ever experience your first “I love you” moment once. And we wouldn’t be us if I gave up my heart so easily.
“You’re really going to leave me hanging?”
I bite my lip as I lean back and take in his furrowed brows and sweaty forehead. I suppose I’ve tortured him enough. “I love you too. More than I ever thought possible.”
His smile is breathtaking. “I thought my heart was going to explode there for a second.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine.
“Just because you love each other doesn’t mean the no PDA clause goes out the window!” Jay yells from somewhere behind us.
We ignore him and drag out the kiss a couple of seconds longer before pulling away. We’ll celebrate later. Right now, we have friends coming over and burgers to grill. Not to mention the rest of our lives to plan.
If he can put up with me for that long. The way he watches me as I take a seat next to the grill tells me he might just be willing to give forever a chance.
Lucky for him, so am I.
About the Author
A.R. Perry is an American-born author who has lived all over the US due to her wanderlust husband. She has a degree in photography and massage therapy yet somehow works in human resources.
When she's not working, reading, or writing she can be found sleeping because the day is practically done. Thank goodness for coffee, chocolate, and Panic! At The Disco or nothing would ever get done.
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Melt My Heart
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