A Summer to Remember

consumed with so many different emotions, confusion being the major one.
    “I have to, Ava. Not many job opportunities just pop up like this. People work years to get a job like this.”
    “I know. It just sucks.” All of this sucked! But moving in with him? I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that! Or was I? I didn’t know anymore. I really needed to call Lily.
    “We’ll just take it day by day.” He brushed my hair away from my face. “So will you please move in with me?”
    “That’s a big step.” I pulled back and looked at him. “Give me the week to think about it and I’ll let you know by Friday. How does that sound?”
    “Not the answer I wanted, but it wasn’t a no, so I guess that’ll have to do. You’ll still come over every night though, right?”
    “Right.”
    “Okay, let me grab something real quick.” He hopped off the bed and ran out of the bedroom. I started folding my things and putting them in my bag. “Okay, close your eyes and turn around.” I did as I was told. “Now hold out your hand.” I held my hand out and giggled a little, from nervousness mostly. I felt him set something in my hand. “Okay, open your eyes.” I opened my eyes and there was a key sitting in the palm of my hand. Not just any key, but the house key that was in the grill Friday night when I came here.
    “What’s this for?” I asked, a little confused.
    “I want you to have it. In case you want to come over before I get off work or if you just want to hang out here during the day.”
    “Don’t you need it in case someone else needs to get in?”
    “Nope. It’s all yours. Please, just keep it.”
    “Okay. Thanks.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a hug. “I think it’s time for me to head home. You have to work in the morning and I don’t want to keep you up.” I kissed him.
    “I wouldn’t mind.” He picked me up and threw me on the bed, then climbed on top of me and started kissing my neck.
    “Okay, maybe I can stay a little longer.”
     

 
     
    CHAPTER 19

    B eing back in my own bed was bittersweet. The feeling of comfort was there but not having Adrian by my side made me a little bummed. I needed to talk to Lily and I knew she’d be calling me soon. I was surprised she hadn’t called me already, but I decided to beat her to the punch. I picked up my phone and dialed her number.
    “You ready to tell me the details yet?” Lily asked as soon as she picked up.
    “Wow. I don’t even get a hello anymore?”
    “Since you’ve been keeping everything to yourself these last few days, I don’t think you’re worthy of one anymore,” she joked. “What do you want to do today?”
    “Let’s go to the pool.”
    “Great! I’m about to strangle Steven. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
    As soon as I was out of bed and had my pool bag packed, Lily was outside my house honking, right on cue. I slid in the passenger seat of her car and we drove off. On our way there, she told me about a fight she and Steven got into over the weekend because she caught him checking out a waitress at the bar the other night, so they weren’t on speaking terms today. Bickering like this isn’t unusual for them, but Steven checking out a waitress was. Lily had always been a little insecure, which threw me for a loop because she’s gorgeous. Guys were constantly throwing themselves at her feet and she had a kickass personality, but she just didn’t see it. I guess it was true, every girl has her own insecurities.
    When we got to the pool, we took turns searching for chairs while one of us held our usual spot up against the back fence. I was so anxious to tell Lily about what happened I could hardly contain myself. When she finally got back with her chair I couldn’t stand it anymore so I just blurted it out.
    “Adrian asked me to move in with him!” It had been eating me up inside all night and I needed to hear somebody else’s opinion on the situation.
    “He what?” Lily sat down on her chair and pulled her sunglasses down toward the tip of her nose. A few strands of hair fell out of her ponytail.
    “He asked me to move in with him.”
    “What did you tell him?” She didn’t seem as shocked as I thought she would be, which made me a little concerned.
    “I told him I had to think about it, but it’s a little soon.” I looked at her for reassurance. “Don’t you think?”
    “Well, kind of. I guess.” She shrugged and pushed her sunglasses back up on the bridge of