A Summer to Remember

it! No one has ever done anything like this for me before.” A lump formed in my throat. I really couldn’t believe he would do all this for me, for us, for our last night together.
    “I thought you might like it.” I stood on my tippy-toes and kissed him on the lips. It wasn’t as soft as some of the others we’ve shared. This one was filled with passion. I pulled back just long enough to pull my shirt over my head. As we kissed, I felt him reach around to unsnap my bra. He pulled the straps off my shoulders and I dropped my arms from his neck so it could fall to the floor. He watched me remove the rest of my clothing and step into the tub. I motioned for him to join me and he pulled off his board shorts in a matter of seconds and stepped into the tub.
    Adrian sat down. As I lowered myself to join him, he grabbed my hips and pulled me down onto him. He kissed my neck and down my collarbone, then made his way to my breasts. It wasn’t our first time together but it was the closest I’d ever felt to another human being. It felt as if we’d become bonded in some way.
    When we finally made it out of the tub and into the bed, I was exhausted, but I felt like nothing could bring me down. I turned over and Adrian was already sound asleep next to me. I wanted to take in this moment as long as I could.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER 30

    T he next morning came too soon. I knew the moment I woke up I was going to be an emotional wreck. I always knew that when the time came it was going to be hard, but after the night we spent together, it was ten times harder.
    “Good morning, babe.” Adrian came walking in the door, coffee in hand.
    “Morning.” I sat up and grabbed a cup from him.
    “You want to sit outside and enjoy the view a little longer before we have to go?”
    “Yes, please.” We went out to the deck and Adrian sat in one of the two wooden chairs. I decided to sit on his lap. We sat in silence for what seemed like forever. “So, are you ready for tonight?” I finally asked.
    “Ready as I can be, I guess.” He took a sip of his coffee. “ We would’ve been gone a long time ago if I could’ve convinced you to come with me.”
    “I know.” I looked down at my cup. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry. That’s what I like about you. You know what you want and you stick with it until you feel like you’re ready and the timing’s right for you. As much as I want you to go, I’d rather you stay here until you’re ready than rush into something and risk ruining what we have.” He placed his hand on my lower back.
    “It would take a lot to ruin what we have.” I looked out over the lake.
    “You’re right. It would. I just want you to be comfortable with whatever decision you make.”
    “And that’s why I love you. You’re one of the most unselfish people I’ve ever met. Most guys would tell me that it’s their way or no way.”
    “Well, those guys would be crazy to put a relationship with you on the line. Besides, I know what it’s like to be forced into something you’re not ready to do. My dad always pushed me to work with him. So finally, one day I said I would, and learned very quickly it was not something I enjoyed doing. It probably could’ve been different if he hadn’t put so much pressure on me in the first place. But I did it for him, not me.” I heard a knock on the bedroom door. “Come in!” Adrian yelled.
    “Hey.” It was Lily. She walked into the bedroom. “Are you guys going to be ready to go soon?” She stopped when she stepped outside the sliding glass doors. “Holy cow! Why didn’t you tell me you had this freaking awesome view?” She walked over to the rail of the deck and looked out across the lake.
    “I would’ve, but I’ve hardly even seen you since you’ve been running around with Zack and Corey the whole time we’ve been here,” I joked.
    “Shut up!” She blushed. I didn’t think I’d ever actually seen Lily blush before. She repeated her earlier question.
    “Yeah, we should probably go. I’m going to take our stuff down to the truck and say bye to the guys. I’ll meet you downstairs.” He grabbed our coffee cups and went out the bedroom door.
    “How are you doing?” Lily sat down on the wooden chair next to mine.
    “I’m doing all right,” I lied.
    “If you need anything, let me know, okay?”
    “I will. Were you thinking of staying over at my house tonight? Maybe we can go look at houses in the morning.” I was trying to think of