One Perfect Summer

before we go away together. But when my mum finds out he has no one to spend Easter Sunday with, she insists on him coming a day early. Dad pretends to be cool with the fact that my boyfriend is staying over, and I can’t help but wonder what Lukas thinks of my parents’ humble abode. I don’t ask, but I think we’re all a little relieved when it’s time for us to go.
    Lukas takes me to a country house and spa, and we have an incredible few days walking in the nearby forest, swimming in the heated outdoor pool, drinking hot chocolate in front of the log fire and then falling into our super-king-sized bed at night. I’ve never experienced such luxury and they’re almost the best days I’ve ever had. Almost, but not quite.
    After Easter, our studies hitch up a notch, so I see less of Lukas than I would like to. Lizzy takes a break from her exam revision and comes to stay for a weekend in May to celebrate my birthday. We go shopping for ball gowns – she’s going to her university ball soon and, excitingly, Lukas is taking me to the Trinity one next month.
    ‘How’s it all going with Lukas?’ Lizzy asks me over a coffee. We figure we need caffeine before we get down to the serious business of shopping.
    ‘Brilliantly,’ I say.
    ‘You’re still wearing your necklace, then.’ She nods to said piece of jewellery.
    ‘Yep. Every day.’ I smile.
    ‘It’s beautiful. I’m not surprised.’
    I automatically fiddle with the chain.
    ‘How’s Callum?’ I ask. They’re still seeing each other – and, yes, it is now officially ‘serious’.
    She beams. ‘Really good. He’s gutted I’m away this weekend.’
    ‘Aah. Softy.’
    I met him in March when I finally made it up to Edinburgh for a weekend visit. He’s cute, with light-brown curly hair and blue eyes. They look a bit alike.
    ‘Did I tell you we’re going to Tenerife together this summer?’
    ‘No! Wow. That’s so grown-up!’
    She laughs. ‘Isn’t it? His mate’s got a holiday house down there – well, it belongs to his parents – and he invited us along, so we’re going for two weeks.’
    ‘That will be great! Who else is going?’
    ‘There are eight of us in total. All couples, though, so it should be good fun. One of his mates’ girlfriends is really lovely. We go out quite a bit as a foursome, and I’m looking forward to spending some more time with her.’
    ‘Great,’ I say. I can’t help but feel a bit jealous, even though I know it’s wrong and uncalled for. ‘You’ll have a great time,’ I add.
    ‘What about you and Lukas?’ Lizzy asks. ‘Are you going away this summer?’
    ‘No,’ I reply regretfully. ‘He’s going back to Germany for the duration.’
    ‘Really? How long is that?’
    ‘It’s supposed to be three months, but—’
    ‘Three months!’ she interrupts, aghast.
    ‘I think he’ll go for just two.’
    ‘Two!’ She’s still shocked. ‘And you’re not going to see him for any of it?’
    ‘No.’ I shake my head sadly.
    She frowns. ‘Can’t you go to Germany too?’
    ‘He hasn’t invited me.’ I feel embarrassed as I admit this and she doesn’t seem to know how to react.
    ‘Oh, right.’
    ‘I think I’ll just stay here and work,’ I tell her. ‘I’ll go home, but not for too long. I might see if Mum and Dad can come and stay with me for a while.’ The other day Emily offered me the use of her room. She said she’ll stay in Jessie’s room when she’s not in Scotland. She does most of the time, anyway.
    ‘Bummer,’ she says.
    I finish the last of my coffee. ‘Shall we make a move?’
    ‘Absolutely.’ She stands up and grabs her things, then says: ‘Let’s find ourselves the most beautiful ball gowns in Cambridge so our images are etched on their memories for evermore.’
    I drop by Lukas’s room later to show him my purchase: a pretty black dress with lace around the shoulders and hemline, which falls to just below the knee. I also bought some heels to go with it. I’m making good use of my tour savings and the birthday money Mum and Dad gave me.
    He smiles. He’s sitting at his desk. ‘Nice.’
    ‘Do you want to see it on?’ I ask eagerly.
    ‘I’d rather see it off,’ he replies with a grin, hooking his forefinger through the belt loop of my jeans and pulling me towards him.
    ‘I thought you had work to do?’ I say, as he lifts me onto his lap and kisses my neck.
    ‘I can take a break.’
    Lizzy is at Jessie’s, putting her feet up. ‘I should probably