A Summer to Remember

strand of hair away from my face.
    “Well, I wanted you to have a bit of guy time with your friends before you have to leave. I’ve spent the whole summer with you, I didn’t want them to think I was hogging you or something.” He laughed.
    “Hogging me? What are we? In high school?”
    “Well, I don’t know.” I guess that did sound a little silly.
    “Are you ready for some dinner? They’re grilling. It should be done.”
    “Sure.” We crawled out of the bed. “How was Lily?”
    “I’ll just say she didn’t have a hard time making friends.” He opened the bedroom door and we walked out into the hallway. “Zack and Corey are already fighting over which one of them is going to win her over.”
    “Sounds like Lily.” I laughed. “She has a way of doing that to guys.”
    When we got to the kitchen, I could tell right away who Zack and Corey were. There was a short guy with shaggy dark blond hair and blue eyes standing on one side of Lily. A taller, tanned guy with short black hair and yellow board shorts was on the other side of her.
    “Hey, sleepy head! You missed out on a good time!” Lily yelled across the kitchen. She had a huge grin spread across her face.
    “So I’ve heard.” I smiled at Adrian.
    “Come outside with me. That’s where the food is.” Lily hooked her arm around mine. “You don’t mind if I steal her for a sec, do you?” she asked Adrian.
    “She’s all yours,” he said and walked over to Zack and Corey.
    “Great.” When we got outside, we each filled up a plate with food and walked over to the campfire area. We sat down on one of the log benches. Everyone else was sitting on the deck and in the kitchen, so it was just the two of us.
    “I had so much fun today, Ava. I seriously haven’t had that much fun since…well, I guess since Steven and I started dating.” She took a bite of her hamburger. “You know, that feeling of meeting new people and just being able to flirt and just have fun. I’ve missed it.”
    “So I take it those two guys in the kitchen with you were Zack and Corey?” I took a bite of my burger.
    “Yeah, they are both super sweet and they’re Adrian’s age, so they’re way more mature than a lot of the guys I’ve been around.”
    “I’m glad you’re having fun.” I smiled at her. “Hey, I have a question for you.”
    “Yeah?” She finished what was left of her burger.
    “Since you and Steven broke up, I was wondering if you’d want to get a place together, just the two of us.”
    “Do you really even have to ask? Of course! Could this day get any better? I’ve been totally freaking out since Steven and I broke up because I was afraid I’d end up spending another year at my parents’ house and I don’t want to stay there any longer than I have to.” She set her empty plate down next to her on the bench. “So I guess you really aren’t going to Florida, then?”
    “I’ve told you over and over again that I’m not.” I stood up and started toward the deck to throw my plate away. Lily followed.
    “Yeah, but I guess I just thought you’d crack at the last minute and go.”
    “I really wish I could…” I tossed my empty plate into the trash bag tied to the deck railing.
    “But you can’t, yeah I know.”

    When the sun began to disappear behind the mountain, the guys started a fire. This was where we spent the next few hours. The guys reminisced about high school, college, playing sports, and anything else they could think of. I was really happy Adrian had such an amazing group of friends. Guys weren’t ones for being emotional, but I could tell they were all upset he was leaving. When everyone slowly trickled inside, I helped Lily clean up around the fire and kitchen before we went to bed. Adrian disappeared for a little while but came back to walk with me up to the bedroom.
    “I have a little surprise for you. Close your eyes,” he said when we got to the bedroom door.
    “Okay.” I closed my eyes and let him lead me inside. He swept me up off my feet and carried me so I lost my sense of direction. When I felt my feet touch the ground again, he told me to open my eyes.
    “Wow,” was all I could manage to say. The Jacuzzi tub was filled and overflowing with bubbles. The room was lit by tea light candles. Not that we needed them, the full moon and its reflection off the water alone was enough to light up the whole room.
    “Do you like it?” he whispered in my ear.
    “No.” I turned to face him. “I love