Prologue
“Ijust think we need to take some time apart to figure out what we want, that’s all.”
Samira looked out over the water and tried to pretend she wasn’t having the most devastating conversation of her life. Willing her tears to keep from falling was pointless, so she quickly swiped them away, continuing to stare at the hazy red sky above the water. Chancing a glance at Andy, she found him watching her carefully.
“Why do we need to be apart to do that? We’ve been figuring things out just fine so far. We graduated. Now we can do whatever we want,” Samira countered with more confidence than she felt.
He heaved a sigh beside her and bent one leg up, wrapping his arms around his shin as he rested his chin on his knee. It was officially summer, and they were at her favorite spot on the beach. It was a short walk from her house, and there was never anyone there. The gentle lap of water and the near-constant chirp of crickets were the only sounds breaking the silence.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “But my parents are right. Maybe we need time apart to figure out what we want before we do anything crazy, like move away. Our families are here.”
Samira stood and pinned him with a glare. “We’ve been together for most of high school. We even got our grades up when we started studying and doing homework together. ButnowI’m a bad influence, and we need time apart? Fine! Take some time to think. Take forever for all I care.”
“That’s not what I said!” he called after her as she picked up her flip flops and stomped toward the path leading back home.
It was no secret that his parents didn’t like her. They tolerated their relationship because they were good together, but they didn’t welcome her into their home. Her parents hadn’t been thrilled, either, but they at least set a place for him at the dinner table where he joined them most nights. It was hard to believe his parents had gotten to him. Her devastation had turned completely into anger by the time she reached her front door.
When she flung the door open, the last thing she expected to see was her dad and Andy’s dad standing nearly nose-to-nose just inside the doorway. They stepped back from each other, both faces red with anger, chests heaving. Samira stepped back onto the front porch in surprise, leaving the door open.
“The door is open, Eldon. See yourself out. And I better not see you or your boy anywhere near my property again.”
“Dad!” Samira shouted after watching Mr. Grant rush out. “Why would you say that? Andy can come over.”
“Over my dead body he can. You won’t go near that family,” her dad said firmly.
“But, Dad,” she protested.
“Don’t argue with me. He broke up with you, right? That’s where you’ve been and why you look like you’ve been crying?”
Stunned, she opened her mouth then closed it. Once she recovered, she answered him carefully. “We had an argument, that’s all.”
“That is all. It’s over. You’re not to see him anymore.”
Once again, anger washed over her. Her skin prickled as she processed what her father was saying. “I’m eighteen years old. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t see. Where’s Mom?”
“Mom went out,” he answered. “And I can as long as you live in this house.”
“Fine!” she shouted. “Then I’m going to Uncle Brian’s.”
***
Anger at Andy had faded. All that was left was devastation and disbelief. It had been two weeks, and nothing had changed. Her last interaction with Andy had been the night at the beach. The worst part was that it hadn’t felt like a real breakup. It didn’t feel like goodbye.
“Mary is probably right,” Brian said. “We love having you here and will always be here when you need us, but you should talk to your parents. I know it feels like you’ll never see their side, but you can’t if you don’t try. From what I’m hearing, they have a pretty good reason for feeling the way they do.”
“We aren’t kicking you out, honey,” her aunt interjected. “But you can’t stay here forever. And they are right. You don’t want to be around a family that doesn’t think you’re good enough.”
Grief began sinking its claws back into her. She had cried for two days straight after finding out the reason Andy broke up with her. Unable to comprehend him not standing up to his family, she moved on to denial. She had been certain he would show up to fix things. But he hadn’t. Maybe she didn’t mean as much to him as she thought. Maybe he decided to stay awaybecause of the way her dad had behaved. They never cared what their parents thought before, so why start now?
Andy was her first kiss. When she closed her eyes, she could still feel the press of his lips against hers, could still feel the warm touch of his hands on her body, wanting her, but careful not to take things too far. He was her first love. How could she get past this? Not by looking at her parents and thinking about it every day, that was for sure.
“I have a job interview tomorrow, in DC. Getting away from here is the best thing I can do. I can’t stay here.”
Chapter 1
Samira Wylder balanced a mostly empty pan of macaroni and cheese in one hand, an empty pitcher in the other, and used her hip to push open the old, wooden, swinging door that led to the kitchen. She placed the items on the counter next to the sink before placing some serving dishes into the dishwasher. Looking out of the kitchen window into the large backyard, she saw Aunt Mary sitting at the table engaged in conversation.
Fortunately, the rain held off and the repast was able to take place outside. Everyone loved Uncle Brian, and it would have been quite a task to fit the large crowd into the small cottage.
