I leaned back on the couch and closed my eyes, starting to drift off before the conversation between Sophia and Elena traveled back to me in the quiet of the house.
“He’s really hot,” Elena said. “You can’t tell me sex isn’t fun now.”
I snorted.I should not be hearing this. But where am I going to go?
Sophia laughed. “Um, no. Sex with him is incredible. I was very wrong.”
Okay, well that was worth the accidental eavesdropping.
“Who knew a scheduled one-night stand would land you a guy like him? He looks at you like you’re a diamond,” Elena said.
Because she is.
“No, he’s just infatuated because we finally admitted how we feel. We’re not going to last long term, so don’t get your hopes up,” Sophia said.
I felt like I’d been stabbed in the heart at the reminder.I really should not be listening to this.I opened my eyes to see what my escape options were.I can go stand outside.
I pushed myself off the couch.
“Why not?” Elena asked.
“Leo’s going to play professional hockey in Boston after we graduate and I’m going to come home to all of you. I’ve always wanted to come back here when I finished school,” Sophia said. The sadness in her voice made me pause with my hand on the door. I wanted to go to her to kiss her and tell her that everything would be okay.
“That seems like a terrible decision, Soph. But I get it,” Elena said. “We’re a pretty great family and you know I never want to leave. Then again, what does he look like under all that?”
Sophia must have been demonstrating or whispering because I didn’t hear an answer, but Elena squealed. “Shut up! Do not come home after graduation, Sophia. I mean it.”
Sophia laughed and at the sound of her joy I turned the handle and opened the door, but not before I heard her say one last thing. “This is my home, El. But in the meantime, I’mreallyhappy with him.”
Laura and Dave came back into the room just as I stepped outside. “Oh Leo, wait!” Laura said, causing me to stop and turn back into the house. Sophia and Elena returned as well, Sophia looking at me curiously as I closed the front door behind me.
“I have good news and bad news for you kids,” Laura said.
“The last time someone said that to me, I got to ride on a private jet.” Sophia laughed and Elena shot her a jealous look.
Laura continued, ignoring them, “Kennedy convinced Danny to let you stay in the pool house together but she put so much work into smoothing things over with Danny that she failed to properly set expectations for Eric who is demanding to meet you first thing in the morning at the café.”
Sophia’s jaw clenched and her cheeks flushed. “Why do you all have to be embarrassing?”
“That’s not so bad, Hawaii,” I said, stepping toward her. “I’ll be refreshed and ready for him in the morning.”
Sophia gave me a look of disbelief. “Let’s just go get my dad out of the way before you decide this trip isn’t worth it and jump back on your jet.”
Dave laughed. “Hey, I like you, son, but good luck with theSEAL.”
I swallowed uncomfortably.How bad could he be?
“I’m sorry,” I saidagain as Sophia pulled up to the large, contemporary beach house. It was hard to see in the dark but it appeared to be the color of sand and it was much larger than I would have anticipated, given she’d told me it was a beachfront property. It must have cost a fortune. Sophia may have been surprised to discover my family’s wealth, but I suspected the Grimes family had some of their own.
“It’s not your fault we were talking about you when you were right there,” Sophia said. “I’m sorry you heard me.”
She put the car in park, and I turned to face her. “Can we make a deal?”
She nodded and I gripped her hands in mine.
“We both know what happens after graduation,” I said, pushing down the pain that accompanied the reminder. “I meant it when I promised not to ask you to change your mind. But I can’t keep being constantly splashed with the cold waters of our reality. So, from this point forward, we don’t talk about our impending breakup—or even acknowledge it. Let’s just live the next few months like they’re the greatest fucking gift we could ever get. Because that’s what time with you feels like to me, Soph.”
She smiled sadly at me, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m pretty sure willful denial is the only way we get to truly enjoy our time together. So, yes. Let’s pretend nothing after graduation exists for as long as possible.”
