When Summer Ends

by Isabelle Rae

  I shook my head guiltily. “Sorry, forget it. I shouldn’t have asked,” I muttered, flushing with embarrassment that I’d just thrown myself again him like that.

  He sighed and put his finger under my chin, lifting my head so I had to look at him. His grey eyes searched mine and neither of us spoke for a couple of minutes. I just lost myself in the beautiful colour of them, they were mesmerizing. “Okay,” he finally whispered, nodding slowly.

  I gasped, looking at him with wide eyes. What the hell? Did I hear him right? Did he just agree to make love to me? Wow, it’s seriously wrong that I had to coerce my boyfriend into sleeping with me. This whole situation was slightly wrong. Stereotypically it was usually the other way around, a guy begging the girlfriend to take things further. I guess we’re special… or maybe I’m a pervert like he always says. I laughed at the ludicrous situation we were in, and then chewed on my lip trying to stop; I was probably making myself look like a crazy person. I still hadn’t said anything back, and Will was looking a little confused now.

  I shook my head and felt my face flame with heat. “It’s fine. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. We’ll wait until after graduation,” I said sheepishly.

  He smiled, his eyes raking over my face slowly, as if he was trying to memorise every part of it or something. “You think I don’t want you too? Chloe, of course I do. Being with you drives me crazy; sometimes I want to make love to you so much that it’s actually painful. You’re just too beautiful for my sanity,” he cooed, stroking the side of my face with his thumbs. “I want to make your birthday special; if that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.” He stroked the side of my face again before pressing his lips against mine so lightly that I could barely feel them.

  Happiness was trying to consume me as thoughts of making love to him started to run through my mind. But my freaking birthday is still three weeks away! Wow, that feels like a long time now that I know what I’m getting. “Really?” I asked, just needing the confirmation again, just to make sure I hadn’t slipped off into another of my Will fantasies.

  He nodded. “Yeah, Cutie. I want to give you everything for your birthday, if it’s me that you want then that’s what you’ll get,” he whispered, his eyes shining with love and adoration and made my heart crash in my chest.

  I kissed him gratefully. “That’s all I want. Just you,” I confirmed.

  He smirked at me. “I’m still busy next Saturday daytime,” he stated, laying us down on the bed again, side by side as he wrapped his arms around me tightly. “And I have a stipulation,” he added. “If we’re having one night, then I want the daytime too. I want to spend the whole day with you too. Your birthday is on a Saturday, so stay with me on the Friday night so I can wake up with you.”

  Oh crud, that can’t happen, my parents won’t let me stay out and not see me on my birthday. “Will, I can’t. My parents, I’ll have to spend time with them too.”

  His eyebrows knitted together. “Ten o’clock then. You can have breakfast with them, and then spend the day with me.”

  I groaned and shook my head. “Will, usually my mom does a lunch thing, she makes a load of cakes and desserts, and we just eat junk food for lunch. It’s like tradition,” I explained, looking at him apologetically. I couldn’t really break tradition, my parents would be both angry and upset, I couldn’t do that to them. If I could I would have invited Will over to the lunch, but his stupid job made that impossible yet again.

  He sighed and pressed his forehead to mine. “All right fine, I’ll pick you up after lunch, but no later,” he countered, shooting me his most serious face so I knew there was no compromising. I nodded and shrugged. I’d be able to convince my parents to let me out for the afternoon and night easily, as long as I didn’t break the lunch tradition then I was certain they wouldn’t mind. I’d just tell them that Amy was taking me shopping and then we were going out in the evening so I’d stay at hers. Will smiled. “Great. But just so you know, this is the last birthday that I’m not waking up with you. Agreed?”

  Jeez, I love the sound of that agreement! “Heck yeah,” I breathed. I snuggled further into his chest and sighed contentedly. “I love you.”

  He kissed the top of my head, the college applications still underneath us scattered on his bed, but neither of us seemed to care. “Love you too, Chloe. More than anything.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  “So then, girls, you think you’ll buy much today?” my mom asked, spooning more chocolate cake into my bowl, looking from me to Amy curiously.

  I groaned and shook my head, rubbing my bloated stomach. “Mom, I can’t eat anymore!” I whined, giving her the begging eyes. I’d already had two slices of chocolate cake, a bowl of sherry trifle, a merengue creamy mess with berries in it, and a homemade double chocolate brownie. I had seriously had enough to send my body into a sugar coma.

  Amy grinned and pulled my bowl towards her. She loved my birthday tradition and never missed a lunch at the Hendersons’ when a birthday came around. “Waste not, want not,” she chirped, tucking into it.

  I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair, nursing my swollen tummy. I hope I don’t feel bloated all day when I’m with Will. As soon as my thoughts turned to Will I felt the smile stretch across my face and my palms start to get slightly sweaty. Today was my birthday, I was legally an adult, and I was really, really looking forward to collecting on the birthday present that he’d promised me. My night with him, no boundaries, no rules, just pure unadulterated bliss. It was going to be incredible.

  I shrugged and smiled up at my mom. As far as she was concerned, Amy and I were heading off after lunch, and I wasn’t due home until late tomorrow night. Everything had been set up in preparation. We had told my parents that Amy and I were going shopping today in the city, then seeing a show and then I was staying at her place. Nick had turned up early this morning too, so he could partake in the ‘who can eat the most dessert without throwing up’ tradition we had.

  “I might buy some stuff if we see anything,” I lied, knowing that I wasn’t going shopping at all.

  “Are you taking your birthday money? Maybe you’ll see some things you want to buy ready for college?” Mom suggested, smiling a little sadly when she said college. She’d already admitted that she wasn’t looking forward to me leaving home.

  I nodded, but knew I wouldn’t be spending any of the $150 I got for my birthday from various relatives. “Sure, I’ll take it, you never know.” I shrugged, hoping my blush wouldn’t give me away.

  My dad groaned and pushed his bowl away, putting his forehead on the table but gripping Nick’s shoulder at the same time, squeezing gently. “You win, Nick. You win,” he grumbled, his voice muffled from the table.

  We all burst out laughing as Nick stood up and did a little bow, smiling proudly. I think the boy had been starving himself for the last day just to make sure that this year he beat my dad and ate the most. “I knew I’d win at least one year!” Nick chirped, grinning like an idiot.

  My dad raised his head from the table and looked at him. “Next year I’m taking my record back. No two years a row record for you,” he stated, but his voice wasn’t very confident due to the fact that it was barely above a whisper.

  I grinned and rolled my eyes, eyeing the clock on the wall. The sooner we were done with this little lunch thing, the sooner I could go and meet my gorgeous boyfriend. I’d told him I would call him when we were done, but he’d insisted that he would just wait in his car in the parking lot of the store where we usually parked in the mornings. Amy was driving me there so it would look like I was with her instead of Will.

  It was already almost an hour after he said he would meet me. I knew he was getting there at twelve thirty, it was now one fifteen. I looked at Amy helplessly as she was still working on her cake, a sickly expression on her face as if she was two mouthfuls away from hurling.

  “Think we’d better go hit the shops now, Amy?” I asked, almost begging her with my eyes. />
  She frowned and glanced longingly down at her cake, shovelling in the last three mouthfuls in one go; she could barely close her mouth as she nodded. “Smumm um rbebby,” she mumbled, almost choking on her cake as she spoke with her mouth full.

  My mom clicked her tongue. “Amy Clarke, where are your manners?” she scolded, but laughed at the same time.

  Amy grinned sheepishly, still chewing. I pushed myself away from the table and started to collect everyone’s bowls. A hand on top of mine stopped me; I looked up to see my mom smile. “Go on, I’ll sort that out. Go have a great day,” she said softly.

  I smiled gratefully and hugged her tightly. “Thanks, Mom. Love you.”

  “You too. Now, go. Behave tonight, no parties just because it’s your birthday,” she warned. But then she smiled and winked at me. “At least just don’t let your dad know, and make sure you’re careful.”

  I laughed and blushed as I nodded; kissing my dad on the cheek and grabbing my overnight bag that I’d packed. Nick walked us out to Amy’s car, hugging me tightly. “See you Monday,” he chirped.

  I nodded and smiled happily. I was literally on top of the world right now and it probably showed on my face. “See ya, Nick. Thanks for the CD, and congrats on finally kicking my dad’s butt at eating cake,” I joked.

  He laughed and reached into his pockets, producing a slice of cake from each pocket. “I kinda cheated.” I burst out laughing, and he shrugged as if it was no big deal. “Hey I had to win this year, there won’t be another one what with you up and leaving me for the big apple next year,” he said, crumbling the cake into the gutter next to the car.

  I bit my lip. I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t going, he looked so sad, but he was obviously trying to hide it. But I just needed to keep it quiet for a little while longer; I needed to break the news to Amy before I could tell Nick.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him,” I promised, pulling him in for a hug.

  He hugged me back tightly before stepping back and opening the passenger side door for me. “Romeo’s waiting for you,” he teased, rolling his eyes playfully.

  I went up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek before climbing into the car, almost dancing with excitement. I could barely keep still as Amy drove us to the meeting place we’d agreed on. I kept my eyes on the clock. What if he’s decided that he’s waited long enough, and went home again. Would he really wait an hour for me?

  The drive seemed to be taking forever. I tried to distract myself by chatting to Amy about her plans for the weekend, but I couldn’t concentrate on her words, my mind kept flicking back to Will.

  Will. Will. Will. It was like he was the only important thing in the world right now.

  As we rounded the corner to the parking lot I spotted him immediately. He was sitting in his car, his head back against the headrest, his feet up on the dashboard. He’d obviously been waiting here for me the whole time. I chewed on my lip as he looked and up saw the car. A slow smile stretched across his face that made my heart crash in my chest.

  I hadn’t spoken to him all morning. I told him not to call in case people were around me or something because my family liked to crowd around when you have a birthday. Of course hadn’t been able to resist sending me a happy birthday text though, which was sitting on my phone as soon as I woke up.

  He climbed out of the car and started walking over to me, pulling the car door open before Amy even had a chance to put the parking brake on. I clicked my seatbelt just in time for him to pull me out of the car, press me against it, and kiss me passionately.

  I laughed into his mouth. Someone was a little lonely this morning! Or maybe he’s just as excited for tonight as I am. When he broke the kiss he put his forehead to mine, his eyes sparkling with happiness. “Happy birthday, Cutie,” he whispered.

  I sighed and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. “Thanks. You been waiting long?” I asked, smiling apologetically. “Sorry. The whole lunch thing went on longer than normal. I told you I should have just called you when we were leaving my house.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “But then you would have gotten here before I did because your place is closer than mine. Can’t have a girl waiting around on her birthday, can we? Besides, I haven’t been here that long,” he stated, flicking the tip of my nose playfully like he always did.

  “An hour is ‘not that long’?” I mused, rolling my eyes.

  “Not when I know I’m waiting for you. You’re worth waiting for,” he answered, his eyes locked on mine, making my legs go a little weak.

  Amy made a loud fake gagging noise in the car, so Will stepped back and leant down, peering into the car. “Hey, Amy, everything okay? I could get you a sick bag if you ate too much cake,” he teased.

  She laughed. “It’s just the soppy conversation that’s making me a little queasy.” I could practically hear her smirk in her voice.

  I laughed and pulled Will back to me. “Ignore her, she’s just jealous,” I joked, waving my hand dismissively. “Are we ready to go now?” I chewed on my lip excitedly.

  He nodded and opened the back door, grabbing my overnight bag. He laughed when he pulled it out, looking up at me with one eyebrow raised. “You plan on moving in or what?” he asked as he pretended my bag was heavy.

  Hmm, I guess I did go a little overboard when I was packing. He refused to tell me where we were going tonight, he said we were going out for dinner somewhere, so I brought three choices of outfit. Outfit one was very fancy – i.e., a black dress with sequins around the bust that fell to just above my knee. That would be for if we were going somewhere posh and respectable. Outfit two was another dress, but it was a little more fitting and cut off at mid-thigh. Amy said I’d need that one in case we were going somewhere a little more ‘slutty’ – her word, not mine. Then outfit three was a nice black skirt and blue top combo for if we were doing something more casual. On top of all that I had my brand new sexy lingerie, make-up, and clothes for tomorrow.

  I shrugged. “You wouldn’t tell me where we were going so I had to pack options,” I countered.

  Amy clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. “Men just don’t understand the importance of dressing for the occasion. You should have just told her what to wear, Will,” she scolded playfully.

  He laughed and wrapped his other arm around me, pulling me close to his side. “Aww, and there was me getting all excited that my girlfriend wanted to move in with me, now I’m kinda disappointed,” he joked, winking at me as I elbowed him in the ribs.

  I smiled at Amy. “Thanks for the ride. See you Monday, and if my parents call then just tell them I’m in the bathroom and I’ll call them back,” I instructed. I didn’t need to go over the plan, my parents thought I stayed at either Amy’s or Nick’s every weekend, when in reality I was with my sexy teacher at his place. We all knew the drill and how to avoid trouble.

  “Have a great day, and night, and morning!” she called, smirking at me knowingly. She’d kind of guessed this was somewhat of a big occasion by how nervous I’d been, and how I had painstakingly chosen my underwear for the date, and preened myself to within an inch of my life.

  “I will, and thanks for the sweater.” I smiled gratefully and moved back waving as she pulled out. I turned back to Will who was smiling a little nervously for some reason. Hmm, I wonder if he’s nervous about us sleeping together, it has been a long time since we’ve actually done the deed. “You ready?”

  He sighed and stepped closer to me, taking my hand in his, making the familiar warmth spread throughout my body. “I can’t believe you’re finally eighteen. Thank heavens for small mercies,” he said, laughing. “So, I wanted to give you my present later, if that’s okay?”

  I smiled and raised one eyebrow at him suggestively. “I wasn’t expecting you to give it to me right in the middle of the parking lot, Will,” I purred, running my free hand up his chest. He closed his eyes and made a little moan sound that made my whole body tingle with excitement. He didn
’t answer, just blew out a big breath and then turned and walked towards his car, tugging me along with him. I smiled and pushed my free hand into the back pocket of his jeans. I sighed contentedly.

  When we got to his car he opened the door for me and smiled. “So, I’m supposed to take you to my parents’ house for a little while, they want to see you on your birthday. That okay with you?” he asked, looking at me apologetically.

  I nodded and shrugged, getting comfortable in my seat. “Sure. I don’t care what we do today. As long as I’m with you I’ll have the best birthday ever,” I confirmed.

  He laughed and pressed his lips against mine. “My, aren’t we soppy at the age of eighteen,” he teased, smirking at me.

  I rolled my eyes and gripped the front of his shirt, pulling him towards me roughly. “Just shut up and kiss me,” I ordered, narrowing my eyes at him, trying to look masterful. I probably didn’t pull it off though, Will was definitely the strong one in our relationship, we both knew it, but I appreciated him always playing along with me.

  “Anything for the birthday girl,” he whispered, kissing me fiercely.

  We spent almost three hours at his parents’ house. I could see the pained look on Will’s face. He desperately wanted to leave but I was actually enjoying myself the same as I always did when we visited them. Sam was hilarious as usual, making me laugh and teasing the life out of Will whenever he got the chance. I witnessed more than one play fight between the Morris brothers, all of them ended with them both being scolded by their mother like three year olds whilst I just sat there giggling.

  Angela was lovely. I got on really well with both of his parents, but she was like a second mom to me. I felt like I knew her and was so comfortable around her that I could just be myself instead of having to put on an act or anything. I felt just as comfortable lounging around on their sofa with Will, as I would do if I was in my own lounge. I was just one of the family.