Summer Love (Senior Year (Vol. 1))

by Marysue Hobika

  “Huh …” I guess it made sense. “Does Gavin think I’m unapproachable too?”

  “I don’t think so. He did ask you out, a couple of times. I think he wanted you to know that he wasn’t just there just to get into your pants. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense.” Could Becca be right? “You should call and ask him.”

  “I can’t call him,” I said, shocked by her suggestion.

  “Why not? It’s the only way to find out what really happened.”

  “Yeah, but I’d feel like an idiot.”

  “So what? What’s the worst thing that could happen? Remember, you wanted to learn to speak up this summer, and here’s your chance. Call Gavin.”

  Becca was right. The only way to get to the bottom of things was to call Gavin and talk to him. “Later,” I said to appease Becca, not really knowing if I’d actually go through with it.

  “I’m not going to stop bugging you about it until you do,” Becca smirked, knowing me all too well. “If it helps—I can totally see you two together. You’d make a great couple.”

  Her words pushed me in what I hoped was the right direction. “Okay, I’ll call him tonight, I promise.” I slid my sunglasses back where they belonged. “Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to say.”

  “Be honest, and it’ll work out,” Becca said, sticking her nose back in the magazine. “If I find any useful advice in here, I’ll let you know.”

  I flipped to my stomach to ensure an even tan when a shadow appeared. I looked up and saw that Gillian and Marlena blocked the sun. I groaned inwardly. The only reason they ever stopped to talk to us was to cause trouble.

  “Where’s your boyfriend today?” Gillian asked, in a sweet voice that sounded as fake as her blond hair looked.

  “Where’s yours? Oh, wait. I forgot. You don’t have one,” Becca replied. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

  Gillian blushed slightly, but she let Becca’s comment go. She’d obviously set out to make a point. “My older sister and her friends were here the other day and out of the blue, one of her friends just burst into tears.”

  Becca laughed. “Why do we care that your sister’s friend is a crybaby?”

  Gillian had a satisfied look on her face and it scared me. I knew we weren’t going to like what she had to say. “She was crying because your boyfriend is a player. He broke her heart when she walked in on him at a party having sex with another girl. They had been going out for six months and the whole time, he’d been screwing around with other chicks behind her back. And what’s even worse is, afterward, he told everyone that she was a stalker, and that he’d tried to break up with her but she kept following him around. None of what he said was true. He ruined her reputation. This all happened two years ago and she still can’t get a date.”

  “Your sister’s friend sounds like a loser. I recommend she find a new one,” Becca replied calmly. By the look on Becca’s face, I could tell she wanted to strangle Gillian for talking trash about Nate, but she played the game and kept her cool. Gillian was just looking to piss her off. She had promised to get us back for taking her lounge chairs. And like everything that came out of Gillian’s mouth, this story was a lie too. It had too familiar of a ring to it to be believable.

  “Maybe.” Gillian shrugged. “Or maybe you should find a new boyfriend.”

  “Why would I do that?” she growled angrily, pushing to her feet. “So you can stick your sharp claws into him?” She took a step toward Gillian, forcing her to take a step closer to the pool.

  “I don’t want him. He’s all yours.” Gillian threw her hands up in self-defense.

  “Make sure you don’t forget it.” Becca took another step forward.

  Finally, Gillian turned and walked away, Marlena attached to her hip. Once she was far enough away to avoid ending up in the water, she called out over her shoulder, “I can’t wait to say I told you so.”

  Becca made a move to follow them but I grabbed her arm and convinced her to sit down. “She’s not worth it. She’s lying, and you know it.”

  “Still, what if she’s not?” Her forehead creased. “I think I might love him.”

  ***

  I was sprawled across my bed with my phone in hand. I’d decided to text Gavin to see if he could come over and talk. I didn’t want to have this conversation over the phone. I sighed, stalling. I’d texted Gavin plenty of times. Of course, that was to find out when he wanted to study, but still, this shouldn’t be that hard. Last night I’d asked him to sleep over.

  Determined, I picked up my phone and typed:

  Hi, Gavin. It’s Carly.

  Gavin responded. Hey, Girly.

  I giggled nervously. He called me Girly again. Maybe I still had a chance.

  Can you come over?

  When?

  Now.

  A few minutes passed and Gavin hadn’t texted back. I sat staring at my phone. I picked it up and was about to throw it at the wall when it beeped. Gavin had finally responded.

  I’ll be there in 5.

  Great!

  Shoot! What had I been thinking? I wouldn’t be ready in five minutes. Rushing around my room, I changed my shirt and brushed my hair. In my haste, I didn’t have time to over think things. The doorbell rang and I thought my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. What if this doesn’t work?

  Gavin stood on my porch as handsome as ever, but a cut near the corner of his left eye was held together with sterile strips. That hadn’t been there when he left last night. He pushed his hair out of his eyes.

  “Are you okay?” I pointed at his bruised face.

  “It’s no big deal,” said Gavin, downplaying whatever had happened. I didn’t press further—I got the feeling he didn’t want to talk about it. Gavin was a private guy and I respected him for that. I never pressed him for details. He’d tell me in his own time if he wanted to.

  “Can we take a walk?” Drew was home and I didn’t want him overhearing our conversation. This was going to be difficult enough.

  “Sure,” he nodded. I walked out and softly closed the door behind me.

  At the park, we found a bench and sat down. I turned to Gavin. “I’ve been going over everything again and again, and I can’t figure out where things went wrong. I thought you liked me. I mean, it felt like you did when you kissed me.” My cheeks warmed as I remembered how hot his kisses had been. My pulse had raced. I’d never felt anything like that and I wasn’t about to give up without finding out the truth. “But then you told Drew you only wanted to be friends and you took off before I could ask you about it.”

  He looked surprised. “I am into you. Last night when Drew came home, you looked at me like you wanted me to tell him that we were only friends. I’d been ready to yell the truth from the rooftops. I’m not afraid of Drew, or anyone else, and I don’t give a shit what they think. I only said that because I thought that’s what you wanted me to say; I’d do anything for you. It hurt when I heard you tell Drew at the same time that I did that we were only friends. I thought you’d changed your mind about us.”

  “I thought you’d changed your mind. You didn’t kiss me once during the movie.” It was easier than I thought to tell Gavin what I felt. Something about him made it easy to speak my mind. I wasn’t afraid to be myself.

  “I didn’t want to pressure you, or make you think I was only there because I wanted to have sex.” Becca was right!

  “I wouldn’t have thought that, Gavin. I trust you.” I reached out and traced his jaw.

  “Does this mean you want to be more than friends, Girly?” he asked, swiftly pulling me onto his lap. I let out a giggle. “Is that a yes?” He tickled me, and I laughed harder. “What? I can’t understand you.”

  “Yes!” I shouted.

  “Good. No more games. I’m yours and you’re mine,” he said, staring into my eyes.

  He moved me so that I was facing him, straddling his legs. Burying his hands in my hair, he pulled my head toward him until
our lips touched. This time, he didn’t start out slow—he kissed me hard and deep, intense pleasure spreading throughout my body. My toes curled and electricity hummed along my skin. My heart pounded so hard that I thought it was going to explode out of my chest. When I opened my eyes, Gavin looked as caught up as I was.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and played with his shaggy hair, running it through my fingers. It was even softer than I’d imagined. It was easy to follow Gavin’s lead. My mouth slanted across his and I teased him with the tip of my tongue. I pushed it all the way into his mouth. I felt starved, like I’d never eaten before, and it would be impossible to ever feel fulfilled. I’d always crave more.

  Gavin ran his hands down my back and under the bottom of my T-shirt. His thumb gently stroked my bare skin where my waist curved, sending small shivers up and down my body. I no longer cared that we were making out on a public park bench. All I thought about was how good his hands would feel all over my body.

  I leaned my head back and Gavin kissed my neck. He slowly traced along my jaw line with his tongue and then kissed his way down. His hair was tangled in my fingers and I pushed him closer. He stopped when he reached my collarbone. Once again, his hot lips were on mine.

  My lips felt swollen and bruised when we finally stopped for air.

  “Damn, Girly, for someone who’s never had a boyfriend before, you sure know how to kiss.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I’m gonna lose my mind if you keep doing that thing with your tongue.” His voice was rough and full of desire.

  “What thing?” I asked innocently. “You mean this?” I kissed him again, and I felt him shake.

  “Yeah, that.” He stroked my hair. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Thanks. You’re not too bad yourself,” I teased. I leaned up and gingerly touched the cut on his face. “Does it hurt?” I still had no clue as to what happened. It looked like he’d been in a fight.

  “Nah.”

  I smiled at his handsome face. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he wanted to be with me. Quiet Carly. The shy girl.

  We hung out in the park talking in between kisses. Finally, we decided to head back. Drew was having a party and I’d promised him I’d hang out for a while. Gavin agreed to come. He was ready to announce that we were officially a couple.

  We walked back hand in hand. A lot of cars lined the side of the road leading up to our house. I quickened my pace. There were cars everywhere. I had no idea Drew had invited this many people. I thought it was just going to be his core buddies—Lucas, Dominic, and Zach. It looked like the entire senior class was inside.

  I pushed open the front door and was immediately hit with how loud it was. I hoped Drew had things under control. I walked through the house, taking inventory. His friends were everywhere and beer cans littered every available surface. This would be a huge mess to clean up, especially by the time my dad’s plane landed at noon.

  Heads turned to stare as we passed through, like everyone was trying to figure out how an unapproachable (to borrow one of Becca’s words) girl like me had ended up with a dark, moody guy like Gavin. They didn’t know the sweet side of Gavin like I did, the one who let me cry on his shoulder and made me laugh, so I was sure they couldn’t understand. We continued through the house, looking for Drew. He had some serious explaining to do.

  I found Lucas in the family room drinking a beer. “Hey, do you know where my brother is?” I asked after he’d slammed the contents down his throat.

  “He’s around here somewhere. I just saw him a few minutes ago.” Noticing I was holding Gavin’s hand, he exclaimed, “When did you two get together?”

  “Today,” I said, happy.

  “Lucky bastard,” Lucas said to Gavin, patting him on the back. Becca had said Lucas was fond of staring at my ass and something told me Gavin wouldn’t be as nice about it as Drew was if he ever caught him glancing.

  “Thanks,” Gavin answered suspiciously.

  “Come on. Let’s see if we can find where my twin is hiding,” I said, I pulling Gavin along behind me.

  I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted Drew out on the back deck surrounded by a bunch of friends. He had one arm around Gillian and the other around Marlena. What are they doing here?

  “What the fuck is going on?” I shouted. Out of character for me, yes, but tonight was different. I was different. I was learning to speak up and this was a perfect opportunity.

  “What’s it look like? I’m having a party,” Drew said, looking a little wobbly. I had no way of knowing how much he’d had to drink, but it looked like a lot. I felt Gavin stiffen, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Let me be clearer—what are they doing at my house?” I pointed at Gillian and Marlena. I didn’t like them and Drew knew it. It was probably part of Gillian’s plan to make my summer hell like she’d promised. She’d already taken a stab at Becca when she’d talked smack about Nathan.

  “I invited them.”

  “You got a problem with us being here?” said Gillian.

  “Yeah, I do.” It felt good standing up to them. I’d never done it before. Maybe I really had changed. I could handle whatever Gillian dished out this time.

  “Why? Are you afraid I’m gonna tell everyone how last year you got your period early and bled through your tight-assed, white skinny jeans? Every idiot knows not to wear white pants when it’s getting close to that time of the month. Well, almost every idiot.” My face heated. The moment had arrived. Gillian was paying me back. Only this time she wasn’t lying and the look on my face proved it. “I found you in the bathroom crying. I went and got my gym clothes for you, so no one would know.”

  Tears filled my eyes. It was humiliating having her throw that in my face. I couldn’t believe I actually trusted her to keep it a secret. I should’ve known her kindness had been an act. She always waited until her comments had the most impact, like right now to expose what she knew. A lot of people were hanging outside when Gillian made her announcement and all eyes turned on me. I was speechless. Maybe I hadn’t changed so much after all. This I couldn’t handle. I wanted to flee.

  “It’s true,” said Marlena. “I saw Carly leave school early that day wearing Gillian’s clothes.”

  “You promised not to tell,” I whispered as tears slid down my cheeks.

  Gillian ignored my plea. “And that’s not all either. You should’ve seen the bathroom. There was enough blood that it looked like she’d had a miscarriage.”

  The deck had grown quiet. I gasped. I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. The wind knocked out of me. Gavin squeezed my hand tighter. Of course, her last statement was a complete lie, but it wouldn’t matter. Everyone believed what Gillian said like it was the Gospel and I’d already proven her previous comment was true.

  Drew’s jaw tightened. “What, you think dudes don’t know about periods? Shit, we learned all that back in fifth grade health.” Turning to Gavin, he said, “You want to help me with this?”

  “Gladly,” agreed Gavin.

  I stood back and watched Drew and Gavin pick the two girls up, tossing them over their shoulders and carrying them outside. The girls kicked and clawed the whole way through the house, screaming obscenities. A few onlookers stopped to stare and I even saw someone take a picture. Served them right if it ended up on someone’s online wall. Before getting into her car, Gillian shouted, “You’re a fucking bitch, Carly DeWitt. I’m gonna make you pay for this.”

  Even though it was satisfying to watch the girls be thrown out of the house like the trash they were, I ran upstairs to my room. I was too embarrassed by what Gillian said. I also wished I’d been able to handle my own problems and not leave it to my brother and my boyfriend.

  “You okay, Girly?” asked Gavin. He had followed me upstairs.

  “Not really.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about what Gillian said.”

  “That’s going to be difficult.”

  “All everyone is going to remember is he
r grand exit,” said Gavin, lightly stroking my cheek with his thumb.

  “Maybe,” I said, but I knew Gillian would get even. Her hurtful comments tonight didn’t even scratch the surface of the damage she was capable of causing. And I’d just been moved to the top spot on her Ruin Someone’s Life list. I was trying to overcome my inability to stand up for myself, but it was moments like this that set me back.

  Gavin lay down on top of the bed with me and held me against his chest until I feel asleep, not asking for anything in return. I don’t know when he left, but when I awoke the next morning he was gone.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gavin

  I was on my way to pick up Carly for the romantic evening I had planned down at the lake. I’d worked the past three days, and I hadn’t seen her since the night I’d held her close. I was eager to make a good impression. I know it sounded stupid, but I was on a mission. Now that she was giving me another shot, I couldn’t fuck it up. I couldn’t wait to crush my lips against hers again and hold her tight. It would be hard to continue resisting temptation. However, Carly was different, and I was still holding true to my word about wanting to get this right and not rush anything. Although the red-horned devil on my shoulder kept telling me, “Launch your rocket, let her feel and experience the passion between her legs,” I was confident I could keep him at bay. For once, I didn’t want my sexual desire to get the best of me and cost me a chance at true happiness. Carly wasn’t just a chick to me—she had qualities that stretched beyond the ordinary girl.

  “Hey, Girly.” Carly climbed into my mom’s car, looking as beautiful as ever, red lips shimmering.

  “What have I told you about calling me that?”

  “I thought you liked it,” I said, raising my eyebrow.

  “I do kinda like it.” She grinned.

  Not wanting to wait another moment, I leaned over and kissed her. At that particular moment, I didn’t think we were even going to make it out of the driveway. If, for some reason, she asked me to stand, my flag would’ve been at full staff. I had my hands in her long, silky dark waves, and she was teasing me with her tongue again. She was driving me fucking crazy. Again, the red-horned devil whispered, “Throw her in the back seat. She wants it and so do you.” Shit, at this rate, it was easy to see why Adam and Eve failed miserably and ate the forbidden fruit; the devil is a damn instigator.