As He Held My Hand

19. Vacation With...Don't You Dare Call Me "Bae"

19. Vacation With…Don’t You Dare Call Me “Bae”

Gemma’s POV

Later that night, I told my aunt about the plans and asked her if she’d like to tag along. She said she’d love to, but that she would have to check with her work and see if she could get the weekend off.

The plan was to go two weeks from Friday, which was when I had dinner with Grant and his dad. They were going to check and see with the hotel if they could snag an extra room for me and my aunt, who was still trying to negotiate a weekend off. So far, it hadn’t been working.

At the same time that I’m excited, I’m still nervous. I don’t want to be an emotional wreck eight years after I was in Newport with my mom. I just want to have fun on this weekend with Grant and his dad and my aunt. I don’t want past memories to ruin this for everyone else. So I decided that I won’t let it happen.

A week before we’re supposed to leave, Aunt Rebecca tells me she can’t get the weekend off work, and a whole wave of questions hits me. What if they don’t want me to go now that my aunt can’t come? What if they got the room for the both of us and now my aunt can’t go? What if she doesn’t want me to go now that she can’t come to watch me? These plans for this trip were going to shit faster than I’d ever imagined.

“But don’t worry, I checked with Grant’s father and he said of course they still want you to come. So relax, you can still go. I can practically see the angst in your face, sweetheart.” she coos. She kisses my cheek before going upstairs to go to bed, and I sit downstairs for a little while.

I still get to go on this trip. I still get to go on vacation with Grant and his dad. I’m going on vacation with my boyfriend.

_______________

On Friday after school lets out, I meet Grant by his locker. The two of us still get some looks in the hallways, people staring us down and wondering why Grant is still with the same girl after a week. Almost everyone assumed that I’d already slept with him, which wasn’t true. And I wasn’t planning on making it true anytime soon.

I was waiting for someone I loved, and for someone who I knew loved me back. I definitely wasn’t ready for it now and I definitely wasn’t going to let anyone “change my mind.”

“Are you at all getting used to the weird looks people give you when we’re together?” I ask Grant quietly as he laces his fingers with mine. “It’s kind of hard to pay attention to them when you’re so close to me.” he says sarcastically and I hit him over the shoulder with my bag. “Shut up, I’m being serious!” I say. He turns to me.

“Why? Is it bothering you? Because I can make it stop if it’s hurting you.” he says, and for a minute I think he’s being sarcastic. But the genuine look of concern never leaves his face or turns into a laugh. “No, no it’s just that…I mean it’s none of their business if we’re together or not, you know?” I say, starting to walk again.

He nods. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But seriously, I can make them stop if you really want me to.” he says, puffing out his chest and holding up his arm to show off his muscles. I laugh and he relaxes, putting an arm around me and tugging me closer to him as we venture out of school.