Childhood best friends Luke and Mia are going to college next fall, and their friendship is changing. Everything is changing. Luke, having been absolutely in love with Mia since forever, is growing tired of their platonic friendship. Although their...
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"And you're mine," I respond. Two meanings. She's my best friend, but also, I love her and she's mine. How is my sweet girl so oblivious? Best friends don't cuddle, and sleep in the same bed every night, and watch her God forsaken princess movies together.
"You smell good," Mia tells me. She does, too.
"Thank you, sweet girl," I respond. "You smell, too."
"Shut your big, fat, mouth up right now," She laughs.
"Oh, really? Are you calling me fat?" I reply, jokingly.
"No, that's not what I meant. I'm sorry." Her face falls. It's like she thinks she needs to walk on eggshells around me sometimes. I love her. She can be as mean as she wants. We can argue as much as she sees fit. I don't care. She's still my Mia. My girl.
"I know, sweetheart. Stop worrying. I was just kidding," I pull her impossibly closer to me. After a minute or two, she pulls away and looks at me with those crazy blue eyes of hers.
"Can we do something today?" She asked me.
"Anything you want, pretty girl," I nod my head. I probably shouldn't have said anything. She's an adrenaline junkie and I don't like it.
"Can we go to the beach please?" We live a couple hours away. I don't mind the drive. It's an excuse to be with her, although she's usually asleep most of the time.
"Yes, ma'am. Anything you want, love," I reply. She smiles at me and her nose crinkles a little bit. I love her.
"Yay! I'll get my blanket and my bathing suit." She gets up out of my arms. I should get up, too. I'm not dressed for the day, but I've already brushed my teeth.
I walk over to my closet and grab a t-shirt and khaki pants before packing my swimming trunks in her tote bag.
---
"Are you ready, sweet girl?" Her hair is in one of those clips in the back of her head. She's wearing one of my t-shirts and a pair of shorts, and her tote bag sits on her right shoulder as she walks to my truck.
"Yes, sir!" She nods her head excitedly. I'm so happy it's me who gets to do these things for her. I walk over and take the bag from her, take the blanket out, and put the bag in the backseat.
I walk over to the passenger side and open the door for her to get in. Before I close the door, I hand her the blanket and buckle her in. She looks at me with those big ole eyes and gives me one of those precious smiles. I love her.
I walk back to my side and get in the truck, ready for a long drive to my girl's favorite place.
"Thank you super much for doing this, Lukey!" She tells me with that same smile on her face.
"Call me Lukey one more time and I'll never do it again, sweet girl."
"You love me too much to mean that." Yes, I do, baby. I just wish you would realize it.
---
She fell asleep thirty minutes into the drive. The only sounds I hear on the long drive are her quiet breathing and the music playing softly on the radio. Thank God for her. There have been so many things in my life that made me want to stop believing in a Creator, but how is it possible that a perfect, almighty, loving God didn't make that sweet girl next to me?
