"Can I tell you something?" Conrad asked.
I only nodded.
"You're the strongest person I know."
To this day, I still think he lied to me. I should be the least strongest person he knows. How did he consider me strong when I could list dozens of peop...
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OUR PHONE CALLS ARE consistent. When we aren't on the phone, talking and laughing about our old memories, we send each other pictures of what we're doing. I'm assuming that since it's summer it's easier to talk to him like this because during the school year I'm busier than I am now. I'm practically free all the time, but when I'm not free, I send a quick picture. He responds with a quick message afterwards.
I might not see him, but I get to talk to him, which is more than I could ever ask for. The huge weight on my shoulders wasn't there anymore to weigh down my happiness. He was doing okay, and so was I.
The people that reside inside the summer house have noticed my constant smiles as I reach for my phone. They have started asking me questions. Mostly Susannah and Belly, but I haven't really answered their questions. I have mostly brushed them off, which didn't help stop their theories. I didn't want to disappoint them. They have concluded that the reason my smiles and happiness were different now than before was because of a boy or girl. Belly teased me about my secret lover. What they didn't know, my amazing relationship with my dad had turned bad. They had no idea that I had been struggling because of it. To be completely honest, I didn't want them to feel guilty about not knowing and I knew they would, especially Josh, so I played along with Belly's and Susannah's crazy fantasies.
"Who are you texting now?" Belly teased, her mouth full of cereal. "Is it Leo?"
"Leo?" Susannah pitched in. "Did she finally give you a name? Do I know this Leo?"
"I'm literally right here." I gave both of them a warning glance, but it was playful.
"Well, maybe if you answered her questions, she wouldn't be so invested in your love affair." Jeremiah said, before chugging down Belly's milk. I wanted to vomit just watching him drink all that milk.
"It's not a love affair," I said, feeling my cheeks grow red. I cannot believe I am playing along with this. It was the last thing I needed, everyone thinking I had a boyfriend.
"She wishes. Sonny has grown into such a hopeless romantic. She looks out of her window and wishes for her Prince or Princess Charming to appear."
"You haven't even had your first kiss yet, niño," I stuck my tongue out and watched as his cheeks grew red.
"Well, seeing as though he's taking Maya to the deb ball, I think that might change," Steven said, sending a wink in Josh's direction.
Alva walked in while Steven talked about Josh. She looked surprised, so she quickly said, "Josh, you're going to be an escort in the debutante ball?"
"Yep, and I am too," Steven danced, jokingly.
"Wait, you too?" Laurel said, from out of no where. She had been standing there the whole time, but hadn't bothered to talk. Well, until now.
