First & Forever

Chapter 27: William

MAY

We get settled back on the floor in front of the fire, her legs draped back over mine as I hand her a fork.

"What are you up to tomorrow?" Her face lights up after taking a bite of the key lime pie. "Okay, this one is really good."

"Um, I was actually going to start packing," I answer hesitantly.

"Are you all going to the beach early this year?" she asks, reaching for the chocolate cake.

"No, we, uh - We aren't going this year," I answer, looking at the pie in my hand.

"Oh." Her eyes go wide and I can see her trying to hide the sadness beneath them. "You mean packing for..."

I nod, feeling the usual jumble of emotions. "For West Point. Yeah."

"When do you leave?" she asks, poking at the chocolate cake in her hand.

"Three weeks. I need to start making sure I have everything ready to go."

"I'm really sorry that I've been avoiding talking about it. How are you? Are you nervous?" she asks, setting the cake down as she studies me.

"Trust me, I've very much enjoyed avoiding it," I say with a knowing smile, making her blush. "But, yeah. Extremely nervous," I admit, setting the to-go boxes off to the side.

"Hey..." She shifts forward, taking my face in her hands. "You're going to do amazing there. You're William Rhodes. You'd do amazing anywhere," she says with an adoring gaze.

I laugh hesitantly. "I'm afraid you only see the good in me, Elle."

She smiles, rubbing my cheeks with her thumbs. "There is only good in you, Will. You may have a penchant for pessimism, but even your flaws are good."

I chuckle, lightly tracing the freckles on her thigh. "Are you scared?"

"Terrified," she admits.

My brows come together. "Of what?" I ask, curious as to what the most optimistic person I know could be scared of.

"Where to start..." She laughs nervously. "That I made the wrong decision in going to Middlebury College. That it's too close to Wembley or too expensive for my parents. That my coach won't be any different than Radler. That I won't be able to handle the classes. That I'm too quiet to make friends. That I won't fit in." She pauses, looking down at her hands. "That you'll forget me."

"Elle..." I wait for her to meet my eyes. "How could I ever forget you? I may play it cool, but I'm terrified of letting you go." I release a heavy breath. "I think I'm afraid that if I do, you'll find there's way better out there than me."

She lets out a little laugh. "And I'm afraid that if you do, no one and nothing will ever compare. We may be young, but I observe. A lot." She shakes her head. "There's nothing like this. Like us. I know that," she says with a gentle confidence and looking into her eyes I get the sense that - somehow, someway - no matter where life takes me, all roads will lead back to her.

"I think you're right," I agree, pulling her into my chest to kiss her head.

"Your turn. What are you scared of?" she asks, shifting to rest her head in my lap.

"The unknown, mostly. I feel like I'm walking blind going into West Point." I pause, running my fingers through her hair. "That I'll waste my potential. That I'll never be different enough. Never prove to myself that I can break through what people here seem to accept as the limit. That I won't make people proud. My parents, myself... You," I say, brushing a finger down her neck.