The Summer of a Lifetime

chapter 31

A few days later, Andrew told me that it was official, and that his dad had moved out.

After he'd moved out, he'd just started staying at his moms house until he could save up to buy his own place.

Andrew still seemed pretty bummed about all of it, and he hadn't talked to any of us much lately. He hasn't been coming to play baseball at all, and my visits to his house have been few and far between.

I knew he needed his space, but I wanted more than anything to hold him in my arms and comfort him. I wanted him to be with all of us and he his happy self again.

One morning, as I was eating my cereal, I heard a knock on the door.

I opened it to see Andrew standing there, and a smile danced across my face at the sight.

He smiled back, but it didn't seem real. His eyes were glossy and the smile didn't reach them.

"I've missed you," I spoke truthfully, enveloping him into a hug "are you going to play baseball today?" I asked him, picking up my glove.

He was hesitant for a second, "Uh, I-I guess..." he muttered softly, shrugging slightly.

"What do you mean you guess?" I asked as we stood there.

He tapped his hands on his jeans slightly, avoiding my gaze.

"I just don't feel like doing much of anything," he looked at the ground, a frown evident on his handsome face.

"Aw come on. It'll make you feel better," I tried to convince him.

"I don't know..." he muttered, running his hand through his hair.

"Come on, let's go!" I said, grabbing his hand.

He tensed up slightly at the sudden touch, and I realized what I'd just done.

I quickly dropped his hand awkwardly.

"S-sorry. Let's j-just go..." I stuttered, turning around.

"Yeah," he said, clasping my hand, "let's go," he smiled at me and I returned it, butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

We walked to the field that way, hand in hand.

When we got there, I gently let go and we walked in.

The boys all smiled at the sight of Andrew walking in, and ushered him to the baseball field, I laughed at how they didn't have to speak to know exactly what they were all thinking.

That day after we played, Andrew and I walked to my house together and I said goodbye, as Kris and Caden walked on the other side of the street, holding hands.

I ran inside my house, seeing my grandpa sitting at the window as usual.

"Who was that boy you were with?" He asked, smiling slightly, referring to Andrew.

"Oh that's just Andrew," I shrugged.

"Are you two dating?" He asked with a knowing grin.

"Wha-no! We're just...friends. Not dating!" I said, much too defensively.

He chuckled, shook his head, "You like him, don't you?"

"No!" I said defensively, then sighed slightly when I looked at his raised eyebrow "okay, yeah. A lot."

"Does he like you back?" He asked me.

"I mean-I don't know. I think he does," I thought for a second, "it's complicated I guess."

"What's he like?"

"Oh, he's wonderful! He's great at baseball and, and he's so nice and caring and he's got these beautiful eyes, and this smile! Don't even get me started on the smile!-" I suddenly realized I was rambling, and stopped talking.

He chuckled, "I can tell you love this boy a lot," he said with a smile.

"How can you tell?" I asked curiously.

"Because when you started talking about him your eyes just lit up," he said with a grin, "and listen, it seems to me that he likes you too, follow your heart, Olivia."

I smiled widely at him, and gave my grandfather a tight hug.