Summer Spent with You

Chapter Seventeen: Here We Go Again

Ava's Pov

“We'd better get out of here,” Parker said, but he made no move to get up.

“Can't we just stay here for a little longer?” I asked with a yawn.

He leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss, “I wish… but if Molly or Brandon catch us in this position, we'll both be dead.”

I groaned, “Fine.”

I tossed back the covers and went in search of my clothes which were scattered everywhere. Parker pulled on a pair of boxers and some shirts and ran to the front hallway where I had left my shirt. I tried to make myself look presentable, like I hadn't just rolled around in bed. I caught Parker watching me with a grin.

“Is something amusing you, Mr. Stevens?”

“You're just so cute,” He said, still smiling.

“And you're such a kissass.”

“Come on, I want some ice cream.” He extended his hand out to me.

“Ice cream and an afternoon car ride?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“I suppose that we can go driving.”

I placed my hand in his, “Then let's go.”

A little while later, after we had our bellies full of homemade peach ice cream from Sugar's, we got into the truck and just drove. We spent the afternoon taking old back roads that led to no where. I would point out things to him, like the bridge all of my friends loved to jump off of and the spot by the creek where everyone loved to meet. Occasionally, I sang along to the radio and wowed him with my fabulous voice and dance moves, but mainly we talked. We talked about our childhoods and how much we had both hated middle school. I told him what I wanted for my future and all of the silly little things that I hoped for, that I had never told anyone else. He told me that he wanted to be a doctor, like his grandfather but that he didn't think his parents actually believed he could do it.

“This has been nice.” I said when we pulled into the driveway at my house.

“I know… I kinda just want to keep driving.”

“And never come back.” I smiled at him. I felt the same way.

“Looks like everyone is here,” He said as he parked by Aunt Hope’s car. The front yard was full of vehicles that belonged to the aunts and uncles and grandparents.

“Put your game face on Parker.”

“God Ava, do you ever stop talking? You're so annoying…. How's that?” He asked.

“Very nice. How's this - ugh, you're such a pig Parker. I can't stand you.”

“Believable.” He grinned and moved to get out of the truck.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Ava.”

And then we got out the truck and the switch flipped. We were back to being the Ava and Parker who couldn't stand each other.

"Where have you two been all day?" Mama asked when we stepped into the living room.

My heart was pounding in my chest. She didn't know, right? There was no way that she could know.... Right?

"We went swimming, got ice cream and I showed him the sights." I told her, leaving out a few minor details.

"And of course Ava enjoyed that because it meant she got to talk non stop." Parker said with a grin.