Last Summer

Chapter 4: The Word

I woke up to a certain boy playing with the tips of my hair. I turn over to face him, smiling as I do. He smiles back and kisses my forehead. I laugh, and lean in and kiss his cheek. He laughs and intertwines our fingers together. We stay like this for the longest time until he asks me a question.

"Where is your dad?"

"He- He, um, He died. In Afganistan. About 6 years ago." Tears rush to my eyes. They fall over my eyelids, flooding my face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." He says, taking his thumb and wiping away my tears. He brings me closer. We stay like this for a while as I calm down. I flash back to the day I found out that He was dead.

The phone rings.

"Mama! The phones ringing!" I yell.

"Hello? Yes this is Mrs. Dunbar. Wha-WHAT?!?" She screams. She drops the phone.

I run into the room and look at my mother, lying there bawling on the floor. What happened. I've never seen her this way.

"Mom. What's wrong?" my voice quivers.

"Your Da-Dad has been ki-kill-killed." she cries even more.

I stand in shock. I don't understand. I just stand there for what seems like forever. I lay down next to my mother and cry and cry for hours on end. I remember all the good times I've had with him. I try not to think of it, but memories cloud my head. I can't keep them out.

I attend his funeral. I drown out people expressing their condolences, I want my daddy back. He'll never be there to walk me down the Isle. Or hold my daughters hand. He won't be able to grow old with my mom. I just don't understand this. Why would this happen? To me?

I stop thinking of the memory and look at Will. He feel asleep again, in each others arms. I gently get up and go and brush my teeth. I brush my hair and change clothes also. I'm now wearing athletic shorts and a T-shirt. I go back into my bedroom and find Will, checking his phone on the edge of the bed.

"Hey." I say, going to sit beside him.
"Hey." He says, kissing me on my lips. I've gotten used to this now. I really like it, actually.

"You okay?" He asks, pausing the kiss.

"Yeah, I don't know why I broke down earlier. He's been gone for a while." I say, looking down at my hands.

"Claire, he was your dad. You have every right to break down." He says grabbing my hands and pushing my head so I can look at him.

"Well, I didn't mean to do it in front of you." I say, staring back down at my lap.

"Claire-" He pushes my head back up. "I think I might love you." He pulls his head down.

"Does that scare you?" I ask, pushing his head up. He looks into my eyes.

"I've never loved a girl before, I've had one night stands that meant nothing. But what was supposed to be our one night stand meant everything. I really do think I love you." He says, pressing his lips to mine.

I don't say anything. I don't know what to say. He senses that and gets up and puts on his jacket. He starts towards the door.

"Where are you going?" I ask standing up.

"I just have to leave." He says still walking.

"Please don't leave." I say.

"I have to go." he walks out the door.

I run after him and tackle him. I love this, I love him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He asks.

"Say it, Just say it." I whisper.

"I love you." He whispers back.

"I love you." I whisper, biting my lip.

"I love you." He says, trying out the word again.

We laugh, and stand up. He kisses me passionately. We only stop when I see my mom on the corner of my eye. I look at her, She smiles.

'Y'all are just too cute." She says

'We try." Will shrugs, smiling.

We go to the kitchen table and eat breakfast, My mom half way interrogates Will. He casually answers her questions, his face getting red on a few of them. He looks over at me often, I just smile and occasionally laugh. I love this. I love him.