Summer Girl

Summer Girl - Chapter 33

Chapter THIRTY THREE 

"Hi," he said to me, as if he hadn't just hid from me for a week. I mean, I had done the same to him before, but still. He had this look in his eyes that was trying to tell me something. I didn't know what it was.

   I didn't even bother to text him during those few days - though it wasn't like I was sitting around crying, either. Max - and Juliet - had kept me busy, as well as Layla trying to steal me away for girl time. I had only been in Lakeland for a week and it already felt more like home than Siesta ever did. I had wanted to text Harley, many times. But I wanted to let him to come to me. 

   "Hey," I said, trying hard to act like I was calm now. My hands were sweaty. He had surprised me, which I wasn't a fan of. I wasn't calm, on the inside.

   "You're hanging out with Layla?" he asked, looking past me. She was pretending to not listen to our conversation. I nodded, not saying anything. He had more to say, I knew that. "So, I don't know if you thought about all of this, or not... but I did. A lot. I sat by myself in that old house that I grew up in... thinking."

   "Okay..."

   "I'm pretty sure I thought up every scenario possible. I considered everything, and every time, in the end, I end up either with you, or wanting to be with you," he went on.

   I let myself smile. "Okay."

   "That's it?" he asked, his expression unsure. "Okay?"

   "No, that's not it, Harley," I told him. "I was busy this past week, helping Max with wedding stuff, getting to know your family, your Mom, Layla... the days were busy, but when I laid down at night, trying to sleep, I just wished I was with you."

   "But you were with Max," he said, then grinned. "Are you going to stay for the wedding?"

   "Do you want me to?" I asked.

   "Of course."

   "Good, because your Mom already told me I pretty much have to."

   "Izzie..." His face softened, and he stepped forward, close.

   "Hm?" I said, quickly.

   "Can I please kiss you?" he asked, his eyes bright and excited, not unlike the first time he asked me this same question, in that bedroom at his dad's cottage.

   "Okay," I said, then stuck my tongue out at him. "Yes."

   So he kissed me, not waiting another second, wrapping his arms around my waist. I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes. I forgot where we were, who might see us; I just kissed him back, so happy he was there.

   "Get a room, geez," Layla laughed, slamming her door.

   I laughed, as Harley kept kissing me. He was so passionate and strong, and I held his head, fingers in his hair. He moaned quietly, then broke the kiss, looking into my eyes.

   "So, whenever I sleep here, I sleep on a fold out couch upstairs, in the weird attic room," he said, his mouth only an inch from mine.

   "Oh," I replied, unsure why he was telling me this.

   "Do you want to... go see it?" he asked, eager to kiss me again.

   I just nodded, and he grabbed my hand.

   Once we were up there, he pulled me towards the couch. There wasn't much else in the room, besides some book shelves. It wasn't folded out as a bed, but for now that didn't matter. Harley sat, pulling me into his lap. He put his forehead against mine, then let out a deep breath.