Summer Girl

Summer Girl - Chapter 34

Chapter THIRTY FOUR

"Thank you for the dance," I said to Max, as we walked back over to where Harley was waiting.

   "My pleasure. I'm so glad you found your way back to us," he told me.

   "Me too."

   He kissed my cheek and motioned at Harley, who was lingering nearby, waiting to get me back in his arms.

   Harley handed me a plastic cup from the bar - a mixed drink of some sort - and I took a sip from the tiny straw. It was so sweet, I made a face. He laughed, as I watched Max walk off, back towards the dance floor again.

   "Not good?" he asked me.

   "So much sugar," I replied, but took another sip.

   "Ahh." Harley sipped the drink in his hand, then reached down to wrap his fingers around mine. 

   "So, what's the big news about Melbourne," I asked, not waiting for him to tell me.

   He froze, thinking. "Max told you?"

   "No. Well, he asked if you had told me."

   "I was waiting."

   "Okay?"

   "I wanted to make sure we were really... good." He looked unsure, but only slightly.

   "And we are," I said quickly. "Right?"

   "Yes. So... I got a full scholarship, to play baseball." His expression didn't change.

   "You did?" I asked, surprised. 

   He nodded, letting himself smile. "I knew the scouts were out here in May at my High School ball tournament finals, but I didn't actually think they were interested in me. I met with a few, my coach talked me up a bit..."

   "That's amazing, Harley," I told him, looking up at his face.

   "I got the acceptance a couple months ago, you know? But they just sent out their scholarship list," he went on.

   "That's great," I said again, then hugged him tightly. 

   "Yeah. So... I'm leaving in a week." He said this while I was still wrapped around him.  Maybe he didn't want to see the look on my face.

   "Right." My heart sank. I wanted to be happy for him.

   He grabbed for my hand again, as I stepped back. "But the good news is... I can live off campus now, since I got a full ride. I thought I had to live in the dorms, since it was way cheaper..."

   "Okay..." I was confused.

  "Izzie, I want you to come. I want you to live with me," he said, keeping a straight face, waiting for my reaction.

   My eyes went wide. "What?"

   "We can get an apartment. We can be together." He was so excited, I could tell.

   "You want me to move to Melbourne with you?" I asked, still in shock.

   "Yes," he said quickly. "Can you? Do you want to?" 

   I took in a deep breath, then wrapped myself around him again. "Yes, of course I do. Yes."

   He kissed me, his body vibrating with excitement. "Wow. I wasn't sure what you'd say."