Griff ran his hand over his face and sighed. “When you come to your senses call me. I won’t wait forever, Sailor but I will wait.”
I said nothing but stood there looking at the floor and holding the door open. He paused as he was walking out and I thought he was going to say more. He didn’t and I was thankful for that small gift. Once he was outside, I latched the screen and closed the door. Standing there for a moment, I considered what would happen next. Then I reached up and bolted the door.
Tonight, nothing would happen. I wasn’t ready to face Creed. I didn’t know what to say to him or how to say it. I just needed to sleep in my bed and be alone.
Images of Creed with another woman on his lap plagued me as I took the steps to get ready for bed. I started to take a shower and realized the last time I’d been in there had been with Creed. Instead I went to the guest bathroom and bathed. Tears fell silently as tonight replayed in my head and I wondered if this would be the moment that I never forgot. Would I regret this decision the rest of my life?
Twenty-four
July 22, 2014
Miller State Park, New Hampshire
The night sky was so clear out here that we could see every star. Creed’s hand held mine as we laid in the bed of his truck, taking in the beauty around surrounding us. When he had asked me if I wanted to go to Monadnock Mountain on our date tonight I’d thought it seemed like an odd choice, but now we were here, I realized it was perfect. This summer Gran had allowed me later nights out with Creed and sometimes Cora, but she was with her boyfriend more and more.
Next summer we would all be high school graduates and getting ready to go off to college. Thinking about it scared me because I wouldn’t have our summers anymore. Creed and Cora kept talking about us hiking the Appalachian Trail next summer or at least the northern half of it. If Creed was going to be there then I was all for it. I wasn’t a hiker like the two of them were though. Nashville wasn’t filled with hiking trails like New Hampshire was.
I felt Creed’s head turn and I knew he was looking at me now and not the sky. I met his gaze and smiled. He was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. I could look at him all day and never get bored. I didn’t tell him this though or he’d think I was insane. Sometimes I thought I might be when it came to him. Loving someone as much as I did Creed was new to me and frightening. I’d always stayed closed off and protected my emotions. I’d learned at an early age from my parents that if you loved, you could get hurt. They’d hurt me plenty until I had gotten old enough to keep my feelings for them locked down.
With Creed, I had gone all in and every moment I was with him, I was happy. He made me happier than I’d ever thought I could be. Leaving him after this summer and going back to Nashville pained me to think about. I didn’t want to leave him ever.
While my head was full of all the fears, hopes, and wishes where Creed was involved, Creed reached over and touched my cheek then leaned in to press his lips to mine. Kissing him was my favorite thing in the world. I moved closer to him and pressed my hand on top of his and kissed him back. He always tasted of peppermint.
His hand slid down my neck, and I let my hand rest on is face while he pulled my leg up over his. I felt the sundress I was wearing slide up my thigh, but we had made out heavy many times and it didn’t bother me. I loved getting as close to Creed as I could. I made a sound in my throat that encouraged him and his hand moved under my sundress until he was cupping my bottom. That was exciting and my breathing was coming quicker.
Creed stopped kissing me, but he didn’t move his face away from mine.
“I love you, Sailor,” he whispered.
“I love you, too,” I replied, smiling at the sweetness of his words.
His hand slid between my upper thighs then and I felt his finger slip inside the satin of my panties. I stopped breathing all together as he began to explore me. My right hand squeezed his upper arm and I managed to suck in some oxygen, just before his finger entered me. “Oh god.” My words sounded like a moan, and if it didn’t feel so good, I would be embarrassed.