when he picks me up. I was waiting outside and jumped in as soon as he pulled up.
"Better than I thought she'd be. She wasn't drinking."
"Did you guys talk at all?"
"No. She didn't want to. She went in her room to sleep. Lou's coming over at seven, so the later we stay out the better."
"How about all night? We could sleep in the back."
I laugh. "Yeah, okay."
"I mean it. This thing's got plenty of room. If I put the seats down, it's just like a bed. I even have a sleeping bag if you get cold."
"I think Nate's mom would notice if you didn't come home."
"I'm an adult. I can do what I want."
"But she'd worry. She'd call police and have them looking for you. Or she'd call your parents. Hey, are they still coming here this weekend?"
"They say they are, but I'll believe it when I see it. You're still coming to dinner with us, right?"
"I will, but I'm nervous they won't like me. I guess it doesn't matter. They don't know we're dating. They'll just think I'm Nate's friend."
He rolls down his window. "It's a nice night. You want to get some dinner and eat at the lake?"
"We don't have a lake."
"Not in town, but there's that one just outside of town. Let's try it. It's something we haven't done before."
"Okay."
We stop and get dinner, then drive out to the lake. Nobody's there because it's just a lake. There's no picnic tables or benches to sit on. But the lake's pretty to look at, and it's nice having the place to ourselves.
When we're finished eating, Brad puts the seats down in the back of the SUV and we lie there, looking out at the lake.
"I don't have anywhere to go tomorrow," I say, watching the ripples in the water.
"You have the pool."
"Not until the afternoon. I'm used to getting up early and going to the salon."
"You'll find another job."
"But what if I don't?" I turn on my side, facing him.
He does the same, his eyes locking with mine. "Come with me."
"Where?"
"To New York. Come with me. It's a huge city. There are plenty of jobs."
"Brad, you know I can't leave here. Not when my mom's such a mess."
"Your mom will be fine. If you come with me, we could be together. This wouldn't have to end after the summer."
"Is that what's going to happen? We're breaking up?"
"I wasn't planning on it but..." He looks down. "I guess I don't know."
"We can't really keep this going if you're halfway across the country. So I guess that's our answer." I choke up at the thought of having to tell him goodbye. Up until now, I haven't let my mind go there, choosing to believe the summer would never end. But it will, and soon. It's July. Brad's leaving next month.
"Would you at least consider it before saying no?" he asks.
"Even if I went with you, it wouldn't work. We'd get out there and you'd be gone all the time. You'd be at class or studying. You wouldn't have time for me."
"I'd still see you. When I was home, you'd be there."
"You're living in the dorms. I can't live there with you."
"Then we'll get an apartment."
"In New York? Are you crazy? Rent costs a fortune there."
"My parents are paying for it. I'm not. And they don't care where I live."
"They would if you were living with a girl. A girl they don't approve of. We can't even tell them we're dating. Even if we could, they can't afford an apartment in New York. They're broke."
"They're not broke. They just have less money than they used to. And if they don't want to pay for it, I'll use the money in my college account. We could make this work. You just need to say yes." He cups my face. "Say you'll move in with me."
"Brad, we can't do this. We haven't dated that long. We haven't even had—"
"I know." He scoots closer. "But it's not because I didn't want to. I've wanted to for weeks."
"You have?"
"God, yes. Are you kidding me?" He brings my face to his and talks over my mouth. "It's nearly impossible to hold myself back when I'm around you. The things I want to do to you." His lips brush against mine and a shiver runs through me.
"Like what?" I whisper.
"I don't want to say it. Even just thinking about it is working me up." His arm goes around my waist and he slides me over until I'm