a good family. Why wouldn’t she like you?”
“You’re just saying all this because you’re my cousin. But I’ll agree with you, it’s my senior year and time to get my shit together.”
He takes a deep breath, his blue eyes widening with slight fear until the usually confident boy I have loved so dearly walks away toward his crush.
I watch from across the pool until arms wrap around my waist as the familiar masculine scent invades the air around me, radiating warmth throughout my chest.
“My girl,” his voice whispers in my ear.
Unable to hide my smile, I turn around and wrap my arms around Austin’s neck. The warm honey hues in his eyes, mixed with caramel, reflect a hazel color I’ve only ever seen when he gazes upon me.
“You’re here.”
“I said I would be.” His smile is so wide, baring his perfectly straight white teeth. “Besides, I’m kind of fond of you.”
I smack his chest softly, his face pained, though only momentarily.
Austin and I have dated all through high school. In terms of relationships in high school, this is considered long-term. Being the gentlemen he is, Austin offered to meet my father, and much to my surprise, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be. It started off shaky, my father, of course, interrogating poor Austin. But when Austin mentioned med school, it all shifted. There was somewhat of a respectful exchange of conversation. I recall Mom telling me that my father studied to be a doctor, though never really elaborated on why he changed professions.
There was, however, one rule. We were never to be alone. Andy chaperoned us on more than one occasion, or Ava, but both of them would abandon us enough to spend time making out or fool around. We just never had sex, something I know Austin wants.
“I love this song,” I say as the music continues to blast. “Let’s dance.”
We dance beside the pool, his hands never leaving my waist. He spends most of his time buried in my neck until he suggests we go somewhere quieter.
Austin leads me toward the kitchen, through a deserted hallway, and up a flight of stairs until we’re on the second level. Opening a door, he pulls me into the room, then presses his lips against mine.
“Austin,” I murmur, out of breath with my hands on his chest. “We shouldn’t be up here.”
He pulls away, his gaze exploring my face until he’s drawn to my lips. There’s a bed in the room and a sofa by the window. Taking my hand, he guides me to the sofa, where the two of us sit.
“So, did you open the envelopes?” he asks, yet much like me, we both try to avoid this topic tonight.
I nod, gently scratching the top of his hand. “I got into all of them.”
“What?” His expression illuminates. “That’s amazing!”
“Yeah, it is…”
“Why the face? You’re not happy?”
“I’m happy I got into three excellent schools, but… well… my father doesn’t exactly approve of me attending Yale. In fact, he said no.”
“C’mon, Miel, you know he’ll come around.”
“I don’t know. Besides, if I stay local, then you’ll be here, right?”
Austin pulls back, scratching the back of his neck. His body language changes, or perhaps my chaotic thoughts are reading too much into this.
“I got into John Hopkins.”
My mouth falls open. “John Hopkins? I didn’t realize you’d applied. I thought you wanted to go to Stanford?”
“Last-minute change.” He lowers his head, avoiding my gaze.
I turn away, my heavy stare shifting toward the window. We have talked so much about this, where we applied and what we wanted to do. Never once did he mention John Hopkins. Part of me feels betrayed that he held this secret from me. No matter what, I’d have been supportive.
“Baltimore,” I drag, trying to make sense of this all. “I guess if I stayed here, we could see each other… somehow.”
“You know what?” His lips curve upward with hopeful eyes following. “Why do we have to worry about it right now?”
“You’re right,” I agree, leaning in to kiss his lips.
With a sense of urgency, he takes my mouth and kisses me deeply. His body slowly hovers above mine, pinning me down on the sofa. I let out a soft moan as his lips trail toward my neck, and his hand moves beneath my dress, skirting at the edge of my panties.
“Austin,” I gasp, trying to control my urges. “Not here.”
It falls on deaf ears as he moves his hands over my panties, causing me to