end up going to vet school here, then we’re talking eight years.”
I shake my head. “Can we not talk about it right now?”
We arrive at the lake, the moonlight reflecting along the surface of the dark water. Small lanterns I put around a blanket at the edge of the water glow in the dark. My heart races as his footsteps fall to a stop and he looks at me.
“What’s going on?”
I take his hand and lead him to the blanket. “I didn’t want to just watch a movie in my basement where Kingston or the twins could come in and join us. I wanted to be alone with you.”
A small smile tips his lips as though he’s surprised that I would want that.
Just wait.
“I got all your Lake Starlight favorites. Strawberry pie from Lard Have Mercy, cookies from Sweet Suga Things, and Austin wants me to tell you it was him who went to Carol’s Crabby Shack to pick up hushpuppies and crab legs.”
I fall to my knees on the blanket, but Colton stays standing and takes in all the food and the lanterns.
“Juno.” He shakes his head. “This is amazing.” He drops to his knees and looks me in the eye. It spurs a rush of nerves. “Thank you.”
“You’re my best friend. Did you think I wouldn’t do anything before you left?”
He shrugs. “I would’ve been happy to watch The Hangover. I just wanted my last night to be with you.”
I push back thoughts of this being his last night in Lake Starlight. He’s leaving me, but I want him to. Colorado State has always been his dream, and he deserves it and so much more.
“Let’s eat before it gets too cold.” I open up the takeout Austin picked up for me.
We eat in near silence except for the crickets making their music.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” I abandon my food and walk over to the bench next to the lake.
My dad installed the bench for Grandma Dori because the lake is a place of reflection for my family. During family gatherings, she disappears here to think about my grandpa. I always wonder if I’ll find the same kind of love that she shared with him.
I turn on the speaker so that music interrupts the crickets.
We eat our crab and talk about his new roommate, who he’s talked to over the phone. He doesn’t think he’ll get along with him. I can tell how nervous Colton is to be away from home and not know anyone at his new school. We promise to write letters, emails, and text all the time. And we count how many days he’ll be gone before he returns for the short Thanksgiving break.
After we’re both full from our dinners, “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum comes on the radio and Colton stands, holding his hand out for me.
“Dance with me,” he says.
“I can’t dance.” I shake my head, cleaning up our containers.
“As a gift to me?”
“Hey, I got you that nifty shower caddy thing.”
He chuckles and continues to hold his arm out to me. “Come on, Juno. One dance.”
I accept his hand and rise off the blanket. His arms wrap around my waist, and I lock my hands behind his neck. We’re so close, my nipples peak under the thin T-shirt I’m wearing. Since we’re both in shorts, the hair on his legs rubs on my thighs as we circle around in one spot, our feet barely moving, but our emotions swirling like a tornado building momentum.
Tears build in my eyes and I lay my head on his chest, trying to commit the sound of his heartbeat to memory. I can’t remember a day when we haven’t seen one another, other than when his family goes on vacation.
His arms tighten around me and his chin rests on the top of my head. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
I slide my arms from his neck to around his middle, hugging him. “I’m going to miss you too.”
We’ve conveyed this string of words to one another before. It’s no surprise to either of us, but maybe it’s the slow song or the fact we’re hugging tighter than I’ve ever hugged him before, but the words hold more weight and emotion this time around. A single tear rolls down my cheek.
The song comes to an end and “Firework” by Katy Perry plays. He loosens his arms.
I rest my chin on his chest, staring up at him. “I have one more gift for you.”
He runs his thumb along