Now, she sat near the edge with her legs crossed. Joining her, he said, “I didn’t think I’d ever see you out here again.”
When she looked at him in confusion, he explained how he liked to go out there to be alone and think. It was his place. She had the treehouse; he had the cliff. She lifted the corner of the blanket, inviting him inside. He gratefully accepted. She still had his sweatshirt, and it was freezing that early in the morning.
Instead of sitting next to her, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her to his lap before wrapping the blanket around them both. She leaned back into his chest as he held her tight, waiting for the sun to rise and start their final day.
23
Sunday
Dark blue faded into lighter hues before melding into oranges and pinks as the sun broke the horizon. Behind them, birds chirped in the trees. Lila bit at her bottom lip, trying and failing to hold back the tears.
“It’s beautiful.” Her words were just a whisper, but Gavin’s arms tightened around her.
He let go with one hand and shifted. She closed her eyes, letting the sun rays warm her. He kissed her temple, and when she opened her eyes once more, he held her phone out with the camera facing them. She smiled, and he captured the moment before putting the phone back down at their side. Beneath the blanket, he wrapped his arm back around, entwining his fingers with hers.
The sun lifted higher and higher, bringing life to the woods around them. They sat in silence, neither saying a word. Lila never wanted the peaceful moment to end. The pain was minimal, the lush green valley below brightened, and she had the boy she loved holding her.
The thought nearly stole her breath.
“What’s wrong?” Gavin asked.
Of course, he could sense her emotions. He’d always been able to tell when something was off. Until their miscommunication and fighting, he was always the one to cheer her up too.
She shifted in his lap, turning to see him. “We wasted so much time.”
“Lila, I—”
“No, stop.” She put a finger to his lips, cutting him off, and moved to fully face him. “I know we can’t go back and change things. Just make me a promise?”
“Anything,” he said, lifting a hand to her cheek.
“You said we could start over if I forget, didn’t you?” When he nodded, she continued, “Then, come back to me. Meet me again. Annoy me until we’re friends again.”
He pulled her closer, brushing his lips over hers. She lingered for a moment before leaning back to look in his eyes. She hadn’t wanted to say it—she intended to just show him how she felt—but the words were right there. Waiting.
With a deep breath, she whispered against his mouth, “Stay with me until I fall in love with you again.”
After a shaky exhale, he said, “I promise.”
Lila kissed him again, putting every emotion into the touch. The blanket dropped off his shoulders behind him as his hands skimmed her sides. She rocked forward, twisting her fingers up through his hair. He held her impossibly close.
Pushing him back to lie on the blanket, she lowered her hands to his chest. His pulse raced beneath her fingertips, and she smiled against his lips. She opened her eyes, sitting up enough to look down at the person she’d known since birth. They’d taken their first steps together, celebrated their first birthdays together. He was with her the first day of school, refusing to leave her side because she was scared when the teacher tried to separate them.
In turn, she was there the time he had to get stitches from a bicycle crash when they were eight. She sat with him all night, holding his hand, when his parents’ fighting began. She went to every baseball game and tournament to cheer him on.
Lila sat up. Gavin stared at her, but his confusion turned to desire as she lifted his sweatshirt up over her head and tossed it to the side. He raised up to press his lips to hers before carefully turning and pushing her down to lie in his spot. Her heart hammered in her chest as he hovered over her.
Gavin was her first friend and her first love. Everything about him screamed into her soul, claiming a spot in her heart. He was hers. And no matter what happened in the next few days, Lila would find her way back to him.
“And where have you two been?” Dylan asked as Gavin and Lila walked out of the woods and into their backyards.
Gavin let go of Lila’s hand to put an arm around her. Pulling her close, he kissed the side of her head. The blush spreading across her cheeks made him grin. “Watching the sunrise. It was the last thing on her bucket list.”
It wasn’t, but it seemed they’d crossed off conquering a fear too. According to her, it was admitting she loved him. He wondered if it was what happened after though. It didn’t matter. Either way, he was happy.
“Uh huh,” Kaley said from her spot on one of the mattresses.
Lila ducked her head, making it more apparent they were off doing more than watching the sunrise. She was a horrible liar. Dylan laughed, and Gavin shot a glare in his direction as he sat with Lila. His friend held up his hands, palms out, in front of his chest. Sitting beside him, Beth Ann punched him in the arm.
“Ow!”
“Good morning,” Mrs. Weston called, walking from their back doors.
Her husband followed close behind. He narrowed his eyes at Gavin sitting on the same mattress as his daughter. Uncomfortable guilt shot through Gavin, and he avoided the man’s stare, worried he’d see what they’d been up to written across his face.
“We have breakfast cooking for everyone,” Mrs. Weston said.
