Summer Forever Read Online Free Page B

dating and up until a few weeks ago, would have never believed that I’d avoid him like this. Things change though, and you can never underestimate the power of a guilty conscious.
    Around five in the afternoon, I get a text from Park. Although I’m lying on my back on my bed, propped up by a bunch of pillows with my open notebook of vocabulary words in my lap, I’ve been accidently watching Netflix for the last hour.
    Park: Wanna grab some dinner?
    Just seeing the word dinner makes my stomach ache. I’m starving and Park loves all of the same food places that I do. Brendan always whined whenever I wanted anything other than pizza or burgers.
    Me: Totally. Pick me up soon?
    Park: Be there in 20
    Even though I spend the next few minutes getting dressed and brushing my hair, twenty minutes blows my quicker than it feels. There’s a knock at my door and I glance behind me, seeing Park’s truck waiting on the side of the road. With one last look in the mirror, I frown at how my highlights are growing out pretty terribly, and then open my bedroom door.
    “You don’t have to knock and then wait out in the hallway, you know,” I tell Park as he walks inside my room. He doesn’t answer. He just slips his hands around my waist and pulls me toward him, making his lips crash into mine. As we kiss, the feel of him so close to me makes my heart ache with longing. I’m starting to think we’ll never stop kissing each other until I hear Mom’s footsteps on the stairs.
    We pull apart and I take a few steps backward until I’m in front of my easel. Mom appears in the doorway. “Park said you were going out for dinner? Could you get me something to go?”
    “Sure,” I say, feeling my chest heave with the leftover adrenaline of making out with Park just seconds ago. “We don’t know where we’re going yet.”
    “That’s fine, just call me when you get there and I’ll pick something.” She digs through her jeans pocket and takes out a twenty dollar bill.
    “It’s on me,” Park says, waving her hand away and flashing her that million dollar smile of his. Mom smiles and gives his arm a good squeeze. “Thank you, dear. I appreciate it.”
    Behind his back, she gives me that little smirky smile thing that’s supposed to be secret code for how much she likes my boyfriend. I roll my eyes but deep down I’m glad Mom likes Park. Because I like him too. And I should really stop avoiding him and figure out a way to make this life with him perfect and not guilt-inducing.
    Now if only I can accomplish that without throwing up on myself first.
     
     
    “So is anything bothering you?” Park asks before he’s even taken a bite of his burger. We’re at a local diner, which ended up being our last resort when we couldn’t think of a better restaurant for dinner. But as it turns out, it was a great choice because the burgers are freaking delicious.
    “Honestly, Park…” As soon as the words are out of my mouth I close it back up again and begin stirring the sugar around my sweet tea.
    “You definitely need to finish that statement.” Park sets his burger down and looks at me. “You’re not about to break up with me, are you?”
    “What? No!” I shake my head so furiously it might fall right off my neck. “No, babe. I love you. A lot.”
    “Good,” he says, letting out a breath. “As long as that’s clear, take your time letting me know what’s wrong.” There’s a smile at the corner of his mouth as he takes a bite. “Damn these things are good.”
    “That’s what I told you five minutes ago,” I say with a laugh. “But no…you had to eat fries first.”
    He shrugs and takes another bite. “We should come here more often.”
    I nod. “Totally.”
    “So what’s wrong?”
    I roll my eyes. “You told me I could take my time.”
    “Yeah and it’s been like two minutes. Surely that’s enough time?” He winks at me when I give him an annoyed look.
    “Fine.” I take a long sip of tea and then sit back