Summer Sweat (Spruce Texas)

“I still miss you.”

His hand slides up my naked body and takes hold of mine, our fingers weaving together, then pressing to my heart. “I think you might be missing your friends more.”

I give that some thought. Maybe he’s right. It was bittersweet, bidding Julio and Benji farewell when they left together for Austin. It was a Saturday when I dropped by to help them pack, then said goodbye, and demanded they keep in touch. I’d already seen pics of their apartment from when they scoped it out. I wonder if there is some other version of me that would have chosen to go with them—a third person in their vehicle, with all my luggage, tearing down the road with the music blasting on my way to UT, the place I insisted I wanted to go. Life feels so different now.

“I do miss them,” I admit, “but in a happy way. I know I’ll see them again every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and maybe spring break, too. And of course all next summer.”

“That’s very true.”

“But … if we lose touch, or they make a lot of new friends, or join some crazy fraternity … and maybe they don’t come back to Spruce as often …” I shrug. “I guess that’s just part of life, too. You don’t always keep in touch. Sometimes you outgrow friends. Or …” It’s difficult to picture my life without my buddies. But maybe this strange, self-discovering summer has shown me what that’s like. “Or you find new ones yourself. Regardless, this summer’s shown me that I’ll never be alone, no matter what.”

“Me neither, thanks to you.”

I turn my head slightly. “Me?”

“You’re the reason I’ve gotten so much closer to Billy, Lance, even my best friend Tanner. Hell, even my parents know now, and we’ve never been closer, even with them all the way in Houston.”

I remember the conversation vividly. I was there, holding his hand and encouraging him. “I can’t wait to meet them someday.”

“Oh, they’ll be here for Christmas, I’m sure. I think Jimmy and Bobby invited them to the big wedding. They invited damned near everyone, actually. Toby and his boyfriend, too.”

Toby and his boyfriend … I try to imagine how I’ll feel when I see them again. Now that I’ve got Harrison in my life, I imagine I’d feel pretty damned happy. Hell, maybe we can all go on a double date when they’re in town. Or is that pushing it too far?

“I think I’ve finally come to a decision,” I announce. Harrison shifts his head, listening. “The polo.”

After a moment, he nods affirmatively. “Thought so.”

Soon, I’m fully dressed with my backpack over my shoulders, ready for class. Harrison’s got just his jeans on when he walks me out of the cabin and stands at the foot of the porch to see me off. “You sure you don’t want me to give you a ride?” he asks, crossing his arms. “I made myself free today, just in case.”

I shake my head. “I know, and I appreciate that, but I got this. It’s just a fast drive down the road, anyway. Fairview Community’s showin’ as just an eighteen-minute drive from here on my phone,” I say, giving it a wiggle in my hand.

Harrison smiles at me, warm and happy.

“Wait!” a voice cries out from the bunkhouse across the yard.

I turn to find a bunch of faces pouring out of the mudroom. First it’s Emmalea, the one who cried out. “Don’t you go leavin’ for your first day without letting us say good luck!” she shouts. Then Turtle comes out with a bigger smile on his face than I thought he’s physically capable of. Fred and Rust are next, followed by Miguel, whose hair is now just past his shoulders.

“Aww, you guys,” I call out to them as we meet in the middle of the yard. “Look, it ain’t that big a deal. I’m just gone two days a week. I’m still here. There’s nothin’ to cry about or—”

Emmalea slams into me with the biggest, lung-crushing hug that could even rival Harrison’s worst. She’s in tears when she pulls away. “Oh, Lord, Jesus, help me, I am terrible at goodbyes!”

“It ain’t goodbye!” I protest.

Soon I’m swarmed by all of them giving their version of a good luck, congratulation, or farewell—despite the fact that I am going to be right back here in a matter of six or so hours for a nice and lovely dinner Emmalea is preparing. It’s ridiculous, really, the amount of emotion that’s pouring out of her right now. Of course, she has no kids of her own, and though she could technically pass as my much older sister or young aunt, she’s taken somewhat of a maternal role over me. Who am I to deny her that?

Soon, I’ve made my rounds, assured everyone I would be back for dinner. Then I’m at my car—which I was able to get, thanks to Lee’s dad pulling his strings at the local dealership—and waving goodbye to everyone, including a smiling, happy Harrison. I start the engine, then take off down the dirt road off of Gary’s property. The farm grows smaller and smaller in my rearview as I make my way out to Fairview, whistling to myself with the windows down and the air blasting its way in. Summer is slowly letting down her hair as the cooler, gentler fingers of autumn start taking over.