“Thank you,” I tell her, because I know it would hurt her feelings to turn them down, and honestly I really love them and don’t want to. I move to give her a hug and she holds me tight. “I love you.”
She leans back and cups my cheek. “I love you, too, sweetheart. Like you’re my own.” She kisses me on each cheek and I feel like I could cry. “One day Reed is going to marry you and give you our last name, but you’re already a part of us where it matters most.” She touches the place over my heart. “And then, much later, you'll give me lots of grandbabies.”
A burst of laughter comes from me and it helps scare away the tears that threaten to break free.
“Much, much later.” She lifts an all too knowing eyebrow and I’m sure Reed already told his mom and dad we aren't coming home tomorrow night. My face heats and she smiles as she shakes her head. “Remember what I said about using protection.”
I nod quietly and stare at the box in my hands.
“Try them on, I want to see.” She claps excitedly and I sit down in the chair and slip them on.
They fit perfectly, and as I look at the shoes I can’t help thinking that tomorrow is the start of a whole new life. Reed and I graduate soon and we’ve been talking about getting a place together.
“Have you thought about what you want to do?” I look up at Kathy when she asks the question like she’s reading my mind. She’s always good at that, just like Reed.
“I’m not sure.” I shrug because I don’t want to say what’s in my heart. It’s silly for a girl my age to want it because I should be thinking about going to college and having a career, but my mind is on having a family.
“You know whatever it is you want, we’ll support you, sweetheart.” I stand in the heels feeling more confident with her reassurance.
“Thank you,” I tell her again, and not just for the shoes. She’s done so much for me for so long that I know I’ll never be able to repay her kindness.
“Us girls gotta stick together,” she laughs right as both Mike and Reed walk into the room.
“You’re going to fall in these things, Dimples,” Reed says as he picks me up and my feet dangle off the ground.
I rest my hands on his broad chest and it doesn’t go unnoticed that he’s really turned into a man these last few years. I don’t know if it’s normal or if it’s all that football practice. Either way he’s bigger than his father.
“Not with you carrying me all the time,” I joke with him, and he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Dinner’s done,” Mike says as Reed puts me back on my feet and I take off the heels and put them back into the box.
The four of us sit down to eat because my dad never joins us. He's been getting more and more reclusive lately and he disappears for hours. He talks even less than he used to, which is saying a lot because he didn't talk much before. I’ve tried with him, but it’s hard when I’m around Reed’s parents and then I go home to my dad who barely says three words to me. I’ve kind of given up and I’m not trying to force conversation anymore. I’ve quit inviting him to have dinner together with the Sanders and they’ve stopped asking if he’s coming.
I push away all thoughts of my dad as we eat dinner and have a great night. All too soon the sun has set and Reed’s parents clean up after dinner and go inside for the night. Reed and I stay on the back deck, and when they’re gone he leans over and kisses me on the neck. It’s a soft touch at first and I let out a sigh, wanting more.
“Tomorrow I’ll know you in all ways,” he whispers against my skin, and my whole body heats.
He pulls me into his lap and then he kisses me with urgency. He digs his fingers into my hair and I don’t know how long we sit like that, making out. I know we can do it for hours because we’ve done it before, but when we finally separate my mouth tingles and I’m out of breath. His hands hold my hips to stop me from rocking against him and I know he’s trying to get himself under control.
“Tomorrow,” I remind him, and he groans as he rests his forehead to mine.
“You know I love you?” he says, and I nod.
“I know.” I rub my hands up and down his chest. I don’t know why but it always soothes me, in the same way rubbing my ring finger soothes him.
“No, Cami, I love you. We’ve been saying I love you since we were kids and you say it to my mom and dad. They say it to you, but you know this is different, right? I love you more than anything in this whole world.”
“Of course I do. And you know I love you like that, too?”
“Yeah.” He smiles at me before kissing me again.
I don’t care what anyone says, Reed is my forever. Some people at school say that we’re high school sweethearts, and that it will never last in the real world. I don’t pay them any attention because I know what this is. I don’t know how we got so lucky to find each other so young but we did.
“What the hell!” I jerk away from Reed at the sound of my dad’s voice booming from the other side for the deck. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Get over here, Cami.”
“Mr. Evans,” Reed says as he stands with me. “I’m sorry about that. I meant no disrespect. She’s my girl and we got carried away.”