Page 4 of Stealing Summer
“Thanks, Chandler. You’re a lifesaver,” Amber said, not quite able to keep the eagerness from her voice. She flashed a quick, insincere smile before turning on her heel and walking away with a sway that suggested she believed Boston’s eyes were on her. They weren’t.
Boston approached with a flicker of confusion crossing his features as he took in my bemused expression and the note I held between my fingers.
“You wrote me a love letter? You shouldn’t have,” he teased, flashing a grin.
“Not a chance!” I said while handing him the folded note, our fingers brushing briefly in the exchange. I was just the one who delivered them, apparently.
“Amber’s work, I presume?” Boston quirked an eyebrow as he unfolded the note and scanned the contents with a casual curiosity.
“You would be correct.” I leaned back against the wall, watching him with amusement. “You’d think they’d start getting more creative with their delivery methods.” That was probably the fifth letter that month he got from a girl—at least the second from Amber.
Boston snickered as he looked up from the note, his gaze meeting mine. For a moment, we stood in silent understanding—both knowing it would be another letter that was going to end up in that little box he kept in his locker with the others. Boston was too nice to throw any of them out, but not interested enough to ever send one back.
“Let me guess… She thinks you’re so dreamy, just like all the other girls at school.” I said, crossing my arms.
“Do they now?” he said, biting his lip while giving me a lingering look before he put the combination code into his locker nearby.
“Seems like it,” I shrugged, trying to shake off the intensity of his stare as I busied myself by shifting the bracelets on my wrist.
“And what do you think?” he said before tossing the letter inside the box and shutting his locker.
I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could form the words or even figure out what to say, Parker’s voice interrupted, “Guys, you will not believe what just happened.” He held his hands in the air for a dramatic effect.
My brother always had great timing, and he always left us smiling, even against our better judgment. Boston cocked an eyebrow, clearly curious. “What, did you finally walk down the hallway without tripping over your own feet?”
“Ha-ha, hilarious, but no.” Parker leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “I found lint in my belly button. Actual lint!” His expression was a mix of wonder and surprise, as if this minor discovery was the most astounding thing since sliced bread.
I couldn’t help it. A laugh slipped out, the sound mingling with Boston’s deeper snicker. This was a typical Parker thing to say, always something ridiculous.
“Wait,” I paused. “You’re telling me you didn’t know belly button lint was a real thing?”
Parker shrugged as he nodded earnestly. “Swear on baseball. I thought it was just something parents tell kids to make sure they wash themselves.”
“Man, I thought you were better than this,” Boston joked, slapping Parker on the back. “Basic hygiene, buddy. Basic hygiene.”
They continued their usual horseplay in the hallway, and the moment was gone.
What did I think of Boston Riley? He had captured my heart from the moment I met him. He was the dreamy boy-next-door that inspired me to doodle his name in hearts all over my notebooks.
“Let’s go before you’re late,” Parker said quickly, breaking me away from my thoughts.
When my excruciatingly long day was over, I had barely walked into my dorm room before she crashed into me. Her arms enveloped me in an embrace that I knew was both a hello and a goodbye. It was the kind of hug that spoke volumes without saying a word, the kind of hug that could only be from one person.
“Kristina,” I laughed, squeezed tightly in her grip, “I can’t breathe!”
“Sorry, sorry!” she said, pulling back just enough to let me catch my breath, but not enough to let go completely.
“Can you believe it?” she said, excitement lacing her words. “We survived our first year of college!”
Kristina was also a performing arts major, and we’ve grown really close over the past year.
“Not really. It flew by a lot quicker than I thought it would.” I added, while taking off my backpack and placing it on my chair.
“Summer drama program, here I come.” She sighed, slouching her shoulders.
“You’re going to crush it,” I grinned, feeling excited for her. Kristina was always ready to dive into lines and live out the emotions of any character. Being in the spotlight together was such an incredible feeling—we loved everything about theater.
Her smile faltered slightly. “I wish you were going with me,” she whispered, sincerity soaking through her words. "I bet you're going to have the best summer though. I've heard Bayside is such a beautiful vacation spot. My cousins go boating there sometimes."