Page 19 of Another June with You

“I love you, Shannon.”

Her heart stuttered at his admission. “You do?”

He nodded.

She softly touched his cheek, her thumb brushing the flour from his lips.

He leaned close and kissed her. They’d shared hundreds of kisses before then, but this one surpassed them all. It was also their most unique kiss, with the flour left on their lips becoming pasty and sticky from their kisses.

“Gross!” Shannon pulled away and wiped at her mouth.

Micah burst out laughing. “Not what a guy wants to hear after he tells a girl he loves her.”

Shannon giggled and brought her arms up around his neck. “I love you too.”

“Remember how your mom made us scrub the entire kitchen, even the parts that weren’t covered in flour?” Micah clearly remembered that night as well as she did.

Shannon couldn’t pretend she didn’t. “We never did get those cookies baked.”

He thought for a second. “You’re right. We didn’t.” He smiled over at her. “Totally worth it.”

She couldn’t smile back. The remembering turned to overwhelming sadness. “I can’t do this. I can’t spend this whole weekend walking down memory lane with you. It’s too hard.”

“I don’t know why it’s so hard for you. You’re the one who broke up with me.”

She pressed her lips together.

“I know that look. Don’t hold back. Say it.”

“You think it was easy for me? I’m not completely devoid of feelings, Micah.”

“I’m not saying that. But I think it’s usually easier for the dumper than the dumpee.”

He had no idea what he was talking about. That’s what she wanted to tell him, but instead she asked, “Can you please take me home now?” She couldn’t handle this.

Micah started the car and backed out of the driveway, heading toward Shannon’s apartment. They drove in silence for several uncomfortable minutes.

“Does your great aunt still own the house on the lake?” he asked.

“Yes.” Nana’s sister, Pauline, had lived on the lake for many years, and her house was a special place for the entire family. They spent almost every Fourth of July there for the annual family reunion. They’d have a huge barbecue. Family would come from near and far. Even Aunt Pauline’s neighbors would come by and enjoy good food, great conversation, and a killer view of the fireworks over the lake.

Micah had attended two of those Fourth of July parties with her. One when their relationship was in its infancy—seventeen-year-old kids about to start their senior year of high school. The other a year later when they were in love, graduated, and about to head off to college. They’d shared their last special times together there.

They were so young then. The future was wide open, and they’d had so many dreams. Dreams that would never come true. And it was one of those dreams that had led Shannon to break up with him.

“I loved going to her house with you.”

Shannon didn’t reply.

“Your family made me feel a part from the first day I met them.”

Still, she said nothing.

“You don’t really want to talk about this, do you?” Micah asked as he turned onto her street.

“No.”

“What if I want to talk about it?” he asked.

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