Page 54 of Fervency Love

“Say it…” I plead and send him one of the sweetest, most innocent looks I have at my disposal.

“I love you. My heart is yours. Take good care of it.” He places my hands on his chest and presses them to his skin. “It’s yours.”

“I love you too!”

He kisses me goodbye and leaves. Immediately, I feel lonely. I stand in the window and watch him disappear outside.

Something I’ve never even imagined in my wildest dreams has become fact. I’m absolutely, totally, and unconditionally in love with Ve! Oh… I sigh. I need to get the house in order, so I get to work. Cleaning always helps me blow off steam, get rid of excessive emotions.

Two hours later, everything is immaculate. Ivy and Lucas are arriving soon. I have time for a quick shower still.

Sometime later, as I put down the hair dryer, the doorbell rings.

“Let’s go for a smoke,” Ivy announces. She smokes one after another. A year ago we went to Spain. All my friends got addicted to smoking and now can’t live without cigarettes. I smoke too, but only to keep them company.

“Okay, let’s go to the balcony.”

We sit down on my favorite bench. I love the view from this high vantage point. You can see the neighboring towns, especially in the evenings, when everything is illuminated. On a good day, you can even catch a glimpse of the mountains.

“How are spirits before the trip?”

We’re going to summer camp for the last time this year. We’ll be too old to go next year. Maybe Ivy will go—she’s a year younger—but I don’t think she’d like to go alone. We go to all kinds of places each summer—Italy, Spain. It’s all paid by employee funds in our parents’ companies. Those trips are the best. I love them, though the thought of leaving Ve for such a long time scares me.

“Not too good, to be honest,” Ivy says. “I can’t imagine going without Lucas.”

“What’s your take on that, Lucas?” I ask, curious.

“What can I do? Not much, can I? Just go and have fun.”

“I can guarantee you that if we knew we’d be in serious relationships, we wouldn’t have decided to go,” I reply.

“You just got to wait it through.”

“Easy for you to say. I’m not going to survive this.” Ivy sobs.

“Just take one of Lucas’ T-shirts with his cologne on it and sleep in it. That’s what I’m going to do at least,” I add with a smile. “Okay, so what now? We should watch a silly movie. Let’s go and check out Video Space.”

At the local DVD rental place we pick up a copy ofAmerican Pie.Then we grab some beers and snacks from the store. Vicks joins us.

“Cheers, Abbs!” she cries with a wide smile, raising her glass. Ivy and Lucas do so too.

“Cheers, Abby!”

We clink our glasses, and I take a sip of my beverage. The evening passes quickly. We’re having lots of fun. When finally everyone goes home, I call Vicky, asking her to come back. I don’t think I can be alone this night.

“Babe, won’t you come over and stay the night?”

“Sure, I’ll be back in ten.”

We talk until three. I’m so grateful to her. I know she’s one of those people I can always count on.

Chapter 26

Abby

The shrill sound of the landline wakes me up. I glance at the time. It’s seven-thirty. Fuck it. I cover my head with a pillow, but it’s useless. The phone keeps ringing mercilessly. I had too little sleep, but I drag myself out of bed and hobble to the phone to pick it up.

“Hello?”

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