Page 44 of It Starts With Summer

“Ravi, sweetheart, you didn’t invite me to meet your parents.You told me you were seeing them.I didn’t know you wanted me to come, and I didn’t want to press because I don’t know your relationship with them.”

“I didn’t?”Feeling foolish for not making things clear, I tried to remember the details of our conversation.I was a stickler for clear, precise communication because I wasn’t that good at reading between the lines.And here, I’d accidentally expected him to do that exact thing.“Of course they want to meet my boyfriend!I’ve told them all about you and how much I love you.”

Parker’s smile grew wider, and he leaned in closer.“How much you love me?”

“Why do you look so shocked?You know I love you.I said it just the other day.”

“I just… I don’t know.”Parker was blushing bright red.He ducked his chin.“After my parents and Sutton, I guess I have a little trouble trusting that love is a possibility.”

I rolled my eyes.“Sutton was an idiot.You’re warm and kind and beautiful.You love to learn about plants and nature, and you accept me for who I am and don’t find my quirks annoying.And you had a difficult few years, but still didn’t turn into an asshole.If anyone deserves to be loved, it’s you.”

A smile played around his lips as he took in my words, staring at me for a long moment, long enough that I wondered what he was thinking, or if I’d said something wrong.But he simply nodded, and said, “I love you, too.”

“Yeah, I know that.You shout it all the time when you’re begging me to let you come.”

Parker burst out laughing.“Well, I obviously love you when you’re giving me the hottest sex of my life.But I love you the rest of the time, too.I even love you when you’re being a grumpy asshat while we are making cupcakes.”

I blinked, processing this new information.Honestly, I hadn’t realized there was a difference between the two contexts.There was no time when I didn’t love Parker, was there?I thought about it.“Huh,” I said.“Fascinating.Does that mean maybe I didn’t love you very much when Sutton was flirting with you?”

“You did.You loved me so much you wanted to punch him and announce to everyone that I was yours,” Parker said.He pulled me against him, planting a fervent kiss on my lips, which was a risk, but I could feel his need in how tightly he held me.“Little did you know, I have no interest in anyone but you.”

“I’m not a violent person.”

“You looked pretty violent to me,” he said, kissing me again.

“I was just irritated.”Kissing him one last time, I glanced around the little meadow.Anyone could walk by.“We can’t get caught.”

He laughed and stepped back.“Fuck, I want to hold your goddamn hand.All the time,” he muttered, tugging on his hair.“Anyway, I’d be more than happy to meet your parents.I didn’t know it was on the table.”

“Really?”I asked, my heart swelling with happiness.

“Absolutely,” he confirmed, pressing a sweet kiss to my forehead.“And just so you know, I turned Sutton down, obviously.I don’t even know what I saw in him.”

Relief and happiness coursed through me, and I glanced around quickly, making sure we were alone, before wrapping my arms around Parker, pulling him close, and burying my face in the crook of his neck.The scent of him—a mix of sweat, pine, and something uniquely Parker—enveloped me, making me feel safe and loved.

“Come on,” I finally said, stepping back and looking into his eyes once more.“Let’s finish icing those cupcakes before everyone starts wondering what happened to us.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Parker agreed, giving me one last peck on the cheek before we turned and headed back to the lodge.

But when we got back, the cupcakes were finished and laid out, and there wasn’t much left to do to prepare for the party, so we checked on our campers, who were watching a movie in the great hall, then headed back to our cabin.As we entered the cabin, the first thing we noticed was a sheet hanging in the middle of the room, fastened neatly to the roof rafters.The bunk bed Parker and I shared was on one side, and Ben and Sutton’s was on the other.

Ben stood on one side, grinning sheepishly.

“Sorry, this took a few days to pull together.I thought you guys might want some privacy,” he explained, pointing at the makeshift divider.“But don’t get any ideas—no sex while we’re all sharing the space.”

“What?You’re amazing!”Parker said, giving him a huge hug.“I’ve been sleeping like shit without Ravi.”

“We know,” Ben said.“The tossing and turning and dramatic sighing makes it obvious.”

Was he doing this in front of Sutton?Wouldn’t Sutton out us?Worried, I looked towards Sutton, who sat on the couch, expression unreadable.“You outed us?”For a moment, there was an awkward silence, but Ben quickly stepped in to fill it.

“Don’t worry about Sutton,” Ben said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.“I’ve had a very serious talk with him about his behavior and his jealousy.”

“Really?”I asked skeptically, looking from Ben to Sutton and back again.

“Really,” Ben confirmed with a nod.Sutton said nothing until Ben stepped closer to him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.“Sutton?”

Sutton sighed.“I’m sorry I flirted with him.I didn’t realize you two were dating.And I won’t say anything.Believe me, I know what it means to be closeted.”

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