Page 79 of Summer Escape
"I hope we'll be seeing her more often throughout the school year," Dad said. "It would make your mother very happy."
"That's my hope. I still need to talk to her mother when I drop her off. But I'm certain we can work something out. Hayden's going to miss this place too."
Dad inclined his head toward Saylor, who sat with the girls, their chairs arranged in a circle. "What about your girl?"
I stiffened. "How do you know she's my girl?"
"I can tell by the way you look at her, as if you never want to let her out of your sight."
"She's going home tomorrow too," I said, my jaw tight.
Dad clasped my shoulder. "Don't stand by and let life happen to you. You create the life you want."
Was that true? Could I have everything I wanted? "I'd want Hayden with me all the time, and that isn't possible. We can't have everything we want."
"What if you could have most of it though? You're home with us, and you could see Hayden and Saylor more often."
"We'll have to see what happens," I said, hoping he'd let it go.
"Burgers are ready," Hudson called out, and Dad clapped his hands.
"Perfect timing." Dad wandered over to the grill and took the platter of cooked patties, setting them on the table.
I stepped back, allowing everyone to crowd around to get whatever they wanted. It was hard to be here when Hayden and Saylor were leaving. It didn't feel like a celebration.
I kept what Dad said in my head, turning it over. Could I have something close to what I wanted? At least when it came to Hayden? I'd love to see her more often, but she'd get back into her fall schedule and be busy with school friends and events. Where did I fit in?
I didn’t want to interfere in her life any more than I wanted to in Saylor's. Hayden had expressed dismay at leaving the island, but that was normal. When she returned to Naples, she'd realize why she loved her life there, and she'd forget about the island. Besides, she could visit for holidays and summers.
I was going to miss the girls in my life, but I wouldn't hold them back. I just wanted to be part of them.
The party passed quickly without any more mention of Hayden or Saylor staying on the island. But I felt the weight of my conversations with Hudson and Dad. Their words stayed with me, but I didn't want to tell Saylor how I felt.
Instead, back at the cottage, I said goodnight to Hayden, then met Saylor in her bedroom where she was pulling on pajamas. I was desperate for her, needing to be with her on a soul-deep level. I closed and locked her door, crossing the room to hold her close. I breathed in her lavender scent, memorizing it.
Soon, all I'd have was the memory of her here, and the lingering smell of her in the bathroom. Eventually it would fade. The thought sent sharp pains through my chest.
Saylor turned in my arms. "I'm going to miss you."
"Me too," I admitted.
Her fingers played with the hair at the base of my neck. "I can't believe I'm leaving the island again. It feels different this time."
She didn't say the words, but I suspected she meant that it was more final. There wasn't as much hope for the future. We weren't kids anymore. Our decisions held weight, and sometimes they were final. There was no turning back or the possibility of second chances.
I could have offered platitudes. Jacksonville wasn't that far from Sanibel. She could always visit. But those suggestions felt hollow. It wasn't the same as living with the person you were falling in love with.
There was an intimacy to being roommates, one we couldn't replicate living on opposite sides of the state.
"I don't want to think about tomorrow." I kissed her, the sudden movement had her lips opening on a gasp, and I took advantage, sweeping into her mouth, possessing her one last time.
I wanted to memorize every whimper, logging every sigh. I wanted to memorize her reactions, cataloging them so I could bring them to mind when I was alone in this house. I wanted to recall each one with accuracy.
Her hands lifted my shirt, and I helped her pull it off. Then she was shoving my shorts down along with my briefs. I was naked, my cock standing at attention between us. "You're wearing too many clothes."
She took her time removing hers, almost as if she knew this would be our last time together. Tomorrow morning would be a whirlwind, ensuring that Hayden had all her stuff, was packed, and ready to go.
When Saylor stood before me naked, I drew in a sharp breath. She was gorgeous. I turned off the overhead light so that there was nothing but the moon illuminating her skin, and the sound of the waves through the open slider called out to us.
