Page 96 of Don't Puck His Best Friend
"Still. Updates." She hugs me tight. "Have the best summer. You deserve this."
"You too. Tell Sirus I said to treat you right or I'll kill him."
"He knows."
After she leaves, I stand in our empty dorm room feeling nostalgic and excited all at once. This year has been everything—messy and complicated and wonderful. I started it single and confused. I'm ending it in love and certain.
Cole picks me up an hour later, truck loaded with both our stuff. His hand finds mine over the center console as we drive away from campus.
"Ready?" he asks.
I look at him—at this man I love, who loves me back, who wants to spend his summer with me—and smile.
"Ready."
We stop for lunch halfway to his parents' house, at this diner that looks like it hasn't been updated since 1985. Cole orders a burger and fries. I get a salad that comes with more cheese than lettuce.
"You nervous?" he asks.
"About meeting your parents again? No. About living with them for three months? A little."
"They're going to love having you there. My sister's already texted me three times asking when we're arriving."
"She's sweet."
"She's nosy. Fair warning, she's going to interrogate you about everything."
"I can handle it."
He reaches across the booth to take my hand. "I know you can. You can handle anything."
When we arrive at his parents' house that evening, his mom is waiting on the porch. She hugs me before she hugs Cole, which makes him roll his eyes but also smile.
"Harper! We're so glad you're here. Come in, come in. I made your favorite for dinner—Cole told me you love lasagna."
His dad shakes my hand and helps unload the truck. His sister immediately drags me upstairs to show me where I'll be sleeping—the guest room next to Cole's room, which makes me bite back a smile.
"Mom insisted on separate rooms," Cole's sister says with a knowing look. "But the walls are thin, so behave yourselves."
"Emily!" Cole shouts from downstairs.
She just grins at me. "I like you. You're way better than his last girlfriend."
"Last girlfriend?"
I watch her trail down the hall as my heart leaps. We’ve never talked about exes, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Dinner is chaotic and warm and everything I hoped it would be. Cole's family asks about school and my plans and what I think of their town. They include me in their jokes and their stories, and by the end of the night, I feel like I've been coming here for years.
Cole walks me to my room when it's time for bed.
"See? Told you they'd love you," he says.
"Your family is wonderful."
"They're yours too now. For the summer at least." He kisses me softly. "Thank you for being here."
"Thank you for having me."
