Page 95 of Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings 2)

“And J.J. fits into that how?”

I sighed because it hurt so fucking much to actually say the words out loud. “He doesn’t.”

“Mila.”

“Are you going to sit there and tell me that Reggie is the love of your life? That you’re going to get married and have babies and the whole shebang? And live happily ever after?”

“No. But that’s different and you know it. Reggie and I were always going to be and were always meant to be a summer fling.”

“Well, so were J.J. and I.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“He doesn’t love me back, Kristen!” I could feel my tears threatening to spill again. “His solution to my problems was that I should drop everything and just move to New York. I don’t even like the city.”

“Guys are dumb, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. Just because he hasn’t said it…who cares. It’s about the way he makes you feel. And the way he looks at you. I can tell he loves you even if you can’t. You spent all summer trying to get the things you deserve out of life. And now you’re just going to throw it all away?” It looked like she was going to start crying now. “Please don’t leave.”

I knew she had the best intentions. But what she was really upset about was that this was our goodbye too. “I’m sorry.” I leaned down and hugged her. “But I have to.”

She sniffled. “God, your dad is such a dick.”

I laughed. “That he is.” I leaned back. “But this isn’t really goodbye. We can call each other all the time. And once I’m done with school, there’s no way I’m staying in Cali.

”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

She took a deep breath. “I should probably give you some privacy so you can talk to J.J.”

Right when she said it, there was a knock on the door. I swallowed hard. You can do this. Be strong.

Before I could go answer it, Kristen launched herself at me in a bear hug that was so tight I could barely breathe. “I’m going to miss you,” she said.

“I’m going to miss you too.”

She sniffled again as she pulled back. And without another glance she ran over to the door and opened it. “Hey,” she said to J.J. She squeezed his arm and then disappeared down the steps.

It looked like he was about to ask if she was okay, but then he spotted my suitcase. And probably my face. He closed the door and walked over to me. For a second I just let myself stare at him. He’d come straight from the beach. He hadn’t even bothered to put a shirt on. Tan skin, perfect six pack, and muscular shoulders. The smell of summer was all around him, drifting over to me. He pushed his sunglasses up when he reached me, showing off those perfect ocean blue eyes.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I have to leave early. I have a lot to do before classes start.”

He looked back at my suitcase like he didn’t understand. “How early?”

I looked at my phone. “Fifteen minutes.”

He laughed, but not his usual one that made me smile so hard it hurt. “Wait, what?”

“My flight’s in a few hours and I have to get to the airport.”

“You’re leaving today? And you’re only just telling me now? What the hell?”

I shrugged. “I thought it would be easier this way.”

“Easier for who? You? It’s certainly not easier for me to be blindsided. I had all these plans for our last week together. You can’t leave now.” He put his hands on my shoulders. “It’s going to be months before I can possibly see you again.”

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