Ten years earlier

"I can't believe that this time next week we'll be getting ready to graduate," I exclaimed.

We were exactly one week away from our high school graduation. It was exciting and felt a bit unbelievable. I was looking forward to it being over, but I knew many of our friends were dreading this last week. It wasn't like we were drowning in school work or doing anything, really. That wasn't why. For me, the thought of it being done was exciting, but for many of my friends there was an uncertainty about leaving all the safety that high school had been behind. It was a big step to close that chapter and move on to new things. Bigger and better things, like college, and a life with Austin.

I couldn't wait.

"Believe it, babe." Austin's smile was on full display, which showcased his straight white teeth. "We're almost done."

I stretched out on the blanket we'd spread out on the grass in the park downtown and sighed. It was early evening, but the temperature was still hot. The large trees, which gave shade during the day, barely moved in the slight breeze.

The park was a popular hangout not just for the teens in the town, but also for families. A large, open green space in the middle of the park was the perfect place to throw a ball around, which was exactly what Austin's friends were doing. There was a playground at the other end of the park and a walking trail that wrapped around the park where little kids learned how to ride their bikes or people walked with their dogs.

Usually, the park was full of laughter, but because it was getting close to dinnertime, there weren't that many families around. An elderly couple walked a small dog along the walking path and a few other couples were spread out on blankets enjoying ice cream or just chilling the way Austin and I were.

I was very happy as I licked the melting strawberry ice cream from the cone. It felt like everything I'd been looking forward to was finally happening. My dreams were within reach. The new chapter, the one where Austin and I spent our future together, was just around the corner.

"One week," I repeated.

"Mm-hm," Austin agreed.

"Then we have the entire summer together."

Austin leaned down and kissed my lips instead of responding. His lips were cool and tasted of the chocolate ice cream he'd just devoured.

"God, can the two of you stop for one minute?" Alex Austin's younger brother groaned. He came up to our blanket with a football in his hands. Billy and Rick and a couple of guys from school had been throwing the ball around when we got to the park when we all got there. Austin and I went to get ice cream, but Alex had chosen to join them instead of going with us.

"We're not doing anything," I responded.

Alex rolled his eyes that were the exact same color as his brothers.

"Trust me, you'd know if we were," Austin said with a big grin.

I giggled.

"If you're not doing anything, you can play with us," Alex suggested. "We'll be four on four."

He glanced at me to see whether or not I was going to object to him interrupting our date. I wasn't. Austin spent a lot of his free time with me, so I had no problem watching him play football with his friends for a while. I'd be perfectly fine watching him do almost anything. It wasn't like the like view was bad. Plus, we'd have the entire summer ahead of us.

"Go," I said and pulled a novel out of my bag. "I'll read a few chapters of this new book I just started."

Austin studied me for a couple of seconds, but realized I was serious. "Alright," he said, pressed a quick kiss on my forehead and got to his feet.

I smiled as I watched Alex wrap his arm around Austin's shoulder and yank him towards him. They were of a similar height and build, and there was a sibling similarity so you could tell they were brothers, but other than having the same eyes, they didn't look that much alike. They were both, however, stupidly attractive.

Alex must have said something funny nobody else could hear because Austin started to laugh and shoved away from his brother.

I loved his laugh. The real one. Not the low chuckle he let out most of the time. Well, I didn't not like that; it was just that I really loved his actual laugh. You could just tell that he was truly happy when he allowed himself to laugh like that, which was more common now than it had been when he first came to our school. It was a hearty, infectious laugh that got others smiling or laughing along.

"Show them what you got," I yelled and received a thumbs up and grin from Austin, and another eye roll from Alex.

"No, don't," Billy shouted in response. "Keep your pants on."

Rick bent over with laughter and slapped his knee while I shook my head at their immaturity.

"Come on, asshole," Austin said and grabbed the ball away from Rick. "Let's just play."

I watched them goof around for a few more minutes while I finished my ice cream. Then I rolled over onto my stomach and opened the book. It was my sister's. An enemies to lovers' kind of romance. Not the type of book I normally read. I was more of a mystery kind of girl, but she had strongly recommended it. And by strongly I mean forced it on me, but whatever. I'd promised I'd give it a try and if I hated it, I'd just give it back to her.

The first few pages were surprisingly captivating. It probably had something to do with the way the author described the main character. He was tall and dark with a brooding expression and a sinful body... It made me think of Austin and his body, and the things he was capable of doing.

There was some yelling and some whistles from across the park, which caught my attention. I looked up to find that the guys were playing skins versus shirts, and of course, Austin was one of the ones without a shirt on. Not that I was complaining. He looked good; tall and toned with a golden tan that would only deepen over the summer in the Georgia sun.

"Looking good, Johnson!" someone yelled from the other end of the park. I didn't know who it was other than it was a girl's voice and I didn't know whether it was meant for Austin or Alex either, but it didn't matter. I agreed with her. They both looked good. But it was Alex, as usual, who took all the credit. He did some elaborate bow fit for a king while Austin turned my way and grinned.

Damn. I was a lucky girl.

I was a good few chapters into the story, and it had started to get to the juicy part when Austin startled me by touching my shoulder. "Are you ready to go, babe?"

I looked up at Austin, who stood bent over me with a smile on his red face. His hair was sweaty and disheveled and he had his t-shirt in his hand. The park had gotten dark, which I hadn't realized because I'd been too caught up in my sister's book. She had unexpectedly good taste. I'd probably have to try some more of her collection.

"Um, yeah," I responded, and closed the book.

"The book's that good, huh?" Austin asked in a teasing tone. He had made fun of the cover earlier, which had a picture of a good-looking man with a broad chest and six-pack on display.

I laughed. "Surprisingly yes."

Austin helped me up and together we folded the blanket. I put it into my backpack together with the book while Austin put the t-shirt back on.

We were on our way back to the car when I realized Alex wasn't with us. He'd come with us to the park.

"Where's your brother?"

"He got a ride with Billy."

"Oh."

"He said he couldn't handle any more 'love shit,'" Austin made quotation marks with his fingers.

That didn't surprise me. Alex was popular among the girls, maybe not to the extent Austin had been before we started to date, but he wasn't the relationship kind. And he definitely wasn't into PDA. He loved to rib Austin about being lame and us acting like an old married couple, but in reality, I was pretty sure most of it was an act. Alex and I got along just fine.

It was shortly after ten when we got back to my house. It was dark except for the faint light from the TV in the living room, where my dad watched the evening news. Austin parked in front of the fence like every other night. He got out of the car and walked me to the door like a perfect southern gentleman. I'd told him many times before that he didn't have to walk me the twenty feet to the front door, but he wouldn't have it, so I'd stopped telling him no. And it was kind of nice to be doted on.

Austin pulled me into his arms as we reached the front stoop. He kissed me until I was breathless, to the point where my body hummed and wanted more.

"I love you, Ellie," he said and took a step away from me, but not before I realized that his body had a similar idea. He adjusted himself to hide the hard-on in his shorts.

"I love you too, Austin."

There was a longing in his eyes, but we both knew there was nothing we could do about it at the moment. It was a school night, so I had a curfew, and my parents would never let Austin stay over. There was nothing to do but swallow down the arousal.

"Never forget that you're my most special girl, okay?"

"Okay," I giggled. "I'll see you at school in the morning."

He smiled that crooked smile of his and gave my hand an extra squeeze. "Love ya..."

I watched as he jogged down the stairs to the ratty old car he shared with his younger brother. The t-shirt clung to his muscles while his shorts swished around his thighs. He turned and waved as he pulled the door open. I raised my hand and waved back, not knowing that would be the last time I saw him.