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“Abby, he’ll be gone in a month. Nothing will change how I feel about you. Mom told him I was serious about you. He’s not so happy about that either but he wants to meet you.”
“My dad isn’t happy either.”
“I thought your dad liked me,” he said.
Cal sounded defeated and I didn’t like it. I wanted to protect my boyfriend like he protected me from his friends not that I wanted him to have to do that for me.
“Cal, he does like you. It’s that we’re so serious. We are, aren’t we?”
“I love you Abby.” His voice broke and I was ready to cry too. He was quiet for a moment while he checked his emotions. “I didn’t tell Dad that, but I did Mom. She didn’t tell Dad that either. That would have made him worse.”
“What can I do?”
“Just be your sweet self,” he replied. “I didn’t mean to concern you Abby.”
“You didn’t.” He had though.
“I did,” Cal said. He knew me. “I’ve had a rough time of it since I got home. Lectures about my future. The only future I want is with you, Abby. I don’t care where we are as long as we’re together.”
I smiled at his words but knew that what he said was just a dream. At some point, our high school romance could have to end or be long distance because what we wanted for our futures might not run the same path. Like Tyson wanting to protect me it might not make sense to be in the same place.
“You know we could have to go to different colleges Cal.”
“No,” he declared. “I’ll go where you go.”
I sighed. We didn’t have to think about this right now. I was tired and wanted to get my clothes changed so I could crawl in bed. I asked him what time he was picking me up and then we said goodnight.
I changed into my pajamas and went to my bed. I didn’t go right to sleep. I turned onto my side and grabbed my phone off the nightstand.
Nothing can come between us if we don’t let it Cal. Not your friends or our dads. Love you.
I snapped a picture of myself lying in bed and sent it to him too. Nothing seductive other than my nipples were hard poking through my long, sleeved t-shirt.
Love it and you.
He sent me a picture of him in bed. Bare chested. Arm behind his head staring directly at the camera. His dimples barely visible because he was only half-smiling, but he looked so hot I couldn’t take my eyes off the phone.
After tossing and turning I read a book until I fell asleep. Homecoming was going to be a long night if I didn’t get a nap in tomorrow.
Chapter 11
When Cal picked me up in the morning, he made it to the door before I could get downstairs. Dad invited him as I was coming down the steps.
His smile wasn’t like usual not even when his eyes met mine over Dad’s shoulder. “Thank you for letting Abby come over today, Mr. Gardener. My dad just got home last night. He was anxious to meet her.”
“What’s your dad do, Cal?”
I watched him drop his eyes. “Military. Special forces, sir.”
Dad clapped Cal on the shoulder. “We thank him for his service.”
“You and everyone else, sir.”
Dad was looking at him strangely. I went to Cal’s side and took his hand. “Dad, Mr. Cooper has been gone for nine months. He’s gone more than he’s home,” I explained.
Cal smiled at me relieved that he didn’t have to explain his emotions to another person.
Dad was sympathetic now. “I’m sorry Cal. That must be hard on your family. I can only assume that he’s doing something that he loves, and feels necessary, or he wouldn’t leave you.”
