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The smell of orange blossoms is invading my senses in the sweetest possible way.
We stay like this long after the fireworks end.
Eventually, her arms get tucked up, in-between us, and I can tell she’s falling asleep. I want to go inside and grab a blanket so we can just stay here, but I don’t want to wake her up, and I don’t need Cooper to find us like this, hours after I talked to him.
I lean down and kiss the crown of her head. “Sweetheart, you’ve got to wake up. I don’t know if anyone will be looking for us when they get home, and we have to get out of here early tomorrow. I think we better go back inside.”
Her eyes are soft and sleepy as she reaches up with her hand and runs her fingers through my hair. “I had a perfect night tonight, Brady. Thank you. For everything.” She stretches up and lightly kisses my cheek.
It takes the will power of a saint for me not to kiss her. Attempting to be the good guy, I stand up and extend my hand. She slides her palm into mine, and I pull her to her feet and walk her down to her bedroom door. “Good night, Natalie.”
“Night, Brady.” Nat closes the door behind her with a click, and I lean against the wall, trying to get my dick under control.
It was a damn near perfect night.
20
Natalie
The next morning comes too quickly. I slept better than I had in a long time, but I still don’t want to get out of bed. There is no time for chit chat as we all pack everything back up and get into the cars to caravan back to the city. It’s my dad’s season opener, and he gave us tickets for the owner’s box.
We spent the day with the same group of friends we had been with all weekend, not tired of each other yet. Everyone laughing and talking as if we hadn’t just shared a house for two days.
Until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, we all thought that the Kings were winning this game. Our starting quarterback got sacked with two minutes left to go and had to be wheeled off the field. According to the guys, it’s never good when someone isn’t allowed to walk off. We lost the game two minutes later. The final score was 15-14.
My dad texted to let us know that he would see us at home later that night, so Cooper and I headed home.
Labor Day weekend.
Last official day of the summer.
* * *
Ispend the next morning doing laundry and organizing my room. I’m a planner, so my tan, Burberry messenger bag is packed with notebooks, black pens, pencils, and an array of multicolored highlighters. My MacBook is charging and ready for Tuesday.
Pulling the plastic dry cleaning bags off my brand-new uniforms, I hang one set on the back of the walk-in closet and the others with the rest of my clothes. Tomorrow, I’m opting for a starched white, button-down blouse, navy blue jacket, and navy blue and gold pleated skirt with white knee socks. We can choose between this and the white shirt with a navy blue V-neck sweater over it, instead of the jacket. My brand-new clunky brown, lace-up uniform shoes are sitting on the floor, waiting to be worn. I don’t mind our uniforms over all, but these shoes are hideous.
Tropical storm Peter is hitting the coast hard and leaves us with heavy rains and wind all day. No thunder and lightning like we had at the beach, but hard rain, that leaves it cold and dreary outside. The kind of day where you have to have all the lights in the house on in the middle of the afternoon because it gets so dark.
Dad spends most of Monday in his office. Cooper and I lay on the couches all afternoon watching an Avengers marathon and ordering Uber Eats. I’m relaxing in my comfiest leggings and fluffiest socks, and Coop is in a pair of old Notre Dame sweats and a matching blue t-shirt. This is our version of bumming it.
It is exactly the day I needed. I feel organized and ready for the first day of school, and my mind is focused on the real Captain America, not the hot football player that reminds me of Captain America.
My very own version makes sure to check-in, though.
QB: Hey, what are you doing?
Nattie: Admiring Captain America.
QB: Yeah? I think I could take him.
Nattie: Ohh. I think I’d like to watch that. You know, for educational purposes.
QB: Hilarious, smart ass. You need a ride to school tomorrow?
Nattie: Nope. I’m catching a ride with Coop.
QB: You’re breaking my heart.
