I pop the lid on the carton, unable to contain my smile, as I inhale the chicken noodle soup.
“Thank you.” Alex must have gone to my favorite deli to pick up Reeve’s order, and I’m grateful.
“You’re welcome. Reeve says I’m to watch you eat every bit.” His eyes lower to the tray of uneaten food in front of me.
Normally, I love the food in the cafeteria. Our private school employs highly skilled chefs to create a variety of balanced healthy meals, and the options are diverse and always delicious. But I struggle to stomach any food the first couple of days of my period. Reeve and I usually ditch the cafeteria those days to go to the deli by ourselves. I was tempted to go alone today, just to avoid the gossip, but I don’t have my car. Audrey would have come with, but I figure it’s best to just get it over and done with.
Anyone that wasn’t aware Reeve has landed a career-making role is now in the know, thanks to the press conference that aired a half hour ago. It’s all anyone is watching on their phones, and if I have to listen to one more comment about how beautiful Saffron Roberts is and how gorgeous Reeve and Saffron look together, I will punch someone.
Nate opens his mouth—to spout some stupid crap, no doubt—and I slap my hand over his lips, silencing him. I cannot deal with his crap today of all days. “Nope.” I level him with a dark look. “I do not want to hear any shit from you today. Not unless you want to be bitch slapped and kneed in the balls.”
Alex chuckles, and I shriek when Nate licks my palm.
“Eww.” Whipping my hand back, I wipe it down the front of my jeans. “That was gross.”
“Is it wrong that your little threats turn me the fuck on?” Nate asks, winking as he brings a bottle of water to his lips.
I roll my eyes, biting the inside of my cheek as pain slices across my lower belly. I wince, rubbing my stomach as I look wistfully at my soup. I’m not sure I can even stomach soup today.
“Want me to rub that for you?” Nate asks, leaning in closer and pinning me with a suggestive look.
“Not if you want to keep your head on your shoulders,” Alex coolly replies. “Don’t think you can hit on Viv just because Reeve will be leaving in a few months. I’ve already told him I’ve got his back.”
Audrey rolls her eyes and shakes her head. We share a “boys are ridiculous” look. I don’t know whether I should be insulted or pleased. “I don’t need a babysitter,” I mumble, dunking a spoon in the soup.
“And it’s not like Reeve has anything to worry about,” Audrey cryptically adds, as I sip my soup contemplating the same thing.
5
The months fly by, and I wish I could slow them down. We both submit our applications to UCLA, Christmas comes and goes, and before we know it, it’s mid-January and Reeve’s eighteenth birthday. I organize an epic party for him, and he surprises me with a weekend away on our own at Big Bear Lake. We take to the slopes, go sledding, and toast s’mores in front of the large open fire in the luxury cabin Reeve rented before making love for hours, getting lost in one another, pretending like we’re not going to be separated in six short weeks.
“It sucks you’ll miss graduation,” I say the week before Reeve is due to leave for Boston. It’s Friday evening, and we’re walking hand in hand through the gardens at the rear of my house.
Mom is an avid gardener, and even though we have a full-time gardener on the staff, she designed and planted our rose garden herself. There are over forty different species of roses. Large blooms and small blooms in an array of different colors. Pink, purple, peach, white, red, yellow, orange, ivory, multicolored, and she even has lavender roses. They are the prettiest shade, and they have a fresh floral fragrance with a hint of spice that I adore. I didn’t even know lavender roses were a thing until Mom planted them, and now they are my absolute favorite flower.
“You know I’d be there if I could, but the schedule is too tight.” His smile is wistful as we pass the large oak tree with the swing. As kids, we loved hanging out at this tree. Our initials are even carved in the bark, alongside my parents’ initials. Back then, we had this massive playground, treehouse, and obstacle course Mom had built specifically for us. I have many fond memories of summers spent outside, swimming and messing around in the pool, and countless hours spent playing on the swings, the monkey bars, slides, and the zipline.
Those were fun times.
I should have protested when Mom had it all removed. Insisted she keep it for our kids, but Mom is always remodeling the house and the gardens in between movies.