Southern Summer

Chapter Twenty One

My dad was the one who picked me up from the party that night. I'd called my mom five times, but she must have been asleep, so I resorted to my last option. He didn't scold me. He didn't lecture me about going down the wrong path or making bad decisions. He didn't talk at all, and for that I was grateful. He new he had lost his place to parent me, not that he ever really had in the first place. I mean really, if I had only drank once at a party throughout my entire high school life, was I that bad at all? No, I was fine.

The next morning, my mom and I packed up our car and we were on our way. Emmy enjoyed lolling her tongue out the window while my mom and I actually talked for the first time in my life. She explained how she and my dad were high school sweethearts, how accidents sometimes happen, which led to a hasty wedding right out of high school. She said how excited they both had been, finding out I would be a girl, painting a nursery pink. She even attempted to learn how to knit when she was pregnant with me so she could make me a bonnet. It didn't turn out, she told me with a laugh.

At the time, Grandma Tilly didn't want my mom to marry my dad, she knew he wasn't ready to be a father, and that he wasn't right for her daughter. She wanted my mom to stay with her, and she'd help take care of me. My mom didn't listen; she was in love. So she left to be with my dad.

Fast forward seventeen years and here she was finally going home. Turns out her mother was right all along.

"At least out of all of this, I got you," she said, squeezing my hand, "The most beautiful baby girl God ever created."

I couldn't help but smile.

I told her about everyone I knew in Grove Hill.

I talked about Jamie and all of my girl friends, and of course Aaron. I told her how handsome he was, what a gentleman he was. After a few minutes, I realized I was gushing on and on about him, and my face flushed with embarrassment.

My mom grinned, "So is he a good kisser?"

I laughed and covered my face with my hands in shame while nodded. He most definitely was a good kisser.

Then my mom gasped, "Wait, did you...?"

My jaw dropped, "No! No! Noooo! No." I said, waving my hands and shaking my head and laughing, "I've never."

My mom shrugged, "I mean it's really okay if you have," she said nonchalantly, "If you like him that much and he's as handsome as you say," she gave me a wink, "Its just good to know so we can get you a doctor's appointment and all that."

Who was this alien that had invaded my mother? We had never talked like this so casually!

I just laughed, still shaking my head, "Well we haven't had sex," I said.

In fact, I'm a desperate virgin. I didn't tell her what Shelby had said, but it still hurt.

A few hours later, we arrived at Grandma Tilly's house. Home, now, I thought. Tilly and Aaron were sitting out on the porch waiting when we got back. Aaron's face brightened into a smile when he saw me, and I bounded out of the car to him for a tight hug.

"I missed you," I said quietly into his neck.

He planted a quick and discreet kiss on my forehead before letting me go, making me feel even warmer than the ninety degree weather. Aaron greeted my mom then began to help us unpack. It was starting to get dark by the time we finished, and Grandma Tilly an my mom left to go to the store for some things my mom needed.

I collapsed onto the couch beside Aaron, who let out a big sigh.

My heart began to race as I realized I needed to tell him what happened at the party, with Jason and Shelby.

He saw the look on my face and asked, "What's wrong?"

I cringed, "I might have gone too far getting back at Shelby."

I saw the mixture of terror and anger wash over Aaron's face, and quickly jumped to explain, "Nothing really happened! I promise. And it was all acting on my part. I just fake flirted with Jason and he almost kissed me but Shelby came and saw before anything happened."

Aaron still looked unsure.

"I would never kiss him or anyone else. It was just a revenge thing and I hate him and hes not even that cute now that I think about it."

Aaron chuckled at that and I let out a relieved breath.

"I mean, as long as nothing happened..." He said slowly.

"Nothing! I swear."

Aaron gave me a small smile, "Then there's no problems here."

I smiled and laid my head on his chest, "Good."

The smell of his cologne wafted into my nose and I breathed in in delight. He traced his fingers over my arm, giving me goosebumps. I started thinking about what Shelby said. Then I started trying to count the times that Aaron had kissed me, which currently I could fit on one hand. Was he actually not attracted to me? Maybe she was right.

I let out a sigh.

"What is it?" Aaron asked.

"Am I a pathetic virgin that no guy would ever be attracted to?" I asked quickly, words rushing out in embarrassment.

"Wait. What?" Aaron asked in disbelief, pushing me up so he could look at me, "Where did that come from? You're a virgin?"

I started to get really embarrassed. I shouldn't have asked. My cheeks were burning.

"Yeah.. it's just something Shelby said.. I don't know." I fidgeted uncomfortably.

Aaron raked a hand through his hair.

"I take it you're not a virgin?" I asked tentatively.

Aaron had a little embarrassed grin of his own, "Well, no." Then he turned serious and placed a hand on my arm, "It's totally okay that you are though, like it's fine. And you are definitely attractive."

I looked down bashfully, "I just wasn't sure cause you never really.."

"Well yeah," Aaron cut in, "I didn't want to push anything you weren't ready for, especially when I thought you'd be leaving at the end of the summer."

And we both thought the same thing at the same time.

I'm not leaving anymore.

I looked up and caught his summer blue gaze, which flitted to my lips and darkened ever so slightly. He leaned in and kissed me softly, but I could feel the urgency pressing into me, begging to be let in. His tongue slipped into my mouth, gently exploring, before he tugged on my bottom lip with his teeth, sending me into a frenzy.

He pushed my back down onto the couch and I let my hands slip under his shirt and brush over his muscular back. He tilted his head downward and kissed my neck, causing me to take a quick breath in. I was feeling things I had never felt before, and I only wanted more. I felt his lips smile against my skin as he took my gasp as encouragement. His mouth traveled to my collarbone and grazed across the sensitive skin, where he placed another long kiss.

"Oh wow," I breathed.

Did I just say that out loud?

I heard the front door open and hurriedly flung Aaron off of me as my grandma sang ,"We're hoooome!"

I quickly fixed my hair while Aaron covered himself with a blanket, and I couldn't help but snicker at him when I realized just what he had to cover with that blanket. I grabbed the remote and began casually flipping through channels, trying to make myself look busy.

"Oh hey guys!" I said as they walked past me to the kitchen.

Did my voice just shake? Did they know?

My grandma surely noticed nothing as she bustled past, but my mom gave me a long look, causing heat to rise to my cheeks again.

"Why don't you go grab some groceries, both of you?" She asked with a motion to the door.

I gave a quick nod and Aaron and I practically sprinted out the door.