The Summer We Were

Chapter One

"Okay, say daddy's money on three!" Aimee cries, her neon-green phone case obscuring my view as I scoot into the waiting car.​"Aimee, that's disgusting." Brittney groans while plastering a smile on her travel-weary face."Oh please, if your head wasn't up Brett's ass, you'd find yourself on the hot daddy side of TikTok too," Aimee replies, rolling her eyes. "One...two...."

"Daddy's money!" I sing, my voice carrying out louder than my two best friends in the cramped back seat of the BMW.

The phone camera flashes, blinding me for at least a solid minute before the stars scatter and I can see the captured moment displayed on Aimee's phone screen. I cringe internally at seeing the dark circles under my eyes after our long journey, while the other girls look picture-perfect, naturally.

"Save that one," Brittney says before burying her nose in her phone, probably texting her long-term boyfriend. She's been dating Brett since sophomore year of high school, and they've been inseparable since. Little does she know, he'll be meeting up with us at the end of our vacation to propose.

The city of Berlin flashes by as I stare out the window of the cab, like the cinematic montage sans the upbeat soundtrack. My body is practically humming with energy as we get closer to the hotel we booked for the next four weeks in Berlin. I have been dreaming of this moment for years. My parents agreed to fund a trip for two friends and me after graduation.

I've been studying my ass off to make this all come true, and I proudly graduated from MSU with a Master of Arts in Military History and secured a job at the museum of my dreams before the trip. This summer is for letting loose before we all settle into our jobs and new lives. I look over to my best friends, feeling emotional that this is one of our last big getaways together. Brittney is looking out the window, just as enthralled by the view passing us by, and then I look at Aimee, who is on her phone.

I look back out the window as the car slows to a stop, pulling next to the curb in front of a large grey building. Finally, my back aches to get out and stretch after the long hours stuck in the tiny cage of a plane seat. I tug on the door handle, climbing out and heading for the trunk as the driver pulls our luggage out.

"Thank you," I say, smiling, earning a nod from the man as he gets back into the car driving away.

Aimee and Brittney stand beside me, taking their bags as we look at each other, huge smiles plastered on their faces as we squeal before racing into the hotel lobby. It's very sleek and modern, with a grey, black, and white color palette that I take in as we go to the front desk.

Abstract paintings hang on the walls at perfect intervals, and I wonder if they measured the spaces. Probably, seems like the orderly thing they would do. Brittney jumps into action, being the mother of the group; she has booked and planned everything for us for our entire stay.

"Got the keys!" Brittney says, turning and holding the key card up for us to see. "Let's go and relax before tonight."

"I hope there's a mini bar," Aimee mutters as we cram into the elevator.

"We are going out in a few hours, Aimee," I say incredulously. She'd already had wine on the plane, and I know once we go out tonight she will go as hard as she does at home.

Aimee just raises an eyebrow, shrugging her shoulders as if to say 'And?'. The elevator dings, signaling the opening doors, and I file out last, letting them figure out where the room is. We are thankfully the last door in the hall as Brittney swipes the key card, letting the door swing wide open as we peer into the room.

"Holy shit, Parker!" Aimee exclaims, rushing into the large suite. "Your parents did not skimp out on us!"

I laugh as I step into the room; it's a suite, and Aimee is correct in her statement. Mom and Dad went all out; the living room is large with a suede couch, matching armchairs, an oak coffee table between them, and a large flat-screen TV. Moving to the right, I see a medium-sized kitchen, with all stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops.