Imagine just laying there next to the person you love the most and being too scared to tell them. She gave me a confused look when I told her I wasn't going to let our kiss change us in a bad way and I meant it.
But she didn't really get what I meant.
I meant that it was going to change us.
I meant that I wasn't going to push her away anymore, I would come to her for everything and not hold back, but mostly that she would be mine.
The fact she looked past our fight and was by my side no matter what gave me the answer that I really needed.
I waited until she dozed off before I got up to call my mom. I was going to be extremely tired when I got up in the morning and had to make the drive all the way to Miami. That didn't stop me, though.
Aspen was asleep and she was a pretty heavy sleeper. I carefully made my out of my bed and down the stairs into the living room.
A lamp was already on and I sat down on the couch to call my mom. My mom was still in Hawaii, so it was only 9 at night her time even though it was nearly three in the morning here.
"Are you okay Grayson?" She asked frantically as we FaceTimed
I nodded, "I'm fine, I just wanted to talk to you. Aspen is asleep."
"She's still at the house?" My mom asked
"Well yeah, would you really want me to be alone days after a concussion?" I asked with a smirk
My mom rolled her eyes, "What's up?"
"Is Kelly in the room with you?" I asked her since I couldn't tell myself
She shook her head, "She should be back in ten minutes, she went to get a few things out of the gift shop, and then she is supposed to pick up food for out night in. Why do you want to talk to her?"
"No, I just want to talk to you. I don't want Kelly to hear because she might tell Aspen unintentionally." I started
"Tell Aspen what, Grayson?" My mom asked curiously
I could feel myself blushing, "That I have a huge crush on her, I mean it's kinda obvious."
"Grayson!" My mom started smiling "In a final way? No more messing around? No more multiple girls?"
I nodded, "Agh, mom, I haven't been doing that since the beginning of last summer. You told me that I needed to let hoe myself go and I think I did that."
"You did Grayson, you let yourself genuinely love someone instead of playing around with girls' feelings. You had all along from the minute you came home from the football game with rosy cheeks with a smile talking about how she told you that she loves you." My mom bought up
"Well yeah." I smiled "Do you like Aspen?"
"Definitely like she is my own!" My mom reassured me
Good.
"I love Aspen. She's the first girl you brought over to spend time with your sister and me, she's the first person really that you talk about your dad with, you've actually gotten to know, she's overall a really good girl and I think she's really good for you." My mom explained
I was smiling so big, "She's so fucking perfect mom. God, I love her."
We were both quiet for a few seconds.
"Language, but go for it, Grayson. I've never heard you talk about someone like this. Have you told her this?" My mom asked me
I shook my head, "No I've only really told you and Blake. What if she doesn't feel the same way?"
"Gray, trust me she does. She has for a while, even if she hasn't realized it herself. You can see it in the way she looks at you. That girl likes you, Grayson." She said as I heard a knock at the door "Coming Kel!"
"Look, I have to go. I won't tell, but you keep me updated. Okay?" My mom asked me
"Yeah, I will, I love you." I grinned before I hung up
I smiled as I got off the couch. I told my mom and once I told my mom I knew it was official. There's no going back now, but only time will tell.
When I walked back into my room, Aspen was still asleep just like I left her. I climbed back into bed next to her as she turned over.
"Where'd you go?" She asked half asleep
"Just called my mom. No big deal." I assured her
She nodded with her eye still closed, "I thought you left me for good."
"Why would I do that?" I asked her as I fixed the cover on her
"Because I'm a mess, don't leave me." She requested as she grabbed my hand
Half-asleep Aspen was one of the ultimate blessings. When she was half-asleep or tipsy she was straight forward as hell.
I squeezed her hand, "You're my mess. If you're a mess, I'm a mess, we can be a mess together, and get each other back on track, okay?"
Aspen nodded, "Except it's kinda like that already."
-
When we pulled up to the condos, truthfully I knew it was a condo. I also knew that the key also unlocked two other condos since I use to spend a few spring breaks here. This was practically my other room.
I wasn't going to tell Aspen, though, I wanted 1-1 time with her desperately.
"Well, what do you wanna do?" I asked Aspen "Walk on the beach and find something to eat or kiss?"
"I thought that we agreed that that was behind us? I was drunk or partly drunk." Aspen grinned
She was so cute and that little smile.
I shook my head "You also claimed that you didn't feel anything, but we both know that I'm the best seventeen-year-old, virgin, kisser and hickey giver ever."
We talked for a little while, ordered food from some pizza place, she even noticed the extremely small stubble on my face.
Then she bought up my eighteenth birthday.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Aspen asked me
I made it look like I was deeply thinking about something, but I wasn't. I knew what I wanted. If I didn't have her officially, I didn't have anything. "You,"
Aspen gave me a confused smile grin look. I knew she would read into it, and hopefully pick up what I meant this time. Even though I've been dropping hints for a while now.
I knew she was gonna nap and I was the best friend ever and already set up the pillows the way she liked them.
I waited until she was fully asleep before I walked to the beach to make a very important phone call.
"Gray! What's up bro?" Blake asked
"I did what you said, I was super straight forward," I explained as I kicked off my shoes
Blake mumbled, "How straight forward since it's pretty clear that Miss. Peterson does not pick up on hints well?"
"She asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said 'You' literally all I said. Do you think she'll pick it up? I'm freaking out!" I said loudly as I walked on the beach
"Maddie will text her. She'll fucking pick it up. Check your wallet. In that one compartment, you never go in." Blake told me
I sighed, "She's digging though. She keeps asking what I mean by wanting her for my birthday."
"Did you say anything?" Blake asked me
"No I just didn't answer her question. What should I do?" I asked Blake
"So before the wedding don't confess your love full out just be like 'I gotta hella feelings for you' then leave it at that until after." Blake recommend
"But you don't know Aspen she's going to ask questions and she might act weird at the wedding." I went on
I pulled out my wallet, "But I'm still gonna tell her before the wedding."
"Okay good. Are you nervous?" Blake asked
I nodded, "Practically shitting myself."
What I thought would be early birthday money was more like an early fatherhood preventer apparatus.
It was a condom, still perfect in the pack. "Blake, what the hell?"
"Happy early birthday, I'm hoping before you turn eighteen you can shed that V-card." Blake laughed
"What the hell am I gonna do with this?" I asked him
He was still laughing, "You might have sex with Aspen."
"Blake! I'm still trying to get her to know that I love her, not sleep with her." I said as I slid my wallet back into my pocket "I gotta go. I'll text you, though."
Here's one thing I didn't know as I sat on the beach for forty-five minutes to try and figure out what I was going to tell Aspen.