Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
ELIZABETH
End of Summer
My New Normal
I hate how fast the summer flew by, but I did get to experience my very own summer romance, thanks to Jayson. He took me on picnics, we sat under the stars and watched a production of Shakespeare in the Park, and he gave me many more clandestine nighttime dates in our tree.
Jayson would leave me small presents on my windowsill to find when I woke in the morning. Little trinkets like polished pebbles from the creek, wildflowers from his mom’s garden, paper butterflies, and stars with little love notes written in them.
And like he promised, we’ve had many more next times. I blush as memories of this summer play in a loop. We’ve experimented and fooled around, tried out different ways we can bring each other pleasure without going all the way.
We decided we wanted to take it slow, not rush into sex, and let things work themselves out organically. Just enjoy each other and exist in the moment. It makes each time we touch, every kiss, every spoken word of love, that much more special.
Since we returned from our beach trip, Jayson has been working hard to rebuild his relationship with Ryder. Several days during the week, he goes to Randy’s garage to help Ryder work on his new car. Jayson says that they don’t talk much, just quietly work side by side.
Ryder has been coming around more often, mostly to hang with Julien, but he no longer leaves the room when Jayson walks in.
“Ow!” Hailey yelps, sucking her thumb into her mouth. “I hate camping! Stupid tent!”
We’re currently trying, unsuccessfully I might add, to pitch our tents for tonight’s backyard campout.
I pick up the pole Hailey threw to the ground. “You’re going to break all the poles in half. It’s not like it’s rocket science,” I reply, trying to bend it through a fabric loop and not eat my words. It really is harder than it looks.
Jayson comes up behind me and places a kiss on my shoulder.
“Need a man to help you out?” he murmurs suggestively, squeezing my hips.
My thighs clench, making it difficult to get out of his way. “Be my guest.”
After ten minutes of enjoying watching him struggle to put our tent up and failing, I smirk at him.
“Oh, poor baby,” I mock. “Need a woman to finish the job?”
Jayson lunges for me and tickles my ribs. “I always finish the job.”
“Not always,” I playfully reply, trying to wriggle away from him.
“Oh, now you’re really going to get it,” he declares, and I run for my life. “Julien, save me from your brother!” I shout and dash over to him, throwing myself behind his back for protection.
Out of nowhere, a blast of water hurls across the backyard and drenches us. Hailey and Elijah laugh hysterically as they douse us with their water guns. And then pandemonium ensues.
Water droplets glisten in the air as we dart around the backyard, trying to outmaneuver their aim. Ryder leaps into the fray, armed with a super soaker that towers over his shoulder. With a mischievous grin, he turns the nozzle toward Hailey and Elijah, and they scatter like leaves in the wind, ducking to avoid the deluge.
For just a moment, time seems to stand still as we revel in the simple pleasure of being together, caught up in a carefree moment of happy silliness.
“Liz, catch!” Julien says and tosses me a foam water cannon.
“Hey!” Jayson protests when he doesn’t get one.
“I’ll protect you, baby,” I tell him and go straight for my sister. Payback is a bitch.
“Brea, a little assist here!” Hailey squeals as she narrowly avoids a direct hit, her flip-flops kicking up grass as she sprints toward the safety of the back patio where Mom is sitting.
“Fend for yourself,” Brea shouts, chasing after Ryder.
Elijah attempts a daring maneuver, leaping behind a tent to take cover. But Julien is relentless in his pursuit, determined to soak him to the bone.
The grass beneath my feet is slick with water, adding an element of slippery chaos to the game.
I turn my water cannon and aim at Jayson.
“Don’t do it,” he warns when he sees the playful defiance glinting in my eyes.
I let out a dramatic sigh, pretending to be wounded. “So untrusting.” I spray him directly in the face. “Oops.”
He tackles me to the ground and sits on top of me.
“I surrender!” I giggle-snort when his fingers dig into my ribs where he knows I’m ticklish.
He grins down at me. “Thought so.”
Breathless and soaked from head to toe, Ryder collapses on the grass next to us.
“That was fun.”
I reach for his hand and hook our pinkies, so happy that I could burst.
This is the first time in a long time that everything feels normal again. That we’re us again.
“Yes, it was.”
It’s too late in the summer for fireflies to be out, but the cicadas have emerged and are creating quite a racket. I look around at all my friends, and a feeling of contentment washes over me. Jayson is sitting beside me, holding my hand on his thigh, while everyone else is sitting in lawn chairs, talking.
The sun has long dipped below the horizon. The sky is an inky blue, deepening toward twilight, and the moon hangs low and full, illuminating the scene with a silvery sheen. The stars are just starting to twinkle, barely visible through the light haze of humidity.
The late summer evening is still unbearably warm, the kind where the heat of the day lingers oppressively in the air, softened only a smidge by a light breeze. It’s too late in the season for fireflies to dance among us, but the cicadas have emerged, their loud, rhythmic song blending with the murmur of conversation.
A deep sense of contentment washes over me as I feel Jayson’s hand resting on my thigh, his fingers gently intertwined with mine. The world feels peaceful, suspended in this perfect moment.
Someone taps me on my shoulder, and I turn to see Ryder holding my acoustic guitar. He smiles at me with a crooked grin.
“Play for us?”
I haven’t played in front of a group since the cookout at Ryder’s house years ago. I usually just play with my dad or sometimes with Ryder. Dad has been giving Ryder guitar lessons, but he refuses to play for anyone other than me.
I’m immediately greeted with chants of “Sing!”
When I take my guitar, Ryder pulls me out of my chair and into the middle of our circle.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Fallen Brook’s very own Elizabeth Fairchild.”
An embarrassed blush scorches my cheeks when everyone claps.
“Okay, here’s one,” I say and wink at Jayson.
He’s not the only one who can be romantic. My fingers tenderly pluck at the strings, lightly strumming the music for “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack. My voice starts soft and low, then grows with intensity and power as I belt out the words about a woman who experiences her first kiss, her first touch, her first all-consuming love with the man she desires.
Even though we’re surrounded by our friends, Jayson and I are the only two who exist as I sing the ballad just to him. His chest rises and falls with deep inhalations, and his eyes change from silver to black, reminiscent of the night he came to my room and kissed me for the first time. By the end of the song, when my voice drifts off into the summer air, no one makes a sound.
“Jesus, Liz,” Jayson breathes.
He gives me such a heated look, my heart skips a beat, and my legs go weak.
We stay up for another few hours before everyone retires to their tents. Hailey decides to sleep in Brea’s tent, but I don’t plan to sleep in our tent either.
Waiting feels like forever, but it doesn’t take long before the sounds of light snoring can be heard. I’ve been on the verge of a panic attack for the past half hour, trying to decide when will be a good time to sneak out and hope like hell that no one wakes up or needs to go to the bathroom at the wrong moment.
Knowing tent zippers are loud, I left my tent door open. As soundlessly as I can, I poke my head out to make sure the coast is clear.
It’s not.
I silently slip out and sneak up on Julien.
“Where are you off to, Julien Jameson?” I whisper.
He startles and glowers at me. “Liz, what the hell?” he whisper-hisses.
I try not to laugh.
“Wait. Where are you going?” he says.
“I’m being naughty. What about you?”
His glances at Elijah’s tent.
“ Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod ! You finally said yes, didn’t you?” I dance around in a circle, my happiness uncontainable.
He frantically shushes me. “Yes. Be quiet.”
I throw my arms around him and rejoice in his ear. “I’m so happy for you. You better tell me everything tomorrow.”
He smirks, but the smile that lights up his face speaks volumes.
I kiss him full on the mouth. “Give that to Elijah.”
He rolls his eyes. “Good night, Liz.”
I wait for him to disappear inside Elijah’s tent before tiptoeing to Jayson’s.
“About damn time,” I hear him sleepily say in the dark.
But sleep is the furthest thing on our minds when he pulls me down onto the sleeping bag, takes off my shorts, and buries his face between my legs.
Best. Night. Ever.