11. Kamryn
Aweek later, Mason and I are driving down the final stretch of road to the beach house. A whole month alone with absolutely no interruptions is my favorite kind of summer. Mason slows down the car as he turns his signal light on. When he turns and the trees give way to a beautiful bungalow, my jaw goes completely slack.
“I take it you like it?”
I’m still speechless, “Like it? I love it. You did good babe.”
I lean over the center console and kiss him on the cheek. When Mason said he was going to pick out a beach house for us for a month in the summer, I didn’t believe him. I jokingly told him to pick something cute with a few bedrooms. And I gotta say that he did really good picking this house out.
“Thanks. Let’s go take our stuff inside and explore.”
We get out of the car and take our stuff into the foyer. It’s a beautiful one-story house. The foyer opens right up to the living room, where we can see the white sandy beach just beyond that. To the left of the living room is a full chef’s kitchen with light gray granite countertops, white cabinets, stainless steel stove, and light brown/ taupe wood flooring flowing throughout the house.
The rest of the house is spectacular with a movie room and a home gym with a steam room. The primary bedroom has a California King Bed that has French doors leading out to the porch and down to the beach. The other bedroom is simple with a queen size bed and a small dresser. The furniture contrasts perfectly with the cabinets in the kitchen. The white contrasting with the light brown/ taupe flooring looks simple, but timeless.
“What do you think?” Mason asks when he comes up behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist and leans his head on top of mine.
“It’s beautiful. Like it exceeds all of my expectations.”
“What would you like to do first?”
I turn around and pull him with me towards the bedroom. “Christen the bed of course.”
Mason chuckles as he follows me. “Kamryn Rawlins. What am I going to do with you?”
“I can think of a few things,” I declare and start by taking off my shirt. I don’t think he noticed I wasn’t wearing a bra. My nipples are already pointed. Just being around Mason like this makes me so ready for him. I start next on the button of my shorts and then my zipper; and then I slowly shimmy out of them until I’m only in my lace thong.
I can see Mason’s Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallows and his chest is heaving.
“You have way too many clothes on. Don’t you think so?” I ask when I walk towards him. I grasp the bottom of his shirt and he helps me pull it off the rest of the way. My fingers trail down the middle of his torso and enjoy the way he shivers at my touch.
It gives me a thrill that Mason doesn’t mind my being forward sexually around him. I think it makes him a little shy that I’m more blunt with what I want. I’ve always been that way. But with him it’s on a whole other level.
I unsnap the button on his shorts and run my knuckles down the front of his pants while unzipping them. I slide my hands into the back of his shorts and pull them down as best as I can before he takes over that part. Hey, I may have no problem getting him undressed, but with all his muscles it’s hard to finish the job! Once his shorts are off I pull him closer to me. His erection is starting to peek through his boxer briefs and I can’t wait anymore. And apparently neither can he.
Mason brings his mouth to mine and we walk back to the bedroom. Once in the room, he picks me up by the thighs and slowly lowers us to the bed. My panties come off when he lowers himself down my body. I’m so wet for him that any foreplay will just set me off. But Mason tests me out anyway by pushing one finger in and working me up. Then adds a second finger to bring me even closer to the edge. When I’m about to come, he pulls out his fingers but quickly replaces those by pushing himself inside me. Instead of the fast pace that we’re used to, Mason takes charge by setting a slower pace. My orgasm comes out of nowhere. I feel it in my toes and then see actual fireworks. Mason comes not too long after me and slows down to ride it out.
“Do you think it’s weird we hardly ever fight?” I ask Mason. I just finished cooking dinner for the two of us. I stayed out on the beach all day and I’m physically drained.
We’ve been here for almost two weeks and it’s been so relaxing. The beach has been a regular occurrence. But we’ve also gone into town and went to an older movie theater that plays black and white movies, zip lining, paragliding, paddle boarding, and we even rode horses on the beach last night.
“Eh…I don’t think it’s weird. But it’s definitely unusual. Why? Do you want to fight with me?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Really? No. I was just asking if it was weird. So what are we doing tonight?” I ask to change the subject. I don’t like fighting with people. It makes me too sad to even think about it.
I look over at Mason and he’s wearing a smile that could rival the Cheshire Cat.
“What’s that smile for? You’re making me nervous.”
“You have two options. And yes, I’m making you choose because this particular thing is for you.”
“Okay.” I reply nervously.
“Karaoke or a live band?”
“Those are my two options?”
“Mm hmm.”
“I guess I’ll go with a live band.”
“Perfect! Cause you’re their lead singer tonight.”
Did I hear what I thought I heard? “Wait…what?”
“You heard me. Go get ready. We’re leaving very soon.”
“Mason…”
“What? This is supposed to be fun.” He says and pulls me into his lap.
“I know. But I’ve never sung in front of people. Only you and my family. This is big.”
He places a kiss on my temple. “You’ll be great. I know you will. If you get nervous, just look at me…or close your eyes until you get comfortable.”
I groan loudly as I walk away to get ready. “Fine!”
When Mason and I walk into the bar amp; grille that I’m supposed to be singing at, I see that it’s pretty crowded. And that takes my nerves to a new height. I do see that band that I’m singing with and they look to be about mine and Mason’s age…maybe a little older.
“Okay everyone. We have someone new that’s going to be singing with us tonight. She just walked in. Her boyfriend actually reached out to us on social media and he sent us some of her work, and I think y’all are gonna like her. Come on up here sweetheart.” The guitarist says pointing at me.
But my feet are planted to the floor. I’m so nervous my knee creases are sweating…and I’m standing up. Mason gives a slight nudge in the direction of the stage. The crowd starts with a slow clap when I finally make my way to the makeshift stage. I introduce myself to the band and ask them if they know A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin. They nod their heads and smile.
“Hi everyone. I’m Kamryn. And I guess I’m gonna be singing tonight. This first one is a classic by Aretha Franklin.” I turn and nod to the band.
The music starts and I wait for my cue. Before I know it, I look out to the crowd that’s still growing to see them singing along and dancing in their seats. I lose myself in the song, swaying to the music, as this song conveys what I feel when I’m with Mason.
When the song ends, I take my bow. Still in disbelief that I finished that song without my voice cracking. I can’t believe I sang that song to begin with. Go big or go home, right? I sing about six more songs until we take a little break. Surprisingly I’m not nervous anymore. I walk toward Mason who’s got a huge smile on his face.
I wrap my arms around his waist and kiss him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I just pushed you in the right direction. That was all you babe.” Mason says and moves my hair out of my eyes.
For the next twenty minutes I ask Mason what he thought of the songs I chose and what songs I should sing next. I love that he pushes me to go after what I want even though I don’t know if I want it.
The guitarist taps me on the shoulder and nods to the stage. “That’s my cue. Don’t drink too much.” Then I kiss his cheek and I’m off to the stage.
“Well I see we have some new faces in the crowd. If you’re just joining us, I’m Kamryn, this is Cody on the guitar, Mitch on the keyboard, and Tony on the drums. For this next song, I may just need Mitch. If any of you are Adele fans, then on her first album she did a cover of Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan and I had literal goosebumps. So if you don’t mind, then that’s what I’m gonna start back up with.” I nod to Mitch and he starts the piano intro. I feel the thud of the keys in my chest and let the lyrics flow through me and out into the crowd.
Any Adele song can make anyone feel something. Yeah, I may not relate to a ton of her songs now that I’m happy with Mason. But that doesn’t mean I can’t act.
We decided the second half of this should be ten songs. The songs that we’ve done have ranged from old to new, country to pop to hip hop to singer-songwriter.
“This last song is by Lady Antebellum. I was hooked when I heard a cover of this song on YouTube. Since I go to school in South Carolina I’ve gotten back in touch with my love for country music. Nothing says country music like listening to Darius Rucker at a football game. But anyways, the last song of the night is called American Honey.”
This song is summer in a bottle. I would be crazy not to sing while here. So that’s what I do. It’s something about this song that takes me home. Summers in Philly while doing nothing and everything. Yeah, Philadelphia is far from the south but that’s what this song reminds me of. It reminds me of home.
The crowd cheers for us when we’re done. But I step aside and make sure all the love is showered on the band.
“Thank you guys for letting me sing tonight. I had a lot of fun.” I tell them while they start to pack up their equipment. “Well, if you guys are ever in Columbia let me know. I’ll come out and watch.”
Cody is the first to speak up. “Of course. I think you may have gotten us more exposure, so thanks for that. Take care Kamryn.”
“Yeah. You too. Bye guys.”
After the intensity of performing, Mason and I decided to keep the rest of the summer in the beach house simple. We only had a week left and relaxing was the main priority for us. Morning walks on the beach, laying out, movie marathons, waking up making love and going to sleep making love, and so much food. I got to know more about Mason on a deeper level in that month than I have in the last 9 months we’ve been together. And sleeping in the same bed and sharing the space made me more confident that we could live together for real, without any problems.
And before we know it, our time in the beach house has come to an end and we’re driving back to Mason’s parents’ house. I will time to slow down or come to a halt. But that’s not the way time works. Time is inevitable. Time is constant. Time is always moving.
After spending the weekend with Mason and his family, I make the drive back up to Pennsylvania where I’ll be until it’s time to go back to school. Mason heads back a little earlier than me for camp and then we’re off to the races for another year of school. My second year and his final year.
I didn’t think I’d be the girl that found the one to spend her days with so soon. But every relationship that I’ve admired has been one that started this early. Look at my parents. They found each other at eighteen and have been married almost twenty years together. I want that.
But can I have it?
It’s weird crying over saying goodbye to someone, even knowing that you’ll see them soon. Mason and I are good at goodbyes. Every away game I was there at the bus loading zone, seeing him off. We would wait until the last possible second before he had to get on the bus and take his seat.
Did I get weepy when I left him to come home? A little.
But I feel like that’s a good thing. If I didn’t feel what I feel for Mason, then our goodbyes would be easy. There’d be no tears and we would laugh about it the next time we saw each other. Yet in the time we’ve been together, the bond we’ve formed as a couple and the growth with us as individuals, it means more than words can explain.
I’m pulling down my parents street and blasting out the last of a Lady Gaga song when I pull into my parents driveway. I see their cars in the carport and my sisters car on the street.
Me: I’m home.
Mason: Okay, great. Come back now.
Me: Don’t tempt me. I’ll see you in a few weeks.
Mason: Counting down the days. I love you.
Me: I love you too.
Saying those words, whether in person or over text, never gets old. I put my phone in my purse, turn off my car, and open the trunk to get my suitcase out. Getting out I stretch my legs before walking to the back and hefting out my suitcase. I risk a glance across the street at Liam’s parents house, but see no movement.
I haven’t talked to Liam since the baseball home-opener. As much as it hurts that he and I have drifted apart, I have to learn to accept it.
“Mom? Dad? Jax?” I call out when I push through the front door.
Our dog Jersey trots over to me with his tongue flopping out.
“Hello handsome, boy,” I greet him as I give his body a rub and kiss the top of his head. When he feels I’ve greeted him enough, he leads me to the backdoor that leads to the patio and pool. Showing me that’s where my family is congregated.
I wander back to the fridge and grab a beer before wandering outside.
“Kamryn!” My mom announces as she rushes at me. My mom is my best friend, but she’s still stern when she needs to be.
“Hi, Mommy.” I greet when she wraps me in a hug.
“How was your trip?” She asks as she releases me.
I walk over to kiss my dad on the cheek and sit on the lounge chair next to my sister. “It was good. We spent most of our days at the beach, playing tourist, and Mason got me to sing in front of a massive crowd.”
My Mom and Dad look at me in shock.
“I know. I wanted to wring his neck when he told me that. But I ended up loving it,” I can’t stop the smile when I remember how it felt to be up on that stage.
“That’s really great, Kammy,” my sister says next to me.
My family knows I don’t sing in public. They’ve always encouraged me to just give it a try. But anytime I would even attempt to look at a stage I would lose all ability to form words. So they stopped pushing me.
Later that night, I’m sitting in the sunroom reading a book when my mom comes and sits next to me.
“So how are you really?”
My mom is the one I spill a lot of my guts too. Some may think we’re too close. But having a parent that will not only be your parent, but your sounding board means everything.
I set my book to the side. “I’m tired. But my body is just wired with happiness. I feel like a firework ready to take off into the sky.”
“How are things with Mason? We’ll have to make it down there for a game to finally meet him in person.”
The problem with living out of state is that it’s not easy to take your friends or your significant other home to meet the parents. They’ve met over the phone and it’s upped the nerve-factor for when they do finally meet.
“I am so hopelessly in love with him, Mom. I know you always told me not to tie my happiness in to another person, but with him I couldn’t help it. He’s pushed me to be a better person. He’s helped me realize the things that I always worried about, weren’t such big things to worry about in the end.”
She gazes at me with her mothers smile. “Just remember to have your own happiness. I don’t want you to lose that glow I’ve seen in you since you were born.”
“I wont, Mom. I promise.”
My Mom kisses my cheek before heading upstairs to bed. I think back on our conversation.
I’ve always felt I was the bright light in my family. Not that they’re eeyores or anything. But there was never a day that went by when laughter didn’t infect my family and I was the root of that laughter.
Promises are never meant to be broken, and in this instance I hope to finally keep this one.