AllFreeNovel
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We spend the next little while just lazily swimming around, reminiscing about the past, the present, and the future.
“So, what do you want to do when you graduate?” I ask her, floating on my back as I look up at the clouds.
“I don’t really know what I want to do, if I’m honest, but I’m leaning closer to maybe becoming a teacher. Something with little kids because teenagers freak me out. They’re a whole breed of their own.” She laughs. “Or maybe work full time with Mom at the bookstore. It’s doing amazing.”
I could see her working with kids; she’s amazing with the ones she works with when she volunteers at the rec center. But she also loves that store. We used to spend hours there after she was done working because she would want to check out all the new books her mom would get in. Of course, she had to read the back of every one of them to make sure it was something she would want to read. More times than not, she would end up reading them all anyway.
“You're eighteen.” I chuckle. “Still technically a teenager.”
“Not the same,” she scoffs. “It’s between the ages of thirteen and sixteen you have to worry about. The internet has matured them and they know things they shouldn’t. Making them into, like I said, a breed of their own.”
“You're so weird.” I laugh, repeating her earlier statement about me as I stand up.
“Takes one to know one,” she teases, making me shake my head. “So, what will you be doing after you graduate?”
“Well, I want to do some traveling for a few years. See the world and all it has to offer, all that jazz. Then I plan on coming back here and opening up a restaurant.”
That makes her brows jump. “Really? I didn’t know you wanted to do that.”
I shrug. “I always liked cooking. It was one of my favorite things to do with my mom every night. I’ve been taking business classes too.”
“Color me impressed.” She smiles. “I always thought your mind was set on going to the NHL.”
“I mean, that's a dream I always had in the back of my mind, but when it comes down to it, it’s not for me. I’m not looking for hockey to be my life for the next seven to ten years. Life is short and I don’t want to look back in thirty years and regret that I lost the best years of my life. It would be hard to fall in love and start a family when all my time would be practicing, playing, and traveling.”
“Never thought of it that way,” she comments, floating on her back while looking up at the sky. I just stand there, skimming my fingers along the surface of the water, watching her.
My eyes travel over her body like I have no control over them. So, I move them up to her face, that way it’s less creepy.
Did she always have that big freckle under her eye? It’s cute.
Right, be less creepy.
“I want this year to go by slow,” she murmurs, breaking the silence.
I blink a few times, pulling my eyes away from traveling down to her lips. “Why's that?”
“Because in a few years, you and Toby will leave.” When she’s right in front of me, she dunks herself under the water before standing back up. Wiping the water from her face, she blinks, her eyes finding mine. “And I’m not ready to lose you for good.”
What is going on with my heart right now? It’s beating way too fast, and it feels like someone has their hand fisted around it, squeezing it tightly.
I step forward before I even know what I’m doing. Towering over her, I look down and into her stunning blue eyes that widen in wonder. Her lips part, and fuck me, I have the urge to see what they taste like. Lifting my hand up, I tuck a piece of her hair that's fallen from her hair tie behind her ear. “You're never going to lose me. I’ll always be here for you, il mio cuore. No matter where I am in this world, all you need to do is say the word, and I’ll come running back to you.”
The need to touch her, to be close to her hits me like a punch to the gut. And then I’m picking her up as she wraps her legs around my waist. I’m hard, and the way her eyes grow wide, I know she can feel it. Her arms snake around my shoulders, bringing her face so damn close to mine. We just look at each other, frozen in the moment.
Our breaths mingle, hers coming in quicker than mine. I’m going to do something so fucking stupid that could ruin everything.
“Lilly, Bishop! Supper is ready!” Rain calls from the back door.
My eyes widen, and just like that, I’m snapped out of the moment. I pick Lilly up and toss her back into the water like she's a damn hot potato.
She yelps and goes under but I’m already rushing out of the pool, needing to put space between us. God, what is wrong with me? I just dunked the girl.
“Bishop Grant, you're an asshole!” she yells. “I’m going to kick your ass!”
I chuckle and look down at her adorable drowned rat look and angry scowls.
“You got to catch me first, Shorty.”
