Flashing an impish grin at Roxie, I turn back towards the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on. “You made it just in time; the finale is the best part.” I say a little louder than I wanted.
The loud detonations from the fireworks make it impossible to have a normal conversation.
“I couldn’t agree more, the finale is my favorite, too.” Giving me a wink, he extends his hand towards me. “I’m Cane.”
I hesitantly reach my hand out, taking his into mine. The contact sends my heart racing, and I’m suddenly covered with goose bumps. I manage to squeak out, “Hi, I’m Brittan.”
June 29th 2001
After a long school year, the summer break is finally here; everyone is bursting at the seams with excitement. I, on the other hand, can’t help but be depressed.
After this summer, everything is going to change. Cane is leaving in the middle of August to get settled in at his dorm at The University of Miami. I’ll be going back to high school to start my sophomore year. I’m happy he’s staying in Miami for school, but now we’re going to be at two different stages in our lives and I can’t help but fear the worst.
I relish being able to hang out with Roxie, Cane and all of our friends every day in the courtyard for lunch. It’s going to be so weird not having him there with us, walking me to class, slipping silly notes into my locker…just him being there.
It’s unbelievable to think that, before last 4th of July, we had never met. We both attended the same high school, but never once had our paths crossed until that beautiful summer’s night. Since that moment, we’ve been inseparable. I know being just sixteen; people call it puppy love, but I think it’s more than that. What we feel for each other is the real thing. I just hope our love for each other is strong enough to withstand my insecurities and fears.
Cane landed a full scholarship for basketball. It’s been his lifelong dream to play for the Miami Hurricanes, and his parents, and I are ecstatic for him.
Only thing is; I’m totally freaking out!
He’ll be surrounded by tons of beautiful women, who are all at the same place in their lives as him. I’m afraid he’ll grow bored with me and want to be with someone the same age as him. Every time he sees me having my little pity party, Cane swears to me that he loves me and going away to college won’t change that. He’s promised me a gazillion times that no other woman can ever hold a candle to me.
I feel awful for doubting him and having these fears. Cane has been nothing but amazing to me over the past eleven months. I blame it on all the TV shows and Lifetime movies I watch. Seeing the ever so loving boyfriend go away to college, then the girlfriend he leaves behind is soon forgotten as temptation is constantly thrown at him.
I’ve been to enough frat parties over the last year with Cane, to know exactly how those women behave. They don’t care if the guy has a girlfriend. If they want you, they’ll do whatever it takes to entice and lead you into their bed.
“You going to jump in? Or lay and bake in the sun all day?” Cane’s voice snaps me back to reality.
We’re all hanging out at his house for a BBQ. His dad is cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. I lift my head just in time to see Cane do a cannonball off the diving board into the pool; the waves from Cane jumping in causes Roxie’s float to tip over landing her in the water. I can’t help but laugh, seeing her yell at Cane for being an inconsiderate douche.
Matt and Dalton run along the side of the pool; jumping in at the same time next to Roxie, soaking her further. Deciding to push my fears into the back of my mind for now, I climb off of the lounge chair. Breaking into a full sprint, I run and do a cannon ball into the pool. Popping up laughing, I swipe my hands across the water splashing all the guys.
“Stop picking on Roxie, you know she prefers to float and not swim.” I give her a sly grin and wink.
Roxie, finally losing her pout, climbs onto Matt’s back, wraps one arm around this neck and splashes him with the other, as her long blonde locks fall around his face. I can’t stop smiling; I wish we could freeze time and stay in this moment forever: Carefree, not a worry in the world.
As I’m watching Matt and Roxie wrestle in the water, I feel hands wrap around my ankles and pull me under. Spinning under the water, I open my eyes and I’m instantly lost in Cane’s gorgeous blues. Swimming towards me, he plants a short, sweet kiss on my lips before pulling me against his chest; ascending us both from under the water.
Shaking his head, he whips his shaggy, dirty blonde hair side to side, beads of water splatter all over me. “Bout time you got your hot ass into the pool. I was about two seconds away from grabbing you, and tossing you in.” He says playfully while brushing my wet hair off of my face with the pad of his thumb.