She didn’t talk much about Will to Kayla. Kayla knew they were still seeing each other, but every time she mentioned the things they’d done-whether it was fishing or mudding or walking the beach-she had the feeling that Kayla was on another wavelength entirely. Kayla wasn’t able to grasp the fact that Ronnie was happy simply being with Will, and Ronnie couldn’t help wondering what that would mean for their friendship when she returned to New York. She knew she’d changed in the weeks she’d been down here, while Kayla, it seemed, hadn’t changed at all. Ronnie realized she had no interest in going to clubs anymore. Thinking back, she wondered why she’d been so interested in them in the first place-the music was loud, and everyone was on the make. And if everything was supposed to be so great, why did everyone drink or do drugs in the hope of enhancing their experience? It didn’t make sense to her, but as the ocean sounded in the distance, she suddenly knew that it never had.
She also wanted a better relationship with her mom. At the very least, her dad had taught her that parents could be okay. Though she was under no illusions that her mom trusted her the way her dad did, she knew the tension cut both ways in their relationship. Maybe if she tried talking to her mom in the same way she talked to her dad, things would begin to improve between them.
Strange, what being forced to slow down could do to a person.
“It’s going to end, you know,” said a voice behind her.
Absorbed in her own thoughts, she hadn’t heard Ashley approach, but she recognized her voice.
“Excuse me?” Warily, she turned to face the blonde.
“I mean, I’m glad Will invited you to the wedding. You should have your fun now because it’s not going to last. He leaves in a couple of weeks. Have you thought about that yet?”
Ronnie appraised her. “I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”
“Even if you two make plans to see each other, do you honestly think Will’s mom is ever going to accept you?” Ashley went on. “Megan was engaged twice before this, and her mom ran both of them off. And she’s going to do the same to you whether you like it or not. But even if she doesn’t, you’re leaving and he’s leaving and it’s not going to last.”
Ronnie tensed, hating Ashley for giving voice to her darkest thoughts. Still, she was getting tired of this girl, and she had just about reached her limit.
“Hey, Ashley,” she said, sidling up closer to her, “I’m going to tell you something, okay? And I want you to pay attention, so I’m going to be perfectly clear.” She took another step forward, until their faces were almost touching. “I’m getting sick and tired of listening to your crap, so if you ever try to talk to me again, I’m going to punch those bleached teeth right out of your mouth. Got it?”
Something in her face must have convinced Ashley that Ronnie was serious, because she turned quickly without another word and retreated to the safety of the tent.
Standing on the dock later, Ronnie was glad she’d finally managed to shut Ashley down, but the spiteful blonde’s words still nagged at her. Will would be leaving for Vanderbilt in two weeks, and she’d most likely be leaving a week after that. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen to them, aside from one simple truth: Things were going to change.
How could they not? Their relationship had been sustained by seeing each other every day, and try as she might, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to communicate by phone or text. She knew there were other options-using the camera on her computer, for instance-but she was under no illusions that it would resemble what they had now.
Which meant… what?
Behind her, the reception was in full swing. The chairs had been cleared from the temporary deck to create a dance floor, and from her vantage point on the dock, she’d seen Will dance at least twice with the six-year-old flower girl, as well as once with his sister, making Ronnie smile. A few minutes after her confrontation with Ashley, she’d watched Megan and Daniel cut the cake. The music started up again as Tom danced with Megan, and when Megan tossed her bouquet, Ronnie was sure that even distant neighbors must have heard the scream from the young woman who caught it.
“There you are,” Will said, breaking into her reverie. He was coming down the walkway toward her. “I’ve been looking all over for you. It’s time for our dance.”
She watched him close the distance between them, trying to imagine what some of the girls he’d meet in college would think if they were in her shoes right now. Probably the same thing she was thinking: Wow.
He skipped down the last steps toward her, and she turned away. Studying the movement of the water seemed easier than facing him.
He knew her well enough to recognize something was amiss.
“What’s wrong?”
When she didn’t answer right away, he gently brushed aside a strand of her hair. “Talk to me,” he murmured.
She closed her eyes briefly before facing him. “Where are we going with all this? With you and me.”
Will frowned in concern. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Her smile was melancholy. “Yes, you do,” she said, and as soon as he lowered his hand from her hair, she knew he understood. “It’s not going to be the same.”
“That doesn’t mean it has to end…”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not hard to get from Nashville to New York. It’s, what… a two-hour flight? It’s not like I’d have to walk there.”
“And you’ll come see me?” Ronnie heard the tremulousness of her own voice.
“I was planning on it. And I was hoping you’d come to Nashville, too. We can go to the Grand Ole Opry.”
She laughed despite the ache she felt inside.
He put his arms around her. “I don’t know why all of this is coming up now, but you’re wrong. I mean, I know it’s not going to be the same, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be better in some ways, too. My sister lives in New York, remember? And it’s not as though school goes year-round. There are breaks in the fall and spring, another around Christmas, and then it’s summer. And like I said, it’s an easy enough trip if we just wanted to make a weekend out of it.”
Ronnie wondered what his parents would think about that, but she said nothing.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Don’t you even want to try?”
“Of course I want to try.”
“Then we’ll find a way to make it work, okay?” He paused. “I want to be with you as much as possible, Ronnie. You’re smart and funny and you’re honest. I trust you. I trust us. Yeah, I’m leaving and you’re going back home. But neither of those things changes the way I feel about you. And my feelings aren’t going to change simply because I’m going to Vanderbilt. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
She knew he was sincere, but a nagging voice inside her asked how many summer romances actually withstood the test of time. Not many, and it had nothing to do with feelings. People changed. Interests changed. All she had to do was glance in the mirror to recognize that.
Yet losing him seemed unbearable. He was the one she loved, the one she would always love, and as he leaned in to kiss her, she gave herself over to him. While he held her close, she ran her hands over his shoulders and back, feeling the strength in his arms. She knew he’d wanted more in their relationship than she’d been willing to offer, but here and now, she suddenly knew she had no other choice. There was only this moment, and it was theirs.
When he spoke, his voice was at once tentative and urgent. “Do you want to come with me to my dad’s boat?”
She could feel herself trembling, uncertain whether she was ready for what was coming next. At the same time, she felt a powerful urge to move forward. “Okay,” she whispered.