“Please stay,” she whispers.
It kills me to leave her like this, so much want between the two of us, but I had no idea how much Heather’s comment had affected her. I should have asked sooner what was wrong instead of letting her deal with it alone.
“You know if I could, I would sweet girl, but we don’t want to upset the parents.” I see her roll her eyes and kiss her cheek. “I’ll be here tomorrow night. I promise.”
As I’m almost through the door, she stops me. “I’m sorry, I’ve been kinda standoffish lately. I guess I let Heather get in my head.”
“Babe, you have nothing to be sorry for. You’re my girl now, nothing else matters. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She blows me a kiss before I close her door.
One day there won't be these rules put in place by our parents. There will be her and I and our own little piece of heaven.
*****
-March 12th-
I get off the bus and check the mailbox. Empty. Still nothing. People have been getting their college acceptance letters for the last few weeks which means I’ve been checking the mail every day like a crazy person for my letters. I’m beginning to wonder if they will ever come. I walk up the drive thinking about this upcoming Friday night. It’s Robert’s first home game. I can't wait to see him dressed in his uniform. White pants and royal blue jersey cloud my mind as I make my way inside.
Mom’s home and as giddy as a schoolgirl. “Guess what came today!” she says in a sing-song kind of tone. Mom holds two large envelopes out in front of me. One from South Carolina and one from Ole Miss. These two envelopes hold my fate for the next four years of my life. “Come on! Open them!”
I open Ole Miss first, ACCEPTED.
I open South Carolina, my dream school, ACCEPTED, and with an academic scholarship of $20,000 for the first year.
Mom has a triumphant grin, “So, what’s it gonna be?”
I’m speechless. I knew this was a possibility, and I should be ecstatic about South Carolina, but I’m torn. “I, I don’t know. I mean, obviously, I would love to go to South Carolina, but I feel like I need to talk to Robert.” For the first time, I feel entirely unsure. I’ve never been unsure about anything in my life. I had a plan, a solid plan. My life was mapped out and now I feel as if it were only a half-life. Mom had a plan for me long before I knew it and now her crazy idea feels more and more like the right path. I’m willing to change years of planning for a boy, but not just any boy. He’s my Robert, my other half and though I know I can stand on my own, there isn’t a single piece of me that wants too. “Am I crazy, Mom?”
“Absolutely not, sweetheart. This is a big decision and you two are a couple. Good couples discuss the things affecting you both.”
I nod and immediately text Robert.
“How was practice?”
“Long, but I think we’re ready for Friday.”
“I got my acceptance letters today.”
“Fantastic! What are you thinking?”
“We need to talk. Has Coach said anything yet to you?”
“No, not yet. But Commitment Day is April 14, so I’ll at least have heard something by the 13th at the very latest.”
“Okay. I guess I’m just anxious to be out on our own together, without parents.”
“And why would you not want them around Presley? What kinds of naught things are you planning on doing to me?”
“I can think of a few ;)”
“You know we can always get a hotel room after prom.”
“I know, but I think it’s a little cliché. I want our first time to be special.”
“And it will be. I promise. xoxoxo. Got to go. I’ve got a test in history tomorrow and I’ve got to study. Will I see you tomorrow?”
“No. I have Choir UIL tomorrow. Liv is picking me up early tomorrow morning and it will be late by the time we get back”.
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too. Good luck tomorrow.”
-March 15th-
Liv, me, and both our moms get to the baseball fields early. The air is electric, and Robert’s name is on everyone’s lips as the kid with the golden arm. I am so excited for him, and so incredibly proud of him.
This is my first high school game, and it’s fun to watch everyone. We take our seats right behind home plate, and I can't wait to see Robert; he’s pitching first tonight. Liv is talking about something, and I seem to settle into a comfortable peace on the bleachers.
“Didn’t anyone tell you not to look so hot at a baseball game? You’ll distract the pitcher.” I look back, and Robert is crouched down low behind me, his lips brush against my skin sending goosebumps everywhere. His breath is hot on my neck, and he has a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Well, then the pitcher shouldn’t look so sexy in his uniform. I need to make sure everyone knows you belong to me.”
I’m wearing cut-off blue jean shorts, Robert’s practice jersey which I had to practically beg Coach for, and a pair of white converse tennis shoes.
“Princess, there is no doubt in my mind who I belong to. But just so you know, I came up with a little sign for us. Starting today, no matter where or when I’m playing, you’ll always know I’m thinking about you.”
My heart melts, and Liv gives us googly eyes.
“Can you two get any cuter? Just when I don’t think it’s physically possible, you do something like this.”
I laugh, and Robert shows me our signal. It isn’t much, a simple swipe of the nose with the pad of his thumb, first the right side, then the left. He shows me and I mimic him.
“You’re the only one that knows this. And if I ever see you do it, I’ll know you’re thinking about me too.” He kisses my forehead. “I’ve got to get back to the field house, but wait for me after the game, okay?”
With a giant grin I nod, “Absolutely. I love you. Good luck.”
Robert disappears, and I’m left with a happily in love Liv, who wraps her arms around me, like a predator suffocating its prey.
“Seriously, you two make all other couples look like crap.”
I laugh at her and bump her with my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s watch the game.”
-----
The game was amazing. Our first game of the season and we won 17-2. Robert pitched a no-hitter. Coach ended up pulling him in the seventh inning since we were so far ahead. He said he didn’t want him to strain his arm.
Liv and I are waiting in the stands for Robert and Trey to come out. Our mothers left after Robert got pulled, knowing we would get a ride home with the guys. Liv and I are deep in conversation, and we don’t hear them approaching.
“There’s my beautiful girl.”
“Oh. My. God! You were amazing tonight!” I stand up to give him a hug, but before I can, he wraps his arms around my thighs and lifts me into the air, looking up at me as he arches his neck backward, so I’m looking down at him.
“I think I might need you to wear this outfit every time we play. I think you were a total distraction to the other pitcher.”
“What my man wants, my man gets.”
He waggles his eyebrows “Oh, really?”