“Sometimes I think I am. Other times I don’t want anything to change.”
I nod. I didn’t want so many things to change, either. We had been inseparable our whole lives, and now that would all be different. I have to remind myself that he’ll only be a couple of hours’ drive away.
Cole looks down at me with a smile. “Yes,” he says, confusing me.
“Yes, what?”
“I’ve been looking into the whole poly relationship you were talking about. I think I can handle it.”
“Really?” I practically shout before calming myself down. I didn’t expect to ever have that come up between us again.
“Yeah, I get it better now. Love isn’t finite, and you have more than enough to go around. I have one small concern.”
“What’s that?”
“You don’t want me to…with either of them, do you?”
A laugh burst out of me, “No, not at all. Unless you’d want to.”
He shakes his head, “Nope, not my thing. I have no problem with it, but I’m only into you.”
I go up on my toes and give him a loving, lingering kiss. “Thank you,” I say against his lips. This amazing man has given me a gift.
This might be the first time I’ve ever been happy at a high school. When I walk into the large yard of Carter Peters’ house on Cole’s arm, it's packed with my classmates. As usual, he gets stolen away quickly. I encourage him to socialize while I find something to drink and a quiet spot to contemplate the train wreck of a family dinner we’d just had.
Walking away from the cooler with a beer in my hand, I hear my name and turn to join Emma and Olivia.
“How did dinner go?” Emma asks me when I get close.
“Not great. Our families ambushed us. They want to know our plans for taking our relationship to the next level.”
“That sounds dreadful. You deserve something stronger than that,” she points to the beer in my hand.
“Who would want to get engaged before they go to college? Cole would be a fool to do that.” Olivia asks, and I roll my eyes at her.
“Neither of us wants that. We know we’re too young, but our parents were all married by twenty. It’s hard for them to realize, even though we love each other, we aren’t ready for that step,” I say and take a drink.
A warm arm wraps around my waist from behind, “Sorry, ladies, I need to take her away for a second. I’ll bring her back soon.”
I look back at Foster gratefully, then follow him to a quiet, more secluded part of the yard.
“What’s so urgent?” I ask him.
“I thought I’d save Olivia’s life. You looked like you were contemplating murder.”
I laugh, “It was touch and go there for a minute.”
“What did she say to have you so worked up?”
“Implied how stupid Cole would be to propose to me before going to college and sampling his many options.”
“That doesn’t sound like a very good friend. Wait, are you and Cole getting engaged?” Foster asks me with a worried look.
“Nope, but our parents are pushing. Maybe after college.” I look over the crowd to my friends, “Liv hasn’t been a great friend. She’s made it perfectly clear I’m not good enough for Cole and that she wants her shot at riding his dick.”
Foster chokes on a bit of the drink he had taken, making me giggle.
“Are you okay?” I ask him,
