“Let’s make the best of it,” she replies as she turns to face me.
Her arms wrap around my shoulders as mine wrap around her waist. Dipping my forehead to hers, I wonder how she was able to work her way into my heart so quickly, branding herself there so easily.
“Is this what love feels like?” she whispers, unsure and vulnerable.
I crook my finger and lift her chin to look at me as I grow a smile I can’t hold back. “I think so.”
I kiss her like I’ll never be able to do it again, because I’m terrified. Terrified to think after two days I won’t have this same feeling. The one where my heart beats faster the moment I see her, the feeling of pure adrenaline whenever I just hear hervoice. The sensation of complete happiness when I see her smiling.
Finally pulling apart, I finish buttoning up my shirt as she begins to step into her dress. She pauses, leans down, and squints as she looks past me.
I turn around and see two camp leaders with flashlights heading where the guys’ cabins are.
“Shit.” I duck behind my go-to bush and flail my arm out to barricade her behind me.
“Go, Seamus. You have to go.” She tries to push me out on the side of the bush. “Go around the backside.”
She’s right.
“You’re so beautiful,” I say as I cup both my hands around her cheeks and kiss her hard before letting go. I race toward the bushes, giving her a quick glance back, still beaming a wide smile, then bolt over to the cabins.
Sneaking in the backdoor, I enter through the showers and crouch down through the doorway until I’m able to jump into my bunk.
I tuck myself in under the blanket, knowing the camp leaders are making rounds and I don’t have time to change into anything else.
I’m still riding my Mimi high, wondering how the hell I got so lucky that she picked me. In two weeks, she’s taken my sour outlook on life and given me a hope I never knew existed.
The cabin of our sleeping quarters' front door creaks open, and I see a camp leader and the camp counselor walk through it. One turns off their flashlight while the other covers it to give just enough light to look around the room.
Shit!I duck further down under my blankets to hide. My thoughts wander in a million different directions. Did they find Mimi? Are they looking for me?
My eyes are half covered, so I don’t see anyone before theytap on the side of the bed. I peek over the blanket, pretending to have been sleeping, I blink heavily as I open my eyes.
“Seamus, you need to get up. Please come with us.” Their tone isn’t demanding or harsh, like I’m in trouble for something. It’s…soft…concerning.
“Why?” I ask, pushing up onto my elbows. “What’s going on?”
“Your mom’s in the hospital. It’s time to go home.”
30
NAOMI
PresentDay
“They urgently rushed me to the hospital” He pauses and swallows hard. “She died before I could make it there.”
“Oh, Seamus. I’m so sorry.” My voice cracks and my words feel broken. My hand is covering my chest like my heart physically hurts at the pain of his words.
“There was so much confusion and I felt so lost. I didn’t know what to do. A couple days passed—I don’t know, maybe it was three—when I finally was able to pick up the phone and call the camp to find you, to talk to you. And I live in so much fucking regret waiting that long.”
He palms his face. The pads of his fingertips pinch into his eyelids as if he’s clearing them of unwanted tears without me realizing.
“I called and everyone was already gone. Apparently, they had closed down the camp. I just called back at the right time and was able to talk someone into looking up your name, but they couldn’t find anyone by the name of Mimi, and I didn’tknow what your last name was. Two weeks, everyday together, and I never asked you your fucking last name.”
My heart is breaking for him, for the loss of his mother. And for us, for the time that was stolen from us because of a series of unfortunate events.
I want to tell him about how that was also the best night of my life, followed by the worst twenty-four hours, as well. But, the mood is somber enough. I don’t need him to feel anything except the emotions he needs to work through right now. I don’t know this version of Seamus well, but I have a feeling he’s never talked this deeply about us or his mother with anyone.
