Just for the summer.
Chapter 3
Sleepovers and secrets
Age Fifteen
I don’t even flinch when I hear my window slide open in the middle of the night. A grin spreads across my face as I roll onto my side, and turn on my lamp. My eyes drift down to the black sneakers just visible beneath my curtains before they’re pulled aside. My smile grows when I see Chris quietly drop down from the windowsill onto my bedroom floor.
His hair, soaked from the rain, falls onto his face, and he meets my eyes. “Were you sleeping?”
I shake my head and scoot over, making room for him in my bed. You’d think I’d be worried about my parents finding a boy in my room, let alone in my bed, but I’m not. Not with Chris. He’s my best friend, has been since middle school. We’ve always been inseparable, and these sleepovers have become a part of our routine.
They’ve been happening for so long that I expect him to climb through my window every night. Sometimes he doesn’t come, though. On those nights, I lie awake, my heart pounding in the silence, straining to hear his footsteps or the familiar sound of the window sliding open. Eventually, I fall asleep and wake up the next morning, the bed cold and empty.
He hasn’t visited in weeks, and I’ve tried to hide my disappointment, but it’s been hard. I miss him. I miss our late nights, playing video games, listening to music, and talking until we fall asleep. So, seeing him now for the first time in over three weeks makes my heart race. I’ve really missed my best friend.
Chris rakes a hand through his wet hair, glancing at the empty space in my bed. “I don’t…” He looks away, closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Gabi.”
I furrow my brows, feeling a sharp ache in my chest. He hasn’t been here in so long, and now that he’s finally here, he doesn’t want to sleep over? What’s going on with him?
“What do you mean?” I ask, lifting my head. “You always sleep over. I thought—”
I bite my tongue, the words catching in my throat. Not always. Not for weeks now.
Chris’s eyebrows knit together in a pained expression. “Do you…” He blows out a breath, struggling to find the right words. “We’re growing up, Gabi.” When he looks at me again, his face is serious, almost stern. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to sleep in the same bed anymore.”
“What?” I chuckle, finding the idea ridiculous. “Are you serious?” That’s what he’s worried about? Sure, we’re not kids anymore, and we’re growing up, but that shouldn’t change anything between us. “Chris, it’s not like something’s going to happen with us,” I say, scrunching my nose at the thought. “We’re just friends.”
Chris’s jaw tightens as he looks at me. I watch the muscle in his jaw twitch as he grinds his teeth. His features are more defined than I remember. He’s grown too, I guess. Bigger, taller, more muscular.
“Are you sure?” he asks, his voice strained, as he glances at the empty space beside me on the bed.
“Yes,” I assure him, rolling my eyes. He’s being ridiculous. Nothing’s going to change just because we’re getting older. He’s my best friend. He’ll always be my best friend. “Now come in, please,” I say with a groan, lying back down on my pillow. “I need your cuddles.”
Chris lets out a sigh, tugging at the strands of hair at his nape. He closes his eyes for a moment, and I frown, realizing how much this is bothering him. But when he opens his eyes again, he lets out a breath and kicks off his shoes. “Fine,” he says, pulling off his light gray hoodie, which is covered in wet patches from the rain.
My eyes drift to the sliver of his stomach that peeks out when he pulls his hoodie off, and my body warms unexpectedly.
“Move over,” he mutters.
I snap out of it, glancing up at Chris, now in a black long-sleeve t-shirt, his jeans still on. I open my mouth to ask if he’s going to take his jeans off but decide against it after our earlier conversation.
I move back, giving him space to climb into the bed. Once he settles in, I snuggle up against him, laying my head on his chest.My ear presses against his heart, which is racing out of control, and I snuggle closer.
His hand reaches over and begins to rub my back.God, I really missed this. I really missed him. A soft sigh escapes my lips as he continues to stroke up and down my back, his touch calming.
“Are you…” His voice catches, so he clears his throat, trying again. “Are you sure it’s fine?” he asks.
“Yes,” I assure him. “More than fine.” I snuggle closer, feeling the warmth of his body. “You’re so warm and comfortable,” I mumble into his chest, the beat of his heart under my ear as I hold onto him tightly. “I feel safe here, with you.”
Chris lets out a breath, his body relaxing a little more against mine. His hand continues its soothing motion on my back, and I can feel the tension gradually leaving his muscles as the rain continues to patter softly against the window.
“I feel safe with you, too,” he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.
My chest warms, and I can’t help but smile against him. I like that. I like that he feels safe with me because he’s the only person I feel truly safe with. And that’s why I want to tell him.
He hasn’t been over in so long, and when we’re at school, there’s never a right moment to say it. So, I’ve just kept it bottled up inside of me, and it’s been eating me alive. But now, with him here, I feel like maybe I can finally tell him.
