Free Perfect Summer by Kailin Gow

hottie?” the girl asked.
    “I
guess so,” I said, rolling my eyes.
    “He’s
busy at the moment,” she said, giggling. What? Was she drunk or something?
    “Well,
when he’s not ‘busy’,” I said. “Can you tell him to call Summer?”
    “Why?”
the girl asked. “So you can jump in line ahead of the rest of us? Take a
number, Summer,” the girl said. “He’s going to be busy with the squad tonight.
And sore…” she giggled.
    “Urghh,”
I hung up, not wanting to hear more disgusting things from that girl’s mouth.
    I
went to my freezer and pulled out a pint of caramel coffee ice cream and
grabbed a spoon. What happened to the Drew I knew and began falling in love
with? Yes, in love…like in love with Nat in love. Why was he with all those
girls? Why did he have to have them? 
    I
planted my pint of ice cream in front of me, and took out my textbooks. Why
should I care if he was with them or any girl? He and I weren’t dating. We
weren’t together. We were just friends. And if he was back to his manwhoring bad
boy ways, then that was his choice.
    But
as I dipped my spoon into the ice cream over and over again, I felt my heart
sinking with each bite.
    As
much as I understood why he was with those girls, and why he was avoiding me, I
hated it, especially the white hot jealousy I felt, wanting to drive over to
Drew’s apartment to tear each girl off of him.
    People,
I bet think I would be lucky having the love of these two wonderful guys. I was
very lucky. Only why did I feel miserable being in love with two guys who both
meant so much to me? If I chose one, I’d lose the other…and not just a lover,
but one of my best friends.
    I
didn’t want to fall in love, but I did…first with Nat a long time ago, and then
with Drew over the course of last summer. Love had no expirations. It couldn’t
be shut off just like that. Even if I tried, I knew I couldn’t stop loving them
both.

 
    Chapter 7
     
     
    I didn’t have time to be upset about Drew. That
night, I fell asleep reading one of the textbooks at the kitchen table, and
didn’t wake up until early morning the next day.
    My
face was resting on my Microeconomics textbook when I heard a creak next to me.
I opened my eyes to find Nat sitting beside me, watching me sleep. When my eyes
opened wider, he pulled up closer and kissed me on my cheeks. “Hi Beautiful,”
he said. “I’ve been enjoying watching you sleep.”
    “That
can be boring,” I said.
    “Not
when I’m looking at someone so beautiful I can stare at all day.”
    I
laughed. “That’s kind of creepy stalker behavior.”
    Nat
laughed and placed his hands on my back, kneading it, massaging it, and
applying pressure where I needed it.
    “Oh,
that feels so good, Nat,” I groaned. “I so need this!”
    “I
figured,” Nat said. “You’ve had quite a week, I’m sure, Summer. And I want to
hear all about it.”
    “Let’s
just say I didn’t have a good of a time starting college than Drew did.”
    Nat
raised his eyebrows. “Really? Why?”
    “He
plays the role of football hero to the t, doesn’t he?” I said. “
    “He’s
been known to,” Nat said.
    “Well,
turns out he’s in the same Literature and Drama class as me on Fridays, and he
was, as always, surrounded by girls.”
    “Doesn’t
surprise me,” Nat said smiling. “Drew will be Drew.”
    “But
I thought he’d changed. I thought he’d given that all up…”
    Nat
stopped smiling. “Summer, I know you know how Drew felt about you, but
sometimes people change, and well, I think Drew was really hurt by seeing us
together, but instead of being consumed by it, he’s moved on.”
    I
tried to keep the hurt I felt from showing, knowing that Drew was serious about
just being friends and nothing more. I didn’t want Nat to know how much I
cared, especially since it was Nat I’ve always had a crush on for years, not
Drew.
    “I
have to admit, Summer,” Nat said. “Drew’s got more backbone than he’d led on.