Every summer I went to my family's summer place down in Miami. Every summer I met this guy, Tony Perry, and we slept together. It was nothing but pure sex – no feelings, no cuddling after that, nothing. We had sex one night and pretended we didn't know each other the next day.

Going to our summer place and meeting Tony the first night after arriving there had become something we did every year, a tradition, if you will. During the summer we would spend many nights together but once the night turned into a morning, we would go back to our own places and act as if nothing had ever happened.

This summer would be no exception. I would fly to Miami with my family – my father, mother and two younger brothers – and get a cab from the airport to our summerhouse. I would unpack my suitcase, maybe take a shower and have something to eat and go to the pool. Tony's family owned the house right next to ours and their pool was right next to our pool. I would wait for him out there and once it got dark outside, we would disappear somewhere together and, well, have sex.

We would practically spend the whole summer together until it was time to leave and get back to our normal lives. We would see each other again the next summer and the wait would be worth it.

Now, Tony was a few years older than me. Actually, six years older than me. That didn't matter because nobody knew about us seeing each other and it wasn't like we were going to start a relationship. It wasn't like I was ever going to get serious with him. I was 22, he was 28 but if anything, it was better that way. He knew how to handle girls and we had seen each other on four summers already so it was rather important to me.

Tony had seen the world because he was in a band with some of his friends that he brought to their summer place quite often. I hadn't seen the world at all because all I did was spend time with my friends and look for a job which I never found. I didn't want to grow old and get responsible for anything.

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The first day of summer, my whole family sat in a plane. We were all really excited to go to Miami and to our summerhouse. I was excited to see Tony again – it was something I had waited for a long time. I couldn't wait to see if he had cut his hair or let it grow longer or if he was still as skinny as always or if he was as cute as I remembered. I just really wanted to see him; I had missed being with him.

”Are you excited to see your loverboy?” mom asked me.

I turned my head to side and glared at her. My mother was a very nosy person. Her favourite thing to do was to stick her nose into other people's business, and of course she had to know everything about my life. I felt bad for my younger brothers who didn't quite know how to deal with her yet. Sometimes it was just best to ignore her completely and sometimes it was best to, well, lie to her.

”Who?”

I pretended that I had no clue of what she was talking about. She furrowed her eyebrows and then shook her head before looking away from me.

”Abigail, your father and I aren't going to be in Miami for the whole summer,” she said.

”What do you mean?” I asked.

”Well, your father has a lot of work and we will be there for only a few weeks. After that you can either stay there or come home with us and your brothers,” she said.

”Oh... Stay there as in stay there alone, by myself?”

”Yes. You're such a big girl already so you know how to behave yourself, don't you?”

”Yeah, definitely.”

When the plane landed, we got our suitcases and got a cab to our summerhouse. There were no cars in front of Tony's house so I figured he hadn't arrived yet. And then I realized that what if he wasn't going to come, at all? What if he didn't want to spend the summer in Miami this year? What would I do all summer? Who would I sleep with?

I carried my stuff upstairs into my room and sat down on the bed. I heard a lot of shouting and laughing coming from outside and as I looked out of the window, my heart skipped a beat. A very tall, skinny, well tattooed guy was standing next to a black car. A smile found its way to my lips as I looked at Tony.

A bunch of other guys – they were all of his bandmates – got out of the car and they started carrying their stuff inside. I left the window when I realized I looked like a proper stalker, and found my way downstairs. I found my whole family sitting in the kitchen.

”What are you doing?” I asked and looked at them.

”We're going to get some pizza and then spend a family night,” mom announced. I started shaking my head.

”I don't want to,” I said.

”Abigail, nobody asked if you want it or not,” my dad said, ”We are going to spend time as a family now that we're in the same place at the same time.”

”Yeah, but... I have other things to do!” Like having sex with our gorgeous neighbour.

”What things?” mom exclaimed.

”Just... Things,” I muttered and sighed. I knew there was no way out of it.

That night, as it was already dark outside and really late, I was still stuck with my family. I could only wonder if Tony thought I had stood him up and for a moment I felt really bad. I had to figure out how to get out.

”I'm really tired, guys,” I said and faked a yawn, ”I think I'm going to bed. Goodnight!”

I left quickly before anybody could stop me. I ran up the stairs and got into my room. I closed the door and ran to my window. I opened it and looked down, seeing nothing but the huge fall to the ground.

Either I was just stupid or really wanted to see Tony but I soon found myself climbing out of the window. I counted to three and let go and for a moment I thought I was going to die. My whole life flashed before my eyes as I fell so slowly. My feet hit the ground first and the sharp pain made me curse out loud. I knew I had to be quiet so I bit my tongue behind my teeth, trying to stop myself from screaming. Goddammit the pain was horrible. I couldn't have been more glad that I hadn't actually broken my legs or anything.

I slowly got up from the ground and started making my way to Tony's backyard. I had to be careful and make sure my family didn't see me as I arrived to the fence that separated our backyards.

I noticed Tony who was sitting by his pool with his feet in the water.

”Hey,” I whispered and flashed a smile. He saw me and... Looked sad? Like he felt sorry for me?

”Are you alright?” I asked and furrowed my eyebrows as I stepped over the fence to his side. I was afraid to get any closer in case he didn't want me there.

”I can't see you this summer,” he told me.

”What?” I asked. I wasn't exactly sure if I had heard him right.

”I've... I've met somebody. I'm seeing somebody,” he said quietly. He seemed to be somewhat afraid to tell me the news.

”But... But...” No more loverboy for me?

”Abby, I need to get more serious. I'm too old for you, you're too young for me,” he told me.

I watched as he pulled his feet out of the water and stood up. For the first time I saw all of him standing in front of me and he looked much bigger and much older than before. He had grown up, he really had gotten more serious.

”How can you just do this?” I muttered quietly.

He stepped closer and placed his hand on my shoulder. There was no spark in his touch. It felt almost like a family member had touched me.

”We both knew we couldn't keep doing this for ever,” he said.

Then he pinched my cheek and flashed a sad smile. He pulled his hand away from me and turned around. He walked to his back door and got in without another glance at me.

Had I nearly broken my legs for this? He hadn't actually dumped me but it sure felt like it. And wait a second, he was seeing somebody else? How could he do this to me? I had waited all year to see him and all I got was this and two nearly broken legs? I had barely even got to Miami and I already wanted to leave. I had a feeling that it was going to be a shitty summer and I couldn't wait for it to be over already.