Later that day I decided that since there possibly could be a future for Tony and myself, I wanted my mom and Tony to get along. And since my mother was still slightly shocked about what had happened a few days earlier, I decided to have lunch with her and Tony.

So the three of us met at a local restaurant at lunchtime and we got a quiet corner table before we sat down. And then the silence fell upon us.

”So, uh... Where do you live, Tony?” my mom asked him after clearing her throat, ”Surely you don't live in Miami, do you?”

”No. I live in San Diego,” he told her. She nodded.

”So how do you two plan on making your relationship work when Abigail lives in New York and you live in San Diego?”

”I'm sure we will figure something out,” I quickly said.

”Figure something out? What, are you going to move down there? Is he going to move to New York?” mom asked and I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at her. What was wrong with her? Didn't she like Tony? Everybody liked Tony so how could she not?

”I would probably move to San Diego,” I told her quietly, actually feeling slightly scared of her possible reaction.

She just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Fortunately the waiter arrived and we ordered our meals. And then the situation became awkward again. After a minute or so Tony's phone started buzzing in his pocket and he excused himself before disappearing somewhere.

”Why are you acting like that?” I hissed to mom.

”Abigail, you have to understand what this looks like to me. He's an older guy and you've just met him. And now, all of a sudden, you want to move all the way to San Diego with him!” she said and I stopped to think about it.

Oh god, she thought that I had just met him. I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I had actually known him for years and had spent most of my time during the past summers in bed with him.

”He's my old friend,” I told her, ”I've known him for quite some time already. And now, this summer, my feelings for him have become stronger. I really like him.”

I was afraid to tell her that I actually loved him. Maybe she wouldn't have understood.

”How serious are you about this boy?” she asked me quietly.

”He makes me happy,” I said and felt the smile on my face grow wider, ”He's a really good guy, you'll see. He understands me and I understand him. I feel like we're meant to be together. I don't want anybody else.”

”You're in love with that boy, aren't you?” she said and smiled a little. I let out a happy sigh and nodded.

”Yeah.”

”Oh, Abigail... My daughter is in love,” she said and sighed, ”Here we go. There is no turning back, is there?”

”No. I really am in love with him,” I told her.

She nodded and was about to open her mouth to say something but when she saw Tony walking back to the table, she closed her mouth. Tony sat down and looked at me.

”Is everything okay?” he asked and furrowed his eyebrows. I flashed a smile and nodded.

”You're going to treat her right, aren't you?” mom asked Tony, ”She's my only daughter, she's my baby. Promise me you're not going to cause any trouble. Promise me that you will be good to her.”

”I... Uh, yeah. I'm not going to hurt her,” Tony said finally and nodded.

”I'm going to hold on to that promise,” mom said. Tony just chuckled and nodded once again.

After the lunch, we went our separate ways. Mom went shopping and Tony and I headed back to his summer house. And as we sat in his car and he drove, I felt really happy. And by really happy I meant that I felt like I was on top of the world, like nothing could bring me down, I was on the highest high.

”Tony?” I murmured and turned to look at him.

”Huh?” He kept his eyes tightly focused on the street as he drove.

”Are you happy? Here, with me?” I asked. The grin on his face grew a little wider and he nodded.

”Yeah. I don't think I've been this happy in years,” he admitted, ”And, uh... I'm sorry about what happened a few weeks ago. I'm sorry about all the drama and bullshit that went down.”

”I haven't even thought about that in a long time,” I told him, ”So don't worry about it. As long as we're good now, everything is fine.”

”Are you sure?”

”Yes. I don't think I ever want this summer to end,” I said and grinned like a fool.

I turned my head and looked out of the window. The sun was shining and it was warm like always. But today was different and I didn't even mean the weather. In fact, I didn't really know how it was different but I just knew it was. Tony rested his hand on my thigh and I looked down at it and knew that everything was different now, now that I was in love.

Maybe the sun shone a little brighter or maybe the colour of the sky was a bit more blue, or maybe the air smelled a bit more like the beach or maybe the palm trees were slightly taller. Or maybe everything was the same but I was so deeply in love that something was different.

I had come to realize that summer that my favourite thing to do was exactly what I was doing: staring out of the window, looking at the summer in Miami, seeing happy people pass by, feeling his hand on my thigh, listening to the radio and being in love. I didn't think it could get any better than that.

When we got out of the car, we walked straight to his back yard because we had decided to get into the pool because, once again, it was such a hot day. I quickly changed into my bikini before stepping out.

I saw Tony who was already in the pool in his swimming trunks. I smiled and put on my sunglasses before getting into the warm water. I made my way to Tony and when I reached him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed him to hold on to my waist.

”What are we going to do all summer?” I murmured quietly and leaned in to kiss him quickly.

”I don't know but this is good. Just being with you is good,” he told me and I grinned like a fool.

”You know just the right words to make me smile,” I whispered and he chuckled.

”I know,” he whispered and grabbed the back of my head before pulling me into a kiss. I parted my lips and sucked on his lower lip as he held me more tightly against his chest.

”How about some pool sex?” he whispered into my mouth and I had to admit that the thought of it turned me on. But considering it was only noon and my mother was right next door, I had to decline the offer.

”Anybody could see us,” I whispered, ”My mom could come outside and see us any minute.”

”Doesn't that make it a lot more interesting?” he murmured and gave me another kiss.

”Not really, no,” I admitted against his lips and laughed quietly.

After being in the pool for half an hour or so, I got out and wrapped a towel around my body. Tony stayed in the pool for another minute and I went inside already. I went to take a shower and changed into fresh clothes.

I found Tony sitting in the kitchen, talking on his phone and looking very serious. I sat down next to him and looked at him as he spoke. I paid no attention to his words as it was nearly impossible to keep my eyes off his face. The way his eyes stared into emptiness and how he would look at me every once in a while. The way his lips moved as words slipped out of his mouth. He looked beautiful and I knew I fell for him harder every day. And I could only wonder if there would ever be a day that I wouldn't love him more than I already did.

Soon enough he put the phone down on the table and let out a deep sigh. It pained me to see him that way. He lifted both of his hands up to his face and rubbed his cheeks and forehead for a moment.

”What's wrong?” I asked quietly and reached closer to touch his shoulder.

”Eh... I don't know. I have to go home, back to San Diego,” he told me and shrugged.

My face fell as I heard the words. What, now? Why did he have to leave already? The summer wasn't even over yet. He couldn't leave me now.

”Why?” I cleared my throat and asked him.

He lifted his head up and looked at me for a long time before opening his mouth and answering my question. And as he looked into my eyes, I could see pain and disappointment because we both knew that we weren't far from saying goodbye to each other and that was just awful. Because if he left now, we probably would not see each other again. At least not in a long time.

”The band has to do some interviews and photoshoots and we need to discuss the upcoming tours with the manager and all that shit,” he muttered and started biting his lower lip.

”Oh... Oh,” I mumbled and nodded. I didn't know what to say. Okay? If he had to leave then he had to leave. There really was nothing I could do about it.

”When are you going to leave?”

”Probably like, uh, tomorrow,” he said. I nodded once again and then the silence fell upon us.

”Look, Abby... I don't know what to do. You know I don't want to leave but I have to go,” he explained quietly and moved his chair closer to mine so that he could rest his hands on my thighs and lower his head to mine.

”You have to do what you have to do,” I said and shrugged, ”And that's fine.”

”But it isn't. I don't want to leave you, not now,” he mumbled, ”If there was a way to... I don't know... Maybe...”

”Huh?”

”Maybe you could come with me,” he suggested quietly.

”Where? To San Diego?”

”Yeah.”

”I, uh... Wouldn't that make this, like, official? Our relationship?” I asked carefully.

He smiled sadly.

”I guess. Do you want that?” he asked.

”Do I want that? You don't even have to ask,” I said and started grinning like an idiot.

I guess I was going to San Diego with Tony. I guess I was his girlfriend now, huh?