The Summers After

Chapter 8

Belly's POV

I must have fallen asleep on the way back home because I woke up with my head on Con's chest and his arms around me. We were both wearing the same clothes as last night. It was only five thirty, so we had time to relax.

"Good morning" he says giving me a kiss on the forehead

"Good morning", "I don't remember anything after we left the party"

"Well you fell asleep on the way back home, so I carried you up here and you asked me to hold you until you fell asleep and then when I tried to leave you wouldn't let me. So we just fell asleep like this." he explains

"My hero"

"Do you wanna go to the beach before anyone else wakes up?" he asks

"Yeah sure"

I get up and start looking through my closet for the swim suit I want to wear. It's a blue string bikini that comes with a matching dark blue mesh skirt. I take off my dress, I only have a bra and underwear on. Con turned around and I laughed "It's fine Con, you're my boyfriend, and future husband you don't have to turn around when I change."

"I just want to be respectful" he says as he turns around, his hands are still covering his eyes

I put my bikini on, "I know" I say walking closer to him

I pull his hands off of his eyes "What do you think" I ask spinning in a circle

"You look hot! Isn't that one of the bathing suits that Taylor got you?"

"Yeah, she has good taste right?"

He nods, "It's taking everything in my not to trap you in this room and kiss you all day"

"Well, we still have time till everyone wakes up, and the beach will be there waiting for us when we are ready"

"That's dirty Conklin. Don't play with my emotions like that" he jokes

I push him on the bed and we make-out, his hands move to my hips. I get a text on my phone, "Ignore it" he says against my lips. "Someone always has to text me at the worst time" I whine walking over to my nightstand.

"What is it"

"Oh it's nothing"

"Belly, I know you too well! What are you hiding from me?" he asks

"It's for me to know and for you to find out" I say in a playful tone

Conrad reaches to take my phone, but I quickly pick up, grab my bag and run out of my room. "Too slow, Fisher" I say giggling

I run as fast as I can down the stairs and out the beach, he catches up with me really fast.

"You are so lucky I love you" he says as he picks me up bridal style

"Con, put me down!" I say annoyed

"Fine, go and lay on your towel so you can tan" he mocks

We just sat on the sand and talked for what seemed like hours. I love that we are so comfortable around each other. Sometimes we know everything without having to even say a word. Eventually we made it to the water and were splashing each other and just having fun swimming.

He must have seen me shivering because he put me over his shoulder and carried me back to shore.

Con wrapped me in a towel and said "How do you feel about a muffin run", "Sure" I reply

We pile into the car and drive to the bakery. I love car rides with Conrad, I don't know why but he just looks so peaceful when he drives and everything just feels so calm. He always holds my hand or rests his hand on my thigh.

I ordered 8 chocolate, 4 blueberry, and 4 vanilla muffins. There are some people at the house that like to eat more than one muffin.

On the drive back Con said "Tell me something that I don't know about you."

"Oh come on, that is like the hardest thing ever! You're the one person that knows everything about me." I say

"Fine, I'll go first. I only admitted to myself that I loved you last summer. But, I never told you the moment I realized that you were the one. I loved you before I even knew what love was. "

"Awe, Con"

"I was 12 and you were 10. All four of us, you, me, Steven, and Jeremiah convinced Laur and mom to let us walk to the carnival down the road. It was one of the first times they ever let us do anything on our own."

I smile, and nod my head for him to continue.

"All three of you would always want to hold my hand whenever we would go somewhere, but Steven was on my right and Jere was on my left, and you were holding Steven's hand. We were walking towards one of the rides and when we got there I looked in Steven's direction to hand you a ticket and you weren't there. I panicked, I told Steven and Jere to not move while I look for you. I thought maybe you had stopped at one of the Jewelry booths but you weren't there. I searched everywhere but I couldn't find you. I was about to give up and ask an adult for help when I heard a small crying sound, I turned around and there you were all alone sitting on a bench crying. I ran to you and held you in my arms. Do you remember what I said?"

"Belly, I am so sorry, I couldn't find you. Next time you're going to hold my hand, ok?" I said, answering Con's question

" All it took was me having the thought that I could have lost you and might not have seen you ever again. I couldn't handle it, that day I knew that I needed you more than anything else in the world."

"Could you pull over"

"Sure"

"Con, that was so sweet! I knew that you didn't want to lose me, but I thought it was just because you didn't want my mom and Susannah to get mad at you." I said before I kissed him

"Ok, now it's my turn. Do you remember last summer, the day after we almost kissed on the doc?" I asked, and he nodded

"Well, I broke up with Cam because I couldn't help but think, no matter where we were or what we were doing, I wanted to be there with you. So when I got back home after ending it with him, I talked to you about us almost kissing. You told me that you think about me all the time but you just couldn't be in a relationship with me. Now I know it was because you needed time to process knowing about Susannah having cancer, but I didn't know that then. I told you that I wouldn't wait for you anymore, I felt so bad about the look on your face, I knew that I hurt you by saying that. I ran up to my room and cried for hours and hours because you broke my heart by saying that." I say before taking a second to breath

"Then Jeremiah kissed me and I used him to forget or hide my feelings for you. But, when you asked me to go with you to the ball, I wanted to say yes so badly and then I ended up going with Jeremiah. You were the one who did the ball dance with and I was so happy that it was. I overheard my mom saying that to me you are the sun and when the sun comes out all of the stars disappear. I couldn't agree with her more." I finish

"Belly, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry, I just didn't want to start anything with you because I would have ruined it. But when I told you on the beach that I want you, and when we kissed I finally felt safe and okay. Bells, you are my home, the love of my life, and the person I want to spend my whole life with. I am so sorry that it took me this long to realize it."

"Con, there's no need to apologize, but thank you for saying that. Your the love of my life" I said

We kissed, there were always fireworks with Con, but this one was especially magical.