Our New Spot

{I need to preface that Harper's mother has a name but I never remember it because I never use it. It is Diana, I thought it was Victoria oops.

Anyway, life updates, I finished writing this book so now I can finally Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler which has been sitting on my shelf since the beginning of May. I truly thought I would finish writing sooner and that I could read it during the summer but that didn't happen. I was avoiding reading it while writing this book because they seem similar. While I'm at it, if you all ever need book recommendations just lmk, I think I've read every WLW book this world has to offer}

3 am:

I got here early. I wanted to make sure the treehouse was somewhat clean for us. I swept some of the dirt and debris out and laid down a blanket for us. I put up some battery-powered string lights. It was really dark in here. They give it some mood lighting. I'm currently waiting for Jessie. She would never be late to one of our 3ams.

Jessie opens the door to the treehouse. "Hi, love"

"Hi," I say back.

She sits on the blanket across from me. "I like what you've done with the place"

"Thank you. I wanted our new meeting place to be special" I say.

"I love it" It was quiet for a moment. "How was your talk with Casey?" She asks.

"We both apologized for our wrongdoings. We joked a bit and then he tried to ask me about you but I just went inside" I say.

"What did he want to know about me?" She asks.

"He wanted to know about our relationship and if our parents knew," I say.

"That's kinda weird," She says.

"I almost feel bad for him. I'm not saying what he did was right but I almost get why he did it. He was hurt and seeing us together probably just made it worse" I say.

"That doesn't mean you should out someone to their entire school," She says

"I know," I say. It goes quiet. "Alright, you keep avoiding the question. Why don't you want to go home?" I ask

"I just don't want to leave you," She says.

"I don't want you to leave either," I say. It goes quiet again. "Don't you want to see your friends back home? Or see your family?" I ask.

"I miss them but I text them enough. My mom doesn't talk to me. I don't know what her family is up to because I'm not that close with them but they didn't text me after I came out to her so they obviously don't care much" She trails off.

"Texting isn't the same as running around your school hallways together, hanging out after, and having sleepovers on the weekend," I say.

"You're right." She says. She probably doesn't do those things.

"As for your mom, don't worry about her. You don't need someone that doesn't support you" I say.

"I know," She says. It goes quiet yet again. She clearly doesn't like to talk about herself. "Can I just lay on you?" She asks.

I move back and lean against the wall. She comes and lays next to me. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and use my other arm to rub circles on her stomach. She leans her head on my shoulder.

"When do you start school?" I ask.

"The day after we get back," She says.

"Wow, your dad gave you and your brother no time to settle back in," I say.

"Yeah. I was kinda annoyed about it at first. I tried to convince him to make the tickets for this week but now I'm glad he didn't listen to me. It's an extra week I get to spend with you" She says.

"An extra week where we get to hang out in this half-rotted tree house that could give out under us at any second" I laugh. She seemed genuinely concerned though. "Don't worry, my dad kept up with it even after I stopped using it. We should be fine... hopefully be fine" I say.

"Well, I think that means it's time for us to go back in," She says. She sits up and moves to face me.

"I didn't even get to kiss you yet" I whine.

She rolls her eyes jokingly and leans forward. I grab her face and kiss her. I feel her tongue graze the bottom of my lip and I slightly open my mouth to give her more access. I start to wrap my hand in her hair when she pulls away.

"Come on. It's time to go to sleep" She says.

"We could just sleep in here" I offer.

"Yes and then our parents will send out a search party in the morning thinking we've been kidnapped," She says.

"You're right. I've known since that day at the beach that you would be the one to kidnap me" I say.

"The only thing I've stolen is your heart," She says before exiting the tree house.

I sit there stunned by her flirting for a second, I quickly ball up the blanket in the corner and turn the lights off before meeting her on the ground.

"I love you so much," I say while wrapping her in a bear hug and nearly knocking her to the ground.

She giggles and hugs me back. "I love you too"

"Please just stay out here with me for 5 more seconds" I beg.

"Fine. Under one condition" She says.

"Deal. I don't even care what it is" I say

"I get to push you in the pool." An evil smirk comes across her face. I shouldn't have agreed so fast. "It's payback for when you did it to me"

"Fine."

We head over to the pool. I stand in front of it and put my arms out. I see that evil grin come come back as she uses both her arms to push me into the pool. For a second I consider pulling her in with me. I was too late though.

I swim up to the surface and she is cackling. That must have made her night.

"Come on. Let's go inside" She says in between laughs.

I get out of the pool and wrap her in another hug. "Now we can both be wet"

"I hate you" She jokes.

"I love you too," I say.

I interlock our arms and we start heading inside.

"If I knew I was gonna go swimming I would have worn a bathing suit," I say as I open the door.

"We'll have to prepare better for tomorrow" She walks inside and I follow behind her. "Let me go get you a towel," She says. She gives me a small peck on the lips.

We hear him clear his throat. We both jump and look at the kitchen. He is standing at the counter eating leftovers from dinner. He has the most shocked expression on his face, both eyebrows raised with a fork about to enter his house.

"Diana, I think you need to get down here" Collin yells up the stairs. He didn't sound angry but I have a feeling that'll change later.