[ K A R A ]
As soon as I got off the phone with Lacey, I jumped off the bed, making a dramatic loud noise as I went, waking Ryder up.
"Ryder, get up!" I yelled in addition.
He turned his head lazily over to me and smiled. "Good morning to you too, sunshine,"
"The parents! Are gonna be here! In an hour!" I said, panting.
Ryder's body jolted up in response. "You're joking, right?"
"I wish I was," I said as I calmed my breathing.
"Shit!" He swore as he rolled off the bed.
I quickly scrambled to get my clothes on the floor. Then I went to check the bathroom and see if there was anything of mine in there. Yup, I found my scrunchie and my underwear in Ryder’s bathroom.
Holy fish sticks! This can’t be good!
Ryder and I had been very
[ K A R A ]The next couple of days, Ryder and I were still meeting in secret. We even came up with a code word: Milkshake. It was our secret way of saying 'let's ditch this place and smush’. Peter and Lacey had absolutely no clue. They thought we were going out to get milkshakes at the diner.If only they knew the kind of kinky smuttery that was going on in the house late at night.Okay, that was kind of reckless of me, I admitted it. But I was engulfed in pure ignorant bliss. I felt bad for lying and sneaking around like that, but even all that guilt wasn't enough for me to swear off the crazy sexy Ryder Jake Williams.Like, how can I say no to the best vanilla milkshake in the world?The only consolation was that I knew we weren’t going to hurt anyone. As long as my mom and Peter were happy, we didn’t think it
[ R Y D E R ]When I opened my eyes next, the first thing I saw was Kara’s beautiful face right on my chest. She was sleeping soundly and her skin was glowing under the morning light. Dawn was breaking over the horizon and I knew it was time for us to get back. Last night, after almost getting caught by Lacey, Kara and I went pretty far away from where the RV was parked. We found a little cozy cave-like spot and we stayed there for the night, lying on a bed made of our clothes. We talked all night and watched the stars. I didn’t even remember falling asleep, but here we were.Kara stirred in her sleep, maybe she could feel that I was watching her like a creep. Her eyes then fluttered open and I saw those beautiful big blue eyes. It was weird, but her eyes could make me feel big and small all at the same time.“Good morning, beautiful,” I greeted her with a kiss. 
[ K A R A ]I couldn't look my mother in the eye. My body was frozen in shock. I was afraid to even move a single inch. My worst fear had come to life, mom had found out about Ryder and me. I felt like the Titanic. We had hit an iceberg and we were going down. So far down."How could you do this to us, Kara?" she croaked."Mom... I'm... really.... sorry," I managed to say under my breath."I don't know how serious things are between the two of you... but I hope you realize what's at stake here. All our lives, all we ever wanted was to have a family," she paused and took a deep breath. "Peter and I have decided that we're going to have a baby. We really want to make this family work, Kara," she said again.Tears started to roll down my cheeks. I felt so guilty. Ryder and I had been so selfish. We couldn't just forget about the whole world and do whatever the hell
[ R Y D E R ]It was the last day before Kara had to leave for New York City. I didn't know how to feel about that. A part of me wanted to throw away everything and go be with her there. Another part of me wanted to take her, stuff her in my bag, and take her with me as I go on my surf world tour.Earlier today, we had lunch together as a family — our parents and us two. Kara was surprisingly very calm about everything. How was she not freaking out? Weren't girls supposed to be one being all whiny and clingy? Why was I the one being whiny and clingy?Anyway, since it was her last night in Hawaii, I decided to do something special for her. I had been planning this for several days now, and I must admit… God, I’m nervous.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[ R Y D E R ]"Kara?" I mumbled lazily as I tried to feel her body next to mine, but my hand was only catching air.I opened my eyes lazily and I saw that she wasn't there. I pulled myself up, looking from side to side. Then I got up and peeked outside the tent, but there was no one around.Something's not right.I scrambled to my side to check on my phone, it was past 10 AM. Kara's flight was at 11. What the heck— I knew I set an alarm last night?"Shit," I muttered to myself, confused. Even her clothes were not there.I tried to call her phone, but it went straight to voicemail. Quickly putting my shirt and jeans back on me, I haphazardly ran out of the tent and towards my truck. I called out her name as I went, but there was no sign of her around. Even as I reached the truck, everything was there in its place,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *NEW YORK CITY* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *[ K A R A ]The New York air was cold and unforgiving, a clear reminder that the summer had ended. I never realized how much I didn't like living in New York City. There were no stars at night, just window lights from the skyscrapers. There were no secluded beaches I could run to, just the bodegas at every corner. And most of all, there was no Ryder Jake Williams. Period.But still, the end of summer meant the beginning of autumn, and the fall term in Columbia had officially started. I had waited all my life for Columbia, it was my dream ever since I was little. I was finally here, and yet I felt nothing."This is what you're wearing?"
[ K A R A ]As my thumb was about to tap on the screen, Cole suddenly snatched my phone away from me."Hey!" I protested."Not tonight, Kar. He sends you emails every day, you read them, and then you weep for a good hour. Well, not this time. Because tonight, you're having fun," he said in a commanding tone, putting my phone in his jacket pocket.My shoulders slumped in defeat and I let out a sigh. I hated that Cole was right, I had to stop wallowing in my Ryder pity party and at least try to move on with my life. Starting tonight."You're a good friend, but I hate you right now," I pouted."How are you gonna survive the world without me, Livingston?""Oh, I'll manage,"Cole gave me a light shove and I shoved him playfully back. Bobbing my head along to the music, I then turned my gaze b
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *3 Y E A R S L A T E RNEW YORK CITY* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *[ K A R A ]Three years ago I got my heart broken for the first time. It was the worst and best experience of my life. To say that the breakup was brutal would be the understatement of the century.I still remembered the last words he spoke to me, "If you're lucky, you're only gonna see me in Thanksgiving, weddings, or funerals," That messed me up for a while. I imagined coming home for Thanksgiving five years from now and I would see Ryder again for the first time. Maybe he would bring a girl with him. And then maybe he'd get married. And I would be there, to watch him stand on the altar and give his life away to someone else. These thoughts were worse than