“Geez, this tree house is smaller than I remembered.” If I stretched out I’d probably be able to touch all four walls at once.
“I think it’s more so that we grew up. Speaking of which, I have something for you.”
“Is it another pendant? Because I’m happy with the one I have.”
“No, I promise I didn’t buy you more jewelry from the quarter machine at the grocery store,” he said with a laugh. “Close your eyes.”
I stared at him. “You’ve already given me so much.”
“Close your eyes, Summer.”
I smiled and finally closed my eyes. I had no idea what he had gotten me. But I knew it couldn’t top today. Getting my dad back. His parents accepting me. Finally coming home after all these years.
“Okay, open your eyes,” he said.
I opened them and looked down at his two outstretched fists.
“Pick a hand.”
I laughed. “Not this again.” But really I was loving every second of him recreating that night that we first
held hands. When we first admitted that we both wanted to be more than friends. I tapped his right fist.
He opened it. There was a piece of paper folded multiple times. “Read it.”
I lifted it out of his hands and started to unfold it. I scanned through the letter as fast as I could. He was being signed by Manchester United as a striker.
“It’s the third offer they’ve sent me because I didn’t respond to the other two,” he said. “I was waiting until everything with Don was over. But I have to decide by tomorrow…”
“This is your dream.” I waved the paper at him. “This is everything you’ve always wanted. How have you not responded to this?”
He shook his head. “You’re my dream. Soccer is a very very distant second.”
“Don’t you want to go?”
“Only if you’ll come with me.”
“Miles, I’d follow you to the ends of the earth. You know that. Of course I’ll go with you.”
“What about college?”
“Are you kidding? I’ll take classes online. I meant what I said earlier. I hate New York City. I don’t want to go back there. Let’s go to England!”
He looked so happy. “Really?”
“Yes, really! We’ll just get Liza to ship all our stuff over there instead of here. What is the temperature over there? Could I ask my dad to come with us?”
“Thank you.” He leaned forward and kissed me. “And to answer your questions: cold and yes.”
I laughed. Coming back here had been wonderful. But we needed a fresh start. More distance between Don would be nice too. I had moved around a lot as a kid. But I had never gotten to choose the place. England was somewhere I’d always wanted to go. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as possible. We’ll need to find a flat.”
I laughed. “This is going to be so much fun.” I looked down at his other hand. It was still closed in a fist. “What was in your other hand?”
“Nothing much.” He opened his palm and tossed something at me.
I caught it in my hand. I looked down and it felt like my heart stopped. It was a diamond ring.