Sofia shook her head. “Never.”

“That is so amazing.” She held out her hand and gave Sofia a high five. “You go! You and your boyfriend are one in so few.”

Sofia thought about that, then remembered Angel and Sarah. “My brother and his girlfriend have been together since high school, and they’re sophomores in college now.”

Naomi’s eyebrows lifted. She lifted her notepad again, but waited until she finished chewing, then asked. “Were they each others first, too?”

Sofia laughed. “I’m pretty sure she was his first real girlfriend, but she was far from his first experience.”

< k="0else.p height="0" width="48"> “What about her?

After thinking about it for a moment, she responded, “I think she said she had gone out with a couple of guys before she met my brother.”

Naomi kept jotting things down on her notepad, but asked, “Well, that’s a little different.”

Sofia was beginning to feel annoyed. Who cared if she didn’t have anyone else to compare Eric to? She didn’t want to compare him to anyone. All her friends had these roller coaster relationships. She and Eric barely had a few minor bumps. They were incredibly happy and neither could get enough of each other. She bit into a carrot and waited for Naomi’s next question.

CHAPTER 8

Doubt

After almost two full years of college under his belt, Eric was ready for a break. Now that Sofia was in college also, their time together was even more constricted. Even when he was finally free of schoolwork, sometimes she wasn’t. She was also running on the college track team, so that took up a lot of her time.

Both he and Sofia had been looking forward to the summer. They’d been saving for a vacation. Nothing fancy, maybe just a drive up the coast. Stop at a few bed and breakfasts. It didn’t matter where they went. Just being with her for an entire week, day and night, would be paradise.

Then a few weeks ago, his dad threw a wrench in his plans. The company he worked for was highly influential. Students lined up for the chance to do an internship there. A position in their IT dept was well sought-out. Eric was majoring in Software Engineering. He’d always been a natural tech, even when he was a kid.

An internship at this place would do wonders for his resume, might even open a few doors. His father always said success was due in large to hard work, but it also involved some luck, and it helped to know people. In this case, he was lucky his father knew people that could get him in. The internship would be for the entire summer. Unfortunately, it was at their head quarters in Los Angeles. He’d have to stay with his mom all week and be home only on the weekends.

Eric’s first thoughts were hell no! But after his dad stressed the importance of this and what it would mean for him in the future, he started rethinking. Sofia wouldn’t be happy about it, and the thought of being away from her all summer except for the weekends was the hardest thing to accept. Still, this was a huge opportunity for him. His father even said he was certain if he didn’t, do it he’d regret it later on.

Eric finally agreed, but he still hadn’t told Sofia. He’d be leaving in less than three weeks and there hadn’t been the perfect moment to bring it up.

After watching a movie and munching on pizza, they ended up naked on the living room floor. Eric worked on catching his breath when Sofia sat up. “God I miss this. I’m so glad summer is almost here. I’m s n="0els Erick of going days without you.” She kissed his neck. “I want this every day.”

Eric took a deep breath. “We need to talk, babe.”

Sofia stopped kissing his neck and looked at him. “About what?”

“This summer.”

She pulled away from him. “What about it?”

“I’m gonna be gone. But I’ll be home on the weekends.”

Sofia stared at him. “Why?”

“My dad got me an internship with his company in L.A. It’s for the whole summer, Monday through Friday.” He caressed her face. “It’s a dream internship, Sof. My dad pulled a lot of strings to get it for me.”

“You asked him to?”

“No.”

“I thought we we’re taking a vacation?”

“I know.” He kissed her. “I was looking forward to it, too. But my dad says this is something I really need to do, and I have to agree, Sof. I’d be stupid to pass this up.”

Sofia looked so sad it killed him. “The whole summer?”

He pulled her against him. “I promise, we’ll make the most outta every weekend. Okay?” He kissed her nose. “You mad?”

She took a deep breath, her expression completely heartrending. “Are you going to miss me?”

Eric sat up and cupped her face in his hands. “Of course I am—every minute of every day. You’re all I think of, Sofie. It’s almost embarrassing.”

Her face crumbled. “I miss you already.”

For a moment, he hated his dad, and he choked up, hugging her tight. “No, Sofie.” He took a deep breath, trying to hold it together. “We’ll talk every day. I promise.”

They held each other for a while, then Sofia asked, “Are you sure you didn’t ask your dad to take you away this summer—from me?”

Eric pulled himself up and leaned on his elbow. “Why would you even ask me that?”

She lay there, looking at the ceiling. “You’re not bored with me are you?”