"Who was that?" Drayton comes sauntering out of his bathroom with a small bag of toiletries, carelessly tossing them into his duffle while I stare at the cellphone in my hand, having just ended one of the best phone calls I've ever received.

"It was CalArts!" I grit my teeth and squeal with excitement. The little happy dance I break into earns me a pleading expression from Drayton who sidles up to me with his arms widespread.

"Well?" His deep green eyes inspect me with impatient curiosity.

"I got an audition!" I throw my arms around his neck and fall into his embrace. He doesn't hesitate to engulf me in an almost suffocating hold. His affection once again shines through his actions. "It's a few days after we get back from Miami!"

"Baby," he mumbles into the crook of my neck, his hot breath tickling my skin and not failing to spark the need for him that never dies. "I'm so proud of you." He sets me on my feet but his widespread hands keep an unwavering grip on my hips. "So you're going back to California."

"Yeah." I nod with a grin that couldn't be smothered, even if I attempted to hide the overwhelming joy. Things have never felt more in place and I'm so fûcking pleased. "Just overnight. I think Nathan said he wanted to come if I landed an audition. But eeeek. It's one step closer."

"You're gonna nail it babe." Drayton's confidence in me isn't forced or fake. It's genuine, I've become so familiar with the tone of voice he uses when he's trying to deliver his speech with sincerity. It's arousing to say the least.

Tomorrow we're leaving for our spring break in Miami. Over the last month and a half I've experienced the highs of being in a relationship with Drayton Lahey. I've been spoiled beyond belief, wined and dined at some of the fanciest restaurants in Castle Pines. I've been kept thoroughly satisfied in all aspects of our physical relationship, not that I'd have ever been worried about that being an issue. Our attraction to each other is as strong as it was at the beginning.

Drayton takes his role as a doting boyfriend with absolute conviction. He's attentive and sweet, he constantly checks up on me and when he experienced - for the first time - the way I fall apart during the week I ride the crimson wave, he'd been extremely patient. Tucking me into his bed, supplying me with an unhealthy amount of sweets and take out and giving me regular back rubs. It's hard to believe that this is my life. It's almost too good to be true and I keep waiting for the punch line to knock me over, dispelling any happiness I'd managed to wrangle.

Just last week he'd taken me by total surprise and announced there was a two thousand dollar store credit waiting for me to use at a large hip clothing store in the mall. He told me I should get whatever I wanted for our trip to Miami and I couldn't believe he'd so casually throw two thousand dollars into a clothing spree for me. I'd been adamant on denying the gift at first, but he let me know that there was no way I could get the cash back so I had to spend it. I'd basically come home with enough clothes to restock my entire closet. It was nice to be able to update the wardrobe but I still felt that it was far too much. I'm with Drayton for his personality and his charm. His humour and hilarity. Not because he's able to afford such outrageous spends on a whim.

"We should celebrate?" he suggests, throwing his duffle on to the floor. He wraps a hand around my wrist and pulls me down on to the bed, his firm muscled body catching me on impact. I don't think I'll ever get used to how incredibly good looking he is.

"We don't need to celebrate." I rest the side of my head on his chest and listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "We can celebrate if I actually get in."

His chest rises, his lips smacking as if he's about to say something and I'm almost certain I know what it is, considering that in the end, he doesn't say anything at all.

Me leaving is no cause for celebration.

It's exactly something Drayton would say and I hate the fact that I almost feel the same way. It's one of the reasons I'd sworn off relationships in the first place. Leaving is going to hurt like a bitch.

"Smells like dinner's ready." He sits up, effectively dropping my head into his lap. His hands clutch the edge of the bed and he smirks, his brow arched. "You hungry for something else?"

I roll my eyes and push off the bed, standing to my feet while I mask the small bit of disappointment that I feel. It seems that no matter how well things are going between the two of us, he can't help but divert serious conversations into shallow or sexual humour. I used to wonder why he was so dirty all the time. Apart from being sexually aroused at almost all hours of the day, he also uses it as a defense mechanism.

"Maybe for dessert babe." I wink, giving him a pat on his rock hard pec before I turn on my heel and leave the room. The comment was mostly to appease him, but I'm sure I'll make good on my word.

•

It's just the four of us sat around the dinner table tonight. Leroy, Ellie, Drayton and myself. Grayson is eating at Spencer's. Her Mom and Dad insisted they spend some time together before she jets off to Miami for a wild week of spring break partying.

Camilla hadn't been in favour of the trip. But Spencer is almost eighteen and I have a feeling that Nicolás used his powers of persuasion to help her get her way.

"Have you packed everything honey?" Ellie asks Dray while she drizzles gravy across her store-bought roast meal. Despite the fact that it's store-bought, it's still a hell of a lot better than anything else I usually eat.

"Yeah Mom," Drayton mumbles with a mouthful of potato. I don't think he even stops to breathe, basically inhaling everything on his plate.

It's kind of cute.

"Oh!" Drayton straightens up and wipes his mouth with a napkin as he leans back in his seat, adorning a proud grin that causes a flutter in my stomach. "Dallas got an audition at CalArts."

"Congratulations!" Ellie beams from across the table. Her sentiments are genuine and I blush at the attention. The way Dray is so proud to talk about my accomplishments is heartwarming.

"That's in California, correct?" Leroy gives me a quizzical stare from his seat at the head of the table. He and I haven't done a lot of conversing over the course of my relationship with Drayton. He spends a lot of time away and while he seems friendly, I can't help but get the vibe that he isn't my biggest fan.

"No shit Dad," Drayton scoffs, pushing his now empty plate away from him. "What do you think Cal stands for? Fucking Caledonia?"

A tense silence lingers after he's blasted his Dad in a rather hostile manner. I'm not sure what the attitude is about but the mere mention of my plans from Leroy's mouth instantly soured the atmosphere and I have no idea why.

"I was just asking," Leroy smiles, but it's almost as if there's a warning in his eyes, daring Drayton to continue with his brash comments. Leroy leans back in his seat, undoing the buttons of his fitted dress shirt sleeves and rolling them up to his elbows. "Drayton's going to Baylor. I suppose you already know that though. Don't you?"

"Drop it!" Drayton growls.

The two of them lock in an unwavering stare down. Their vicious looks are almost identical. Drayton is a spitting image of his father, his dirty blonde cropped hair and chiselled build. It's almost like getting a peek into Drayton's future. I wouldn't be disappointed if that's what I woke up to twenty years from now.

Oh God. What am I even saying. I barely know if we'll make it to the end of the year.

"Once again, I was just asking if Dallas is aware of your plans." Leroy lifts his beer bottle, guzzling back the liquid from his chilled glass corona, continuing to glare at his son in an intimidating way.

Ellie hasn't said a word. Instead she stares at her plate, pushing the food around with her fork and feigning oblivion. You could be deaf and blind and still not be privy to the awkward tension in this room.

"I know what you're doing and you can shut the fuck up." Drayton pushes his seat back, his palms against the table edge, causing the cutlery and glasses to rattle. "Let's go babe."

"Thank you for dinner," I mumble with an apologetic glance as I scramble to my feet. Ellie gives me a sad smile but I avoid meeting Leroy's stare, not wanting to make the situation any more uncomfortable.

I follow Drayton up to his bedroom, shutting the door behind me as he flops down on to his bed with an exasperated grunt. He runs his hands through his hair, staring up at the ceiling. I hate seeing him bothered. It's something I got used to at one point. But now I'm well acquainted with his playful side and that's the Drayton that I love.

"He thinks I'm going to talk you out of going to Baylor, doesn't he?" I sit down on the edge of his bed with a sigh, my fingers fumble the threads on my ripped jeans.

"I don't give a shit what he thinks Dallas." His strong hands wrap around my shoulders, pulling me backwards so that I tuck into his side. "I'll do what I want. It's my life."

"So is that something you've thought about?" My heart starts to race at the thought of him coming to California with me. I twist my body so that I can see his thoughtful face, leaning up on an elbow and tracing patterns on his chest. "Have you thought about coming to California?"

"Every day cheer," he murmurs, meeting my elated gaze.

He's thinking about a future with me and that's beyond mind-blowing. The unfortunate truth is that it won't be that easy. But the fact that it's something he wants, excites me in so many ways.

His brows crinkle while he watches me, his lips curling up in a small smile as he shifts on to his elbow and swings his leg over my frame. He never breaks eye contact as he encases me beneath his magnificent body.

"I swear that what I feel for you isn't temporary babe." His hand fans out, caressing the side of my face, his thumb makes small circles on the apples of my cheeks while he keeps his face only an inch from mine. "I dunno what's gonna happen but I want you to know that I mean that, I'm in this for the long haul."

"I do know." I lift my fingers into his soft hair, loving the way that his eyes close in ecstasy when I lightly tug on it. "I just wish it didn't have to be so hard."

His eyes flicker open, he stares down at me, his gaze darting between my mouth and eyes. "Not to sound cheesy as fuck, but sometimes the things that are worth having in life, are the ones you have to fight the hardest for."

There's a hidden meaning in his words. He delivers them with determination and conviction while his gaze remains soft and affectionate. I know that he's worth fighting for, I'd do almost anything for him. Anything except for stay in Archwood or follow him to Dallas, and I don't know if that makes me selfish or not.

There's a difference between kissing someone because you're attracted to them and kissing them because words can no longer equate to how you're feeling. And when his mouth meets mine in a frenzy of passion, I understand that perfectly. The speech that he gave me when we sat on his bike, the day he told me how he felt, the day everything changed, those were the most words that he's ever strung together when it comes to describing how he feels. But that's just who he is, his actions have always spoken for him.

Maybe it won't work out, maybe it will. I think that finding out will be the best thing I ever do.

• • •

"Spence, how much did you spend on this hotel room?"

I spin in a slow circle, absorbing the massive room with plush dark carpet and state of the art kitchen appliances. The bedroom is situated off the living area and I can see how massive the bed is from where I stand beside the large leather couches. The left wall is made up of windows that open into a balcony that looks out over the beach across the road. The room is extravagant and I'm seriously concerned for the state of her bank balance. This is only the first room she booked! She and Gray have their own.

"I actually don't know," she mumbles from the doorway. "It just looked pretty so I booked it."

"Get a financial advisor," I grunt, as Drayton wonders through the door with our bags in hand.

"Weooow. Money well spent!" he hollers, contradicting my disapproval. He did contribute a decent amount to the vacay so I suppose he has every right to be excited.

"We'll leave you guys to it!" Grayson grins, reaching for the door handle as he shuffles Spencer out of the threshold. "Meet you guys in like an hour so we can go to the beach?"

"Yeah, yeah," Drayton waves his hand flippantly, sauntering towards me with a devious grin, "go dick ya girl down. I'm gonna do the same."

I let out a squeal when I'm hoisted into the air, Drayton wrapping my legs around his waist before Grayson's even had the chance to shut the door. I don't miss the way they feign disgust, gagging and carrying on as if they're not as crude behind closed doors. I suppose that's the point though, it's genuinely meant to be kept private.

Drayton will forever lack a filter.

He drops us both on to the bed landing with an oomph as his body crushes mine into the mattress.

"We're gonna need more than an hour."

•

By the time we re-congregate, it's six at night. The sun is still shining and from the hotel, we can see that the beach party across the road is only just getting started. Spencer and Grayson sit on the edge of our now tainted hotel bed while we wait for Drayton to finish showering.

I've changed into a pale pink bikini, admiring the way it looks against my now golden skin, thanks to spray tan I had a few days ago. My pale winter skin hasn't had the chance to properly warm up so I figured I'd give it a kick start since we would be spending the week at the beach.

Spencer is also wearing a bikini. A black lace one with high waist bottoms. She doesn't need a fake tan of course. Her skin is bronzed to perfection all year round.

I step into a pair of high waist pale denim shorts, doing the button up while Spencer glares at me with evil eyes.

"What?" I shrug, sliding my flip flops on.

"You're just so hot. I hate you."

"Babe," Grayson nudges her with his elbow, "you're gorgeous. Shut up."

"What he said," I chuckle as Drayton comes out of the bathroom with damp olive skin and glistening wet hair. He's wearing a low hung pair of black board shorts and I immediately feel threatened at the thought of him walking along the beach like that.

"Damn girl!" he whistles, giving me a sensual once over as he walks his towel over to the laundry hamper. "If you want me to keep my hands to myself tonight, you're gonna have to stop being so damn sexy."

Spencer scowls at me with a pointed look, as if to say 'I told you so.' What did she want, Drayton to compliment her too? I'm sure he would if I asked him too. The absurdity of her insecurities is too much sometimes.

"Dude," Grayson shrugs with a look of disgust, "could you stop being such an animal."

"Shut up," Drayton chortles, sidling up beside me and slinging an arm around my shoulder. "The first month you guys were together" - he points at them with two fingers - "your room smelt like dick juice twenty-four seven."

"Anyway," I clap my hands together, my brows raising as I attempt to steer the conversation in a different direction, "should we go? I'm hungry."

"Don't lie," Drayton laughs as we all make our way out of the hotel room, "you just ate."

"Shut up!" I elbow his side, smiling with triumph as he curls over. I think it was more for my benefit than anything.

"Whatever we eat, it has to be on the beachfront!" Spencer declares.

It takes us about thirty seconds before our feet hit the sand. Spencer did damn good scoring this place. I'd been skeptical about the entire thing, not wanting her to waste her money, but I have to admit, I'm incredibly excited about the next four days.

We find a little burger shack that's set along the long boardwalk. Drayton and Gray both insist that we eat there, despite it being packed. They tell us that the busier the food joint, the better the food and I can't exactly argue with that logic.

He was right of course, the burgers are gourmet quality. They're incredible and I feel like I need to pop a button on my shorts by the end of it.

The entire beach is packed with high school and college-aged kids; there are coolers filled with ice and beer every ten feet, barbecues are sizzling, fires are crackling as the sun starts to set and the music thumps loudly from portable speakers.

"How are we going to get alcohol?" Spencer looks around, realising that we didn't arrange that before we left. She'd only bought a bottle of spirits that her dad bought her, but that wasn't the most convenient thing to carry around.

"How much cash do you have on you?" Drayton asks, scouring the area in search of who knows what.

"Um a hundred?" she replies with confusion.

"Gimme seventy." Drayton holds out his hand, his gaze now locked in on a couple of guys that are operating a barbecue. They're surrounded by girls and umbrellas and boxes and boxes of beer.

Spencer slaps the money into his hand and he begins to trail towards them. The three of us watch on in confusion as he approaches the guys, clearly introducing himself. They seem enthusiastic to greet Drayton, giving him a bro shake and making various introductions to the rest of the group.

Dray has his back to us, so while I'm curious about the exchange, I'm subtly checking him out, admiring his firm back muscles and cute ass.

"Wipe the drool off your chin." Spencer laughs.

Okay so maybe it wasn't so subtle. 

After a few minutes, Drayton begins to return, a pleased smile on his cute face. I wish I could see his eyes, but they're hidden behind a pair of aviators. I love those deep green orbs of perfection.

"Sweet, help yourselves to any of the red coolers." He points at a few nearby chillers that house various alcohols. "There will be a restock again at some point in the night."

"Just like that huh?" I grin as he encircles his arms around my waist, his bare chest pressing up against me.

"I've got a way with people." He winks.

Spencer and Grayson don't waste any time, dashing off to find themselves some refreshments.

"And a way with girls." I eye the beach babes over his shoulder, watching him with visible dehydration. "Thirsty bitches."

"Don't be like that baby." He leans down and smashes his mouth against mine, giving me more than a tender kiss, it's rough and messy, his hands sliding down my back and grabbing my ass in a firm hold. "I've only got eyes for you and I am not ashamed of it. Besides you're easily the most beautiful girl on this entire beach."

I let the flutters fill my stomach. There's definitely an appreciation for a man that's not afraid to show that he's one hundred percent taken.

He laces our fingers together and we stroll through the hot sand towards Spencer and Gray, who hand us an ice-cold beverage.

"Now, let's have a fucking memorable night." Drayton flicks the cap off his beer with a grin. "Or not so memorable."

• • •

Thank you thank you thank you all for 100k reads. My mind is absolutely blown. I didn't imagine reaching such a milestone when I started this book. I'm so beyond grateful for each and every one of you x

Much love. Until next time. x