"You're moving early? I don't understand. We had a plan, Rosie. We were going to graduate together. Next year."
"I know but plans change, Beth. I know you don't like that but it's true. We don't want to wait another year to get married and Lee is enlisting early."
"What about your degrees?"
"I'm transferring to University of California San Diego and Lee will finish his degree through the Coast Guard."
"You know, I never knew how lonely life could be until I realize I'm going to be here without my best friend."
"You'll have Lucas. You probably won't even miss me."
"That's not true and it's not the same."
"You're right. It's better."
"Regardless that I enjoy his company, he has no idea where he'll be after graduation. For all I know, he'll be in Alaska." Elizabeth sighed and stood up. "I need to go to bed."
"Beth." Rosie stood up too. "Beth, I love you. You are my best friend. But Lee is going to be my husband. I need to be with him."
Elizabeth nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I know, I will miss you so much."
After a tear-filled hug, they both went to bed. Rosie went right to sleep. Elizabeth did not.
She picked up her phone, almost texting Lucas a few times but realizing how late it was, she stopped herself. She'd see him at breakfast in a few hours.
However, at about 2am, Lucas texted her. "You awake?"
She texted right back. "Yes."
"Want to walk on the beach?"
"Yes! I will meet you out front in a minute."
After about five, she saw him walking towards her. "Hey."
"Hey, so I talked to Lee."
"I talked to Rosie."
"Quite a bomb they dropped on us, huh?"
"That's an understatement."
He offered his hand and she took it, needing his grounding influence.
"Elizabeth, how are you?"
"I feel lonely already and a little lost. She's been my best friend since kindergarten."
He dropped her hand and put his arm around her waist, kissing her temple.
"How are you feeling?" she asked him, putting her arm around his waist as they reached the edge of the sand.
"I'm happy for him and not really surprised. He told me he wanted to enlist early."
Elizabeth sighed as they took their shoes off. "Elizabeth, I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"It wasn't your news to tell, and we don't know each other well enough to confide in each other."
"We don't?"
"We met five days ago."
"And had a great first date and a pretty amazing first kiss, don't you think?"
She saw his hurt look on his face and immediately regretted her words. "I'm sorry, Lucas. Of course we did." She reached up and touched his cheek. "I'm very in-like with you. I'm sorry that I said what I said."
His serious face turned to a grin as he kissed her lips briefly. "I'm very in-like with you too."
She took his hand again and they wandered to the water, letting it run over their toes.
He squeezed her hand and smiled down at her. "Just so you know, my grandmother and grandfather got married a week after they met."
"They did not," she said, bumping him with her hip. He just pulled her closer.
"They did."
"How long did they stay married?"
"They still are. It's been 52 years."
"Oh wow."
"Yeah. He still holds her hand as they walk somewhere, kisses her like no one is watching. Calls her 'sweetheart' and she calls him 'my love'."
"Oh my, Lucas, that is the sweetest thing I have ever heard."
"Right? Wait until you meet them."
"You want me to meet your grandparents?"
"Of course." He stopped walking and put his hands on her hips. "I meant it when I said I'm in-like with you. I know this is fast and we can slow down, whatever you want, but that's how I feel. And I've never felt this way about anyone, not even my high-school girlfriend."
"What was her name?"
"Amber."
"How long did you date her?"
"Two years but I wouldn't necessarily call it dating, per se."
She laughed and they started walking again. "Why not?"
"Because we didn't even go out on a date more than twice. We just went to parties and hung out after games."
"Wait…what kind of games? Were you a jock, Lucas?" She was teasing and he knew it.
"Yep, basketball."
"Hm. Was Amber a good kisser?"
"I'm not answering that question."
"That good, huh?"
He paused for a moment. "Not as good as you."
She blushed but as dark as it was, she knew he couldn't see it. "Good answer."
He stopped them again and brought his mouth to hers, slowly and gently taking her breath away. "I love it when you blush."
"Stop. You couldn't see."
"But I knew."
"We only have two months," she blurted.
"We have all the time in the world, Elizabeth. I'm not leaving you forever, even if I am not living in the same town as you are for a time after graduation. I know that worries you, but we need to just take it as it comes."
"How do you know that you won't get a job across the country?"
"I don't and I don't know that you won't decide you want to move to Jamaica to run your business or that you'll decide to go move to San Diego and live near Lee and Rosemary. But I'm choosing to make the best of the time we have together. Please, try to do the same thing. You won't be so stressed all the time."
"I don't know, maybe I'm not good at relationship stuff. Run while you can, Lucas."
"Hey, I'm not running. Elizabeth, at the very least, I'm your friend. If that's all that we can be after life happens, I'll learn to be fine with it."
The truth was, he didn't know he would be fine with just being her friend. He felt a whole lot for her already and it had been just a few days.
"Elizabeth," he whispered, slipping his fingers between hers. "Will you be my date to the wedding?"
"Two months from now?"
"Or three. Whenever. I just want to go with you."
"Of course I will."
He kissed her forehead and smiled. "Ever slept on the beach?"
"No," she laughed.
"I have a few blankets," he mentioned. "At the condo."
She yawned and smiled. "I am tired."
As they cuddled a few moments later under a blanket, she yawned again.
"I don't normally do this," she mumbled, her eyes closing.
"What? Sleep next to your boyfriend?"
"Is that what you are?"
He pressed another soft kiss to her forehead. "I hope so."
"Me too."
….
As the sun came up a few hours later, Lucas watched her sleep and he fought the need to move his arm which was around her. He had pins and needles.
He didn't usually sleep on the beach or anywhere with a girlfriend or anyone else either.
But he hadn't wanted their time together to end and the suggestion just flew out of his mouth. The fact that she'd agreed told him she felt the same.
"Morning," she whispered, her face turning red.
"Morning. Will you still go out for breakfast with me?" he wondered, using his fingertips to tuck a curl behind her ear.
"Of course. As long as there are waffles. With strawberries, bananas, chocolate, whipped cream and lots of maple syrup." He laughed.
"Sounds perfect. As long as there is coffee too."
They stayed under the blanket for a while longer, sitting and watching the sun rise above the water. Then they walked back to the condos slowly, hugged and then headed inside their places to get ready for breakfast.
"Elizabeth Thatcher, were you out all night?" Rosemary teased as she sipped her coffee on the couch.
"Rosemary LeVeaux, did you sleep with your fiancé?" she threw back at her, a gleam in her eyes.
"Look at us, asking questions with obvious answers."
Elizabeth poured herself a cup of coffee, added some creamer and smiled. "I need to go get ready for breakfast."
They ate breakfast a while later and then made plans to go snorkeling that afternoon with Lee and Rosemary.
The rest of the week and their vacation consisted of seeing each other as often as possible and sleeping in various places outside. Beach, hammock, deck chair that was surprisingly comfortable.
Before they knew it, it was time to head back to real life, school, terrible part time jobs, lots of studying.
….
First week in May
Lucas was graduating in three and a half weeks. He still needed to work on getting his Masters but he'd do that in the evenings after work.
Speaking of work, Lucas reread the email he received from Collins Architecture in Charlotte. Only two and a half hours from Elizabeth in Raleigh. He'd done the research.
Now he needed and very much wanted to have that particularly difficult but important conversation with her. He drove over to the apartment where she lived.
"Elizabeth?" he said, knocking on her bedroom door before turning the knob.
She peeked around the bathroom door, her hair wet. "Lucas? Um, could you turn around, please?"
"Sure." He turned. "Although if you're wearing a towel, I've seen you in less."
"Not the point," she giggled. "I'm glad you're here. I was hoping we could get some takeout and watch a movie."
"Sure, but I need to speak with you about something first."
She looked up as she grabbed a pair of shorts from her dresser. "Is that the letter?"
"Yeah." He sat down on her bed, keeping his eyes down.
"You're leaving." It wasn't a question.
"Can we talk about it, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth sat down next to him, ignoring the fact she was only in a towel. "I'm here, Lucas."
"Collins Architecture sent me an email in response to my job resume. They want me to go there for an interview next weekend. Would you come with me?"
"Yes." Of course she would.
"Thank you." He took her hand in his and twisted their fingers together. "I need you there. Your support means everything."
Elizabeth knew this was coming. She knew that anyone would be crazy not to hire him. She knew the time was coming when he'd move on without her.
She leaned her head with her damp hair against his shoulder and sighed. "I'm going to miss you, Luke." He took a deep breath in, savoring her warm vanilla orange scent.
"I haven't gotten the job yet, Elizabeth."
"You will. You'd be an asset to any company."
"If I do, I mapped it out. Charlotte isn't that far."
She reached up and touched his handsome cheek. Oh, how those dimples made her weak. "You'll have work and school and I'll have school too. I'm not sure how it will work."
"Have I ever told you about when my parents were dating?"
"Nope." She kissed him and smiled. "Hold that thought. I'm going to get dressed."
"You don't have to on my account," he flirted, wanting to see that sexy blush. He didn't have to wait long.
"Hush."
He grinned giving her a peek of his delicious dimples.
Elizabeth came out a minute later, dressed, with a brush in her hand. She sat down on the bed with her long legs crossed. "Okay, tell me." He reached and rested his hand on one of her smooth legs. He just wanted to touch her.
"Mom had an internship in London her senior year of college and my dad stayed in Raleigh. They wrote letters and called each other but they made it through the whole time, just seeing each other for Christmas."
"For the record, I don't want to see you one time in a year, Luke."
"We won't. Elizabeth, my point is, long distance works. We just have to have patience and make sure we talk whenever we can." She nodded.
"Luke, I'm so proud of you. You're going to be an amazing world famous architect one day and if being without you for a bit makes that possible, then we'll make it through."
She would support him the best she could. It may not be easy but it was the right thing to do.