“Do you think I should cut my hair?” Kendall stands in front of the department store mirror folding her hair. She briefly studies herself before finding me looking back at her in the reflection. Max and Jameson are due home either late tonight or tomorrow, they weren’t positive on timing, but we’re both feeling anxious. The last few days have been fun, but the constant thought of Max, and what he was doing, and how things would be when he returned have created a constant distraction.

“I like your hair the way it is, but if you want to cut it I know that will be cute too,” I say with a casual shrug.

“You’re a lot of help.” She groans, letting out a loud sigh as she releases her hair. “Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”

Once seated and eating pizza, Kendall begins dissecting her relationship with Jameson. They’re still dating, but apparently the term exclusive hasn’t been declared, which makes Kendall uncertain of the validity of their relationship.

“Why don’t you talk to him about it? It’s not as though you’re not able to establish that step.”

“I know, but this is something he’s supposed to do!” Kendall whines.

“Maybe he already thinks you’re exclusive, but doesn’t realize it’s not implied? You guys have been dating practically all summer, and you are sleeping together.”

“That’s making an awfully big assumption.”

“Call him presumptuous, then, but you should still discuss it with him.”

“What about you and Max? What’s the deal there?” Kendall asks, knocking her knee against mine as I take a bite. I chew a little slower than necessary to craft my reply.

“We’re just hanging out right now.”

“You’re the worst liar.”

“What? I’m not lying!”

“You like him! We all know you do. He knows you do. When are you guys going to start enjoying some of the benefits of being an adult and dating?” Thankfully Kendall’s phone starts ringing, and I know by the ringtone that it’s Jameson. It sends my heart racing, knowing they’re home, or at least back on land.

I glance at my phone to check the time and see a message from Max.

Max: Where R U?

Me: You’re alive!!! Where are you?!

Max: @ ur house. Where R U?

Me: Downtown with Kendall listening to her relationship woes ... Can you please be a double agent and mention to J to ask Kendall to date exclusively again? It will save me a lot of time.

Max: U nd 2 lrn 2 abbreviate.

Me: You love it. I like vowels ;)

Max: Whn R U cmng hme?

Me: Soon, why?

Max: I hvnt Cn U N 4 dayz!!!!

Me: You know days and dayz have the same number of characters right?

Max: U luv it

Me: So what you’re saying is you miss me?

Max: I’m saying come home! Now!!!

Max: is that more clear? Easier to understand with vowels?

Me: So bossy! We’ll be home soon ... I’ll text you when we’re close.

“Who are you texting?” Kendall leans in to read my phone, and I turn my eyes to her giddy face as I covertly turn off my screen.

“You ready to go?”

“Yeah, they’re home, as I’m sure you’re aware.” She grins, nudging me with her elbow. “I can’t wait to be back in school. Sex is not easy these days—”

“Too much sharing. I don’t want to know all the places you guys do it.”

Upon pulling into the driveway my door is opened before Kendall turns off the engine. Normally, this would startle me, but I already know who it is.

“You never texted me,” Max accuses, sticking his head through the open door.

“Hi, Max.” Kendall calls, retracting her keys. “Good to see you too!”

He looks up to her and grins. “Hey, Kendall, Jameson’s waiting for you inside.”

“Are we being used for one of their sexcapades?”

“Indeed. Want to go get ice cream?”

I turn to Kendall who’s checking her reflection in the rearview mirror with the biggest grin I’ve seen on her face since Jameson and Max left. “Have fun!” I sing, climbing out.

Max pulls me into a hug before I can get both of my legs fully out of the car, squeezing me tightly to his chest. “God, it’s good to see you.”

“But you obviously had fun. So much fun we didn’t hear from either of you.” I remind him as he frees me from his vice grip.

Max shakes his head and wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. “We lost reception the first day after being out just over two hours.”

“I’m glad. I was worried you guys found like Megalodon or something.”

“The giant extinct shark that hunted blue whales?” he asks me curiously.

“Oh, Ace, you’ve finally found someone that speaks you’re language.” I turn to see Kendall hasn’t left. She laughs at the expression I give her, which from the way I feel likely resembles something along the lines of ‘shut up, Kendall.’

Max and I spend the evening together as he tells me about the trip and the ocean, reminiscing about the swells and the scent, the colors and the differences and similarities between here and Alaska.

I love listening to Max and watching him transition from deep and thoughtful to silly and animated as he recounts their run in with the Mexican border patrol, laughing as he discredits Jameson’s claim of speaking Spanish explaining he only knows produce translations.

We spend the next few days glued to one another, and it feels a lot like right before he left on his trip, except for the fact that there are even more brushes of our arms and hands, more glances and smiles, and although I’m about to go crazy trying to decipher what Max is feeling, I also feel reluctant for anything to change because as lame as it is, I’m willing to accept anything Max is willing to give me, and I don’t want to potentially lose any of it.

I’d like to think my breakup with Eric inspired Jenny, because the following week she announces that she’s leaving Paul and asks my parents if she and Lilly can move back home, which my parents are beyond ecstatic about. Caulder, Kyle, and my dad plan a moving day, and arrange for boxes and hauling, and somewhere in the midst of their planning Jameson, Max, and Landon all get involved as well. A small piece of my heart will forever be with each of them, as it feels like they’re a part of our family now.

We’ve experienced uncharacteristically large amounts of rain this summer, something we Southern Californians don’t handle particularly well. I’m sure people around the country would laugh if they knew how excess rain literally immobilizes our city. Thus when Sunday arrives and the clouds and weather forecast promise rain, it isn’t even falling before half the family has called to cancel. Once the storm warnings start running over the TV and our phones, the rest of the family cancels as well.

“I sure hope the boys are bringin’ their appetites tonight,” Mom says, returning to the den where Kendall, Dad, and I are watching a movie. “Jenny just called, she said she and Lilly are going to stay another night and will drive back in the morning.”