The Summer of Broken Rules

It's one of those special places where you feel like time doesn't exist. Where it will always be summer, where I'll always wake up with you.

Claire never went anywhere without a book, and she’d taught me to do the same.

You are affectionate without even thinking about it. You let me talk for hours, and you listen for hours. You make me feel absolutely golden.

The sea air—I loved that smell. I’d missed that smell.

Taylor Swift’s early albums that summer, and there was this one song

And I do know how much you adore me,” he whispered. “I just wish it was as much as I adore you.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel!” I whisper-yelled. “Get your ass down here!

I know you don’t like hearing this,” I heard him say, “and I know I promised not to tell you, but you are pretty, Killer. You’re pretty, beautiful, stunning, mesmerizing.” He paused. “But that’s not all you are. You’re everything Claire said and more. Clever, funny, caring, lively, strong, brave—all of it. You are all of it.” He kissed the top of my head. “And I do know how much you adore me,” he whispered. “I just wish it was as much as I adore you.

I love you, Stephen. I adore you, but I love you even more.'I love you, too, Killer,' he'd said one night on the phone... 'I adore you, but I love you even more.

Of course, Sarah’s was not complete without quoting Taylor Swift, a line from the classic “Lover.

Imagine if I hadn’t gone to class five years ago.” He gestured to Sarah. “I could’ve missed my chance. She saw me that day. There were two hundred people in the room, and somehow, she saw me.” He shrugged. “Any other day, maybe she wouldn’t have. But she saw me, she did, and now here we are. Here we all are.” He glanced at Wit, then gave me a look. “Enough with this pretending nonsense. If you want him, go get him. Don’t miss your shot.” *

It was like Taylor Swift was coming to town.

I’ll tell you when I have my arms around you, he said.

Walking into the bookstore.” He sighed. “Which means he’s a reader, and whoever I date has to be a reader.

The sheets and pillows smelled like the sea and citrus. “Oranges,” I murmured. “My shampoo,” Wit murmured back. “I love oranges.” “So you love me.” I giggled. He hadn’t phrased it as a question, and for some reason—lack of sleep, probably—that made me giggle. Really giggle. “You have a nice laugh,” Wit commented. “A nice laugh?” I asked, giggles gone.

Wit was too smiley around me, and I found myself too smiley around him.

Okay,” the kid said when he had the camera positioned. “Smile.” And I did smile—a smile so filled with happiness, happiness I hadn’t been sure I’d ever be able to feel again.

Enough with this pretending nonsense. If you want him, go get him. Don’t miss your shot.

Let’s pretend that time doesn’t exist. Let’s pretend that this week isn’t ending. Let’s pretend that we will always be us—happy, sunburnt, and tangled up together.

Dammit, Wit!” Michael’s best man shouted. “It’s not even seven!” Pause. “But, like, good for you, man.

Let’s pretend that time doesn’t exist. Let’s pretend that this week isn’t ending. Let’s pretend that we will always be us—happy, sunburnt, and tangled up together. It would hurt. It would really hurt, but it would be wonderful, too—one last perfect day with him.

We danced the entire time and belted out Taylor Swift songs.

This place…” He trailed off to gaze up at the moon. “It’s one of those special places where you feel like time doesn’t exist. Where it will always be summer, where I’ll always wake up with you.

Your wicked,” I said. “You go wild for it,

He’s brought you back to us. The Farm and him. You’ve been in this sleepy haze this last year and a half—I know we all have—and I don’t think I’ve seen you so awake and alive since that awful day. When the two of you are together…” She shook her head.

Yes" I nodded. "That was Claire. She dazzled." She just had no idea she dazzled, what big things awaited her.

It slipped my mind,” Wit said as I traced the bridge of his nose. “I was busy.” “Yeah, being a serial killer.

I miss her too - we all do. My heart aches everyday. But being here this week, it's ached a little less. As impossible as it might sound. I feel her presence. I feel it all around us.

Sarah had introduced us to Taylor Swift’s early albums that summer, and there was this one song I played from dawn till dusk and even sang in the shower. I just couldn’t get enough of it. Now I hummed the tune softly as if I still listened to it daily.

But just like the sea air, there was nothing like the wind whipping through your hair as the island came into view.