Six years ago

“I can’t believe you’re going to be so far away. It’s going to be so weird not having you right down the hall.”

Avery tucks herself underneath my arm, and I squeeze her tight.

“Let’s be honest. When was the last time that I was actually down the hall?” I smirk, as she blushes, in true Avery fashion.

But in all honesty, the only time that I stay in my room or she stays in hers is the hours that her dad is awake.

Over the last six months, we have hidden our relationship from everyone. But that doesn’t mean that our relationship hasn’t grown.

I’ve pretty much fallen more and more in love with Avery every day if that’s even possible.

She is like the sun because I swear to God? My entire being orbits around her.

The thought of having to be away from her is damn near killing me, but I know that it’s necessary.

This has been the plan all along anyhow...I mean, a full-ride college scholarship had always been in the plans.

Hell, it had been my only plan.

The only problem with my plans? Is that I hadn’t planned on Avery.

When all of the offers came in, I had strongly considered a lower division school, so that I could stay close to her.

But she had been insistent, that I needed to make the best move for my future.

Because unlike anyone else I’ve ever had in my life?

Avery actually wants whats best for me...and not just what would benefit her the best.

Kentucky was the only Division 1 school that I received an offer from. And in order to achieve my goals, it was really the best decision that I could have made, accepting it.

Except it means that I’m going to be really fucking far away from the only person in my life who matters to me.

“It’s only eight hours.” She says, almost to herself, before flashing me a smile.

“Just think. When you come and pick me up for all of my breaks? We can have a massive karaoke fest in the car.”

“True.” She nods again, before sinking against me. “I’m going to have to make sure to download extra R Kelly songs.”

“Be prepared to pull over often then,” I smirk at her. “Because if you start singing fucking music? I’m gonna have to immediately fuck you.”

“So dirty.”

She reaches up to smack my chest, but I catch her hand and pull her tightly against me.

“I love you, Ave’s.”

She sighs, before sinking into me, resting her face against my chest as I stroke her hair.

We’ve been dancing around her leaving now for at least two hours. She’s gotten up to go, and we’ve said our goodbyes. But then just as fast, one of us is pulling the other back, and, well.

Here we are.

“I really should get going. I’ve got a long drive ahead of me.”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

Neither of us move an inch.

“You know this is only temporary, right?”

“Four years isn’t very temporary...”

“If I get offered something? I’m leaving school and taking it. I’m going to bust ass so that I can make that happen for us. I’m going to go pro, and then I’m taking you with me. Wherever I go, you’re coming with.”

“Well, don’t make any moves this year. I’m not really planning on adding high school drop out to my resume.”

“Deal.”

After another fifteen minutes, she finally pulls back.

“I really need to leave this time.”

“Right.”

I help her with her jacket, before taking her hand and walking with her out to the parking lot.

One of the bonuses to being on a sports scholarship is the housing.

No dorm room living for me.

I will be living in a big ass old house with the rest of the baseball team. Which means that we have our own parking lot, and we all have our own bedrooms.

“You can come and stay every weekend with me.”

“You already know I can’t come every weekend. No way can I think up places to be away to that often. And my dad would never let me come if he really knew where I was going.”

“Right.”

“Yeah.”

Her face falls once we get to her car. I reach down, putting one finger under her chin and forcing her to look up into my eyes.

“Talk to me, baby.”

She sighs, before pulling back slightly. “What do you think our chances are, Eric? IN all honesty...what do you think our percentage chance is of working out? Ten? Fifteen?”

“Are you fucking kidding me? What in the hell kind of question is that? And really, baby? Your percentages suck.”

“Do you even know that statistics for long distance relationships? I mean, like the percentages of couples that last? It’s pretty low.”

I stop in my tracks, before spinning her around to face me.

“What are you trying to say Ave’s?

“Nothing, it’s just...I don’t know.” She shrugs, before sighing hard and leaning into my chest. “It just feels like for the last six months, we’ve been living in our own little bubble. And now, the real world is calling. I just don’t want to lose you, that’s all.”

“We’re one hundred percent, Avery. And quit it with this kind of talk. Sure, maybe other peoples relationships haven’t worked out, but us? Baby...our love is different. And I’m not going to let you go. Ever.”

“But...”

“You know that this has always been the plan, baby. Always. This is the whole reason that your dad took me in, to begin with. To get my life on track, and grades on point so that I could get a baseball scholarship. The whole end game here is for me to go pro. And if that doesn’t work out, at least I’ll have a college education to fall back on. For a guy like me, Avery, I don’t have a lot of options. I don’t have a plan B. This is it for me.”

“I know. I know. It’s just...I’m scared.”

I force her eyes to meet mine.

“I love you, Avery Cooper. You are the only person in this whole damn world who I have ever loved. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I don’t care how much distance comes between us. You are the one thing in my life that I’m sure of. The only thing that matters to me. And I want to be able to give you the life that you deserve. What I’m doing here, it’s not just for me. It’s for us.”

“I know, Eric...you keep saying...”

“Big house, flashy car.” I grin down at her, as she rolls her eyes high and swats my stomach.

“Yeah, yeah. Heard that a few times too.”

“Big house, flashy car, big ass ring on my baby’s finger. Giving you any damn thing in the world that you want. That’s what I’m doing this for, don’t forget that. This is for you. It’s all for you.”

“I don’t need any of that stuff, Eric. I just need you.”

“And you’re still gonna have me. Always.”

Our eyes lock, as I pull her into me.

“Nothing is ever going to change how much I love you, Ave’s. Nothing. I don’t care how much distance is between us. You’re it for me. Remember that.”

I try to ignore the questioning look in her eye. She’s hesitant, and I know it. I also know that most relationships like ours don’t work out.

But those people do not have what Avery and I do. I love this woman, with every ounce of my being. And nothing in this entire damn world is going to change that.

So, she can go ahead and think what she wants to.

But as for me, I’m just going to focus on what I need to do in order to give her the kind of life that she deserves.