Until the Sun Burns Out by Amber Garza Read Free Book Online

liked to think she was, since she’d had those two boyfriends. But that was in junior high, and since then neither of us had very many opportunities to practice. Seemed like now was my big chance.
    I only hoped I didn’t blow it.
    “The park is just around this corner,” Austin explained as we followed the bend in the road. A car zipped past, its tires buzzing on the asphalt, and I realized that it was the first car I’d seen since we started walking. Sometimes it felt like time stood still here. Like I’d entered some alternate reality.
    “You’ve really come here every summer since you were four?”
    He nodded, a sparkle in his eyes.
    “And you stay the entire summer?” When he nodded again, I asked, “How is that possible? I mean, don’t your parents have jobs?”
    “They’re teachers.” He didn’t sound too happy about that.
    Deciding not to pursue that topic, I said, “Do you like coming here?”
    He pursed his lips as if thinking. “Yeah. I mean, sometimes I miss home. It’s gotten a little harder on me as I’ve gotten older. Knowing I’m missing out on all the stuff my friends are doing, you know?” He paused, his gaze scanning the area. “But I can’t complain. An entire summer living at the beach isn’t exactly roughing it.”
    “True.” The park came into view, and fresh moisture gathered on my palms. I gripped the ball tighter against my side. So tight it caused the elastic on my shorts to cut into my skin. “It’s definitely different from home.”
    “Where are you from?”
    “Oregon. You?”
    “Colorado,” he said, as we came upon a large soccer field. Beyond it was a playground. A few kids were running around it, their parents following at their heels.
    I didn’t know much about Colorado. I’d never been there. So I simply nodded.
    “Here we are.” He spread his arms out in front of him. “This place will forever go down in history as the place where you lose to me in soccer.”
    I chuckled, dropping the ball in the grass by my feet.
    “So, how are we gonna play this?” He asked.
    Cocking my head to the side, I shoot him an incredulous look. “So Mr. Bigshot over here doesn’t know how to play one-on-one soccer, huh?”
    “I know how to play. I just thought you should do the honors since you’re the expert and all.”
    Shaking my head, I giggled.
    “Are we gonna play or are you gonna stand around laughing?”
    To shut him up, I kicked the ball between his legs.
    “Whoa. Wait,” he hollered as I wove around him, making a beeline for the ball.
    “Are you gonna play or are you gonna stand around yappin’?” Bringing my leg back and then sweeping it forward, the toe of my shoe connected with the ball, sending it flying right into the goal. When it slammed into the net, I pinned him with an I-told-you-so-look. “It appears that someone needs to work on his game.” With a smile, I headed toward the ball.
    “That’s not fair. We hadn’t even established the rules.” He threw up his arms in exasperation.
    Snatching the ball out of the grass, I painted on my most serious face. “I thought you said you knew how to play.”
    “Fine.” Rubbing his palms together, he leaned forward. “Let’s do this.”
    Now that I had the upper-hand, my confidence lifted. Dropping the ball to the ground, I kicked it toward him and took off running.
     
    ***
     
    “I guess I should start calling you “soccer girl” instead of “summer girl,” huh?” We sat at the kitchen table at my dad’s house sucking down water like we’d spent the day in the desert. Dad was still working in his office, and Luca was finally in his room getting dressed. At least that’s what I assumed he was doing. When we got home he was still on the couch playing video games. The minute he spotted us he got embarrassed about being in his pajamas, so he paused the game and scurried down the hallway.
    Reaching for the freezing cold water bottle, I took a sip. Sweat clung to my skin like a wet bathing