Chapter 22: Incident at the Water Park

The thing about dating a college professor is that it's hard to keep it a secret. When I was six-years-old, Evie and I had all the secrets in the world to ourselves. But the thing about being six is that at some point you have to grow up.

I don't know when I grew up and secrets became harder, but this is a secret I'm so sick of keeping. This secret eats me alive from the inside out. It's hard to love someone so much and know that if I kiss them in public it could damn their career. Maybe it would be better to let Blake go. I wonder if he'll let me go.

If he let me go, I think he'd be forced to. It's apparent to me that he cares a great deal for me. His affection for me is fleeting. Like the fall leaves that change with the seasons. The fall leaves are beautiful when they're in full bloom but at some point the leaves come off and the bones of the tree are shown.

I don't want to be a boned tree yet. When my leaves fall off, then my relationship will be revealed. Leaves cover a tree and