“I wantedtopark—”
“It’s okay. I need to run in anyway,” I gritted out, staring at the dashboard. I swallowed. “Will you give me a hug outside atleast?”
He grunted, opening his door and getting out before I’d even undone my seat belt. By the time I closed my door, he’d already pulled my suitcase and bag out, stacking one on top of the other. I took him in, every single inch I’d seen the night before. With his hands fisted at his sides, I could tell Aaron was breathing hard from the way his shirt hugged his chest. I took my time trailing my gaze higher up until it landed on those features I’d think of all the time. He was watching me, the saddest smile I’d ever seen on his face, because it was filled with so much affection and love. It cracked my heartinhalf.
“Come here,” he said, holding one handtowardme.
I went. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and I hugged him like I’d never see him again. His mouth was at my ear as he squeezed me to him, like he was trying toconjoinus.
“I’d take you with me I could, Ru, but have fun with your dad,” he said, nuzzling me as his hand made a trail up and down my spine. “We’ll make this work. Ipromise.”
* * *
Ididn’t cryon the plane ride, and I didn’t cry when my mom drove up to the arrivals section of the airport and then talked my ear off the entire ride back home, telling me all about Jasmine going to train with her coach againfinally.
I didn’t cry when I got into my room that nighteither.
But when I lay down in bed, this feeling of missing Aaron like crazy hit me right in the solarplexus.
And then, I did cry. Just a little. Two little tears. But they wereenough.
Ruby:I feel like I have the flu. Tell me somethingfunny.
I texted Aaron, using some of the same words he’d used on mebefore.
Thirty seconds later, a response from himcamein.
Aaron:Why didn’t the toilet paper crosstheroad?
I didn’t get a chance to reply before another message from himcamein.
Aaron:Bc it got stuck in acrack
Ten seconds after, my phone chimedagain.
Aaron:Have I told you today how happy I am you got stuckwithme?
And how could I be sadafterthat?
Epilogue
May17,2012
10:03a.m.
Aaron:Morning
Ruby:Morning
Aaron: Feeling anybetter?
Ruby: No. I just took my temperature and it’s back up to 101again.
Aaron: Take someaspirin
Ruby: Already did. I found the bottle on the nightstand next to thethermometer.
Ruby: Thank youforthat.
