Sure, we were racking up credit card debt in the meantime, but we were both making an effort. We would get through this, for both of oursakes.
When I got home, I was more optimistic about my future than I had been in a long time. I wanted to call or text Gwen to tell her I was doing it. I wanted to tease her that she better watch her back because I’d be following her to BSU soon. Just as soon as I could get through the classes at the communitycollege.
It wasn’t until I made it all the way to the front door of my house that I saw the note taped to it. On it was a single sentence written in familiarhandwriting.
Meet me on thetrampoline.
Was this some kind of joke? Why was it every time I had something good happen, it was ripped out from underneath me? Or, something equally bad happened to balance it out.I heard you were finally getting back on your feet after I left. Surprise!I’mback!
Damnit.
Katie’s timing was impeccable; I’d give her that. I walked around the side of the house, catalog in hand to see what she wanted. I’d let her say what she came here to say, but I didn’t think I could open myself up to her, not again. It was getting to be toopainful.
She was sitting on the trampoline with a thick blanket wrapped around her. It wasn’t mine, she must have brought it to stay warm while she waited. A white beanie covered her head. She had thought the weather was cold before she left, she must be absolutely freezing now. And we still had a long way to go before we hit the cold you felt all the way down to yourbones.
I was pissed because she looked even prettier than I remembered. Her nose was red from being out in the cold, but her face was bright. Her hair fell across her shoulders out from under her hat, begging me totouchit.
I could see her body shivered despite the fact it was still daylight and several layers of fabric covered her body. Fighting the urge to go to her and wrap my arms around her, I pretended I wasn’t imagining the other ways I wanted to warm her up. “What do you want, Katie?” I asked, keeping my voice bored even as my heartbeat picked up speed. I stayed at the edge on the trampoline, not bothering to climb upbesideher.
“I was hoping wecouldtalk.”
“There’s nothing to say.Youleft.”
“I’msorry.”
“I understand why youdidit.”
“But you don’t,” she argued. She pressed her tongue to that damned scar on her lip. The scar that had been there because of something that happened when we were kids. It wasmyscar. I hated myself in that moment for wanting tokissit.
“You saw me fighting with Marco and it freaked you out. You left without saying another word. Am I missinganything?”
She started crying at my harsh words. “I know. Julian, I just...” She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. “I just wanted to come and apologize. You’re right, I freaked out and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left. I should have let youexplain.”
“There’s nothing to explain. I told you, I get it.” The thing was, I did get it. I had just hoped Katie would be different. She hadtoldme she would bedifferent.
“That’snotfair.”
“Life’s not fair.” The words were so cliché but the sentiment remained true. I swore I heard a small growl come from Katie. I looked at her inquestion.
Instead of explaining herself, she nodded her head at my class catalog and changed the subject. “What’sthat?”
“Collegeclasses.”
“Are yougoing?”
“I start springsemester.”
“Julian!” She lit up. “That is so great. I’m so happyforyou.”
“Yeah, well, I decided I wasn’t ready to give up on my dream.” Ishrugged.
“I’m thinking about trying to go back too.” Why did she say that? I didn’t know if it meant she was here to stay. If she was tying up loose ends before going back to Florida, onceagain.
“That’s great,” I said in a tone that implied I didn’t really care. Her bodysagged.
“I heard about the diner,” she said changing the subject once again. Her voice was softer, as if she remembered things were still awkwardbetweenus.
“Katie, what are wedoing?”
