Page 60 of Meet Me Back Here

“Look inside,” I urge.

He flips the cuff inside out to reveal more.

Myrtle Street Treehouse

I also included the year he moved here and next year, when he’ll move away.

“You made this?” he asks, still looking at the little letters almost reverently.

“I did. I know they’re not perfect, but you should have seen the first try I practiced with.” I chuckle, remembering the illegible knots I’d made in the scrap of fabric.

We’ve talked a lot about college over the last few months as we’ve picked which schools to apply for—all the same ones. We poured over countless websites, trying to select places that have the programs we both want—writing and design of some kind—and that are financially feasible. It’s probably codependent, but we’re determined to stick together. We just need the gods and admissions agents to get on board.

Then we’ll leave here together, go somewhere new, and be whoever we want to be. Together.

I’ll get to come back on breaks, but after Forrest starts school in the fall, his mom is going to sell the house and downsize to an apartment. I think keeping up with the property by herself has been tough. It’s also a lot of space for one person, even with Forrest coming back for summers. I want him to know this place will always be his.

Ours.

“They are perfect,” Forrest argues. “Thank you.”

He wraps an arm around me, pulling me to his side until my head falls to his shoulder. I close my eyes when I feel that rush in my chest that’s been happening around Forrest more and more lately. I ignore it, but when I breathe in, I smell his body wash, spicy and deep. Snow and pine don’t hold a candle to that.

There’s a quick honk downstairs. That’ll be Ashley telling Forrest it’s time to head over to their dad’s place for his portion of Christmas. But Forrest doesn’t make any move to leave.

“Don’t you have to go?” I ask, lifting my head to look at him. His eyes are closed.

“Just one more minute,” he murmurs, and I lean back into him.

It feels like Christmas magic.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

hey siri, play “whatcha say”

PRESENT

It’s a full house at Melina’s apartment when we get there around noon on Thanksgiving. In addition to Cristian and Ava, Ava’s boyfriend Liam, Melina and Cristian’s youngest sibling Santi, and their mother Linda are in the main area when we walk in.

The space is crowded and loud and happy and everything you want on Thanksgiving. Santi and Cristian are yelling at the soccer game on television while Liam’s head bounces back and forth between them, as he seemingly struggles to keep up. Ava tries in vain to corral them to help her clear and set the table, and I hope they start listening soon or she’s going to pick up one of the wooden spoons for serving and smack them with it.

Linda scoops me and Forrest up in a warm hug, kissing my cheekbone before I even have a chance to introduce Forrest. In her eyes, I brought him, so he’s welcome, no matter who he is. Everybody is her family today.

She even kisses Forrest’s cheek when he hands her the flowers we brought. I can see the pink stain from her lipstick on his skin when I slip into the kitchen to drop off the pie and wine we picked up on the way over. I make a mental note to check my own face before heading back out there.

Melina follows me into the kitchen, grabbing my arm the second I set down our additions to dinner and pulling me to the stove where a tall and beautiful woman with straight black hair is stirring something that smells spicy and smoky. A quick glance in the pan tells me it’s Melina’s special chorizo-based stovetop stuffing, and my mouth starts watering. She’s made it for me before, but I’ve never been given the honor of being allowed to help with its creation.

“Camilla, this is Jenna,” Melina introduces me to the important woman she’s entrusted her stuffing to. “Jenna, Camilla.”

From chatting with Melina at line dancing, I know Jenna is her girlfriend who she shares this apartment with, and from one look at the expression on Melina’s face, I’ve got a feeling Jenna is it for Melina.

Without stopping her stirring, Jenna pulls me to her in a one-armed hug. Oh yeah, she’ll fit in with the Ruiz family perfectly.

“Camilla, it’s so good to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I want to hear as many stories about you as you have about me,” I say as we separate.

I like Jenna immediately. Her voice is warm, and her eyes are kind. Her hug tells me she’s somebody who knows love. Melina deserves that.