Page 160 of Summer After Summer

Hi.

Hello.

What are you doing?

Eating breakfast. You?

Thinking about you.

Oh?

Eight is a long time away.

It is.

What if we didn’t wait that long?

I smile.

What did you have in mind?

Long shot, but … Do you have your bracelet here?

Our bracelet?

Yes.

Yes.

J

Did you just send me an emoji?

It’s been known to happen.

Why did you ask about the bracelet?

Can you put it on?

Hold please.

I go into my bedroom, and fish around in my jewelry box until I find it. No matter how mad I’ve been at Fred over the years, I’ve never been able to let it go. My engagement ring is in this box too, but I avoid it. Ending things with Wes over the phone or by text seems cruel. I’ll do it when I get home.

I put it on and snap a picture of the bracelet around my wrist and text it to him.

Perfect, he writes. So, about tonight …

Yes?

I could come over now?

My stomach flutters. Is that what I want? Why did I ask him to come at eight anyway? To have a day to back out?

Okay, yes.

J

Ha!

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