Page 25 of The Other Side of Apart

The guy acted like I was interrupting his private moment, so I’d taken out my Sharpie and written on a blank bill: “Big, fat tip, Gramps: get the hell away from my wife.”

I’d laid it on the table, walked away, and watched as the guy, being all chivalrous, checked the bill. And bolted.

“He was sitting inmyseat, hitting onmywife. Should I have done something other than mess with him?” I roll toward her, smiling down at her. “Gotta give it to him, though—I fully get why he couldn’t resist you.”

She pinches my stomach under my shirt, and I yelp. I grab her hand and kiss it, running my thumb over the $100 infinity ring that’s been on her finger for five whole days, and she says she’ll never replace it. We’ll see. Pulling the Sharpie out of my pocket, I turn her arm over and write a three-word inside joke on her wrist. I smile as she reads it and laughs, shocked I’d write it in a visible place, but I catch her eye.

“I can’t believe how lucky I am,” I tell her with my eyes, tracing her eyebrows with my fingertip, down her nose, memorizing her face. “I don’t care if we’re in a rathole—I get to spend every single day and every single night with you from now on, and I can’t get over that.” I lace our fingers together and hold them to my chest. “There’s only one of you, and I got her.”

We stare at each other, watching memories from the last few days play through our eyes. “Sorry I can’t give you five-star hotels right now, but someday I will. I mean, a week ago we were wondering if we’d ever get out of Seattle and warehouses and restaurants. And here we are.”

She holds my head in her hands. “I’m feeling pretty great about it.”

The sirens whining outside the drafty window and a door slamming a few rooms down can’t slip between us—there are too many memories and plans taking up the space. Lots of hope. Big dreams. “But someday Mei, I’m gonna buy you the biggest rock so everyone will see you’re taken, so I don’t have to chase off old guys. Or young ones. And I’m gonna make all the stuff we’ve talked about happen, I promise. We’re not starting out perfect,but I’m promising you in this nasty motel room in front of all the bed bugs and viruses and bacteria present, I’m gonna give you perfection.”

CHAPTER 12

Istare at the sidewalk and only the sidewalk as I walk back from the store, hoping my big sunglasses and Marcus’s hoodie will be enough of a disguise if, for some reason, Nick happens to drive through Stanford campus on his way out of San Francisco. It’s a stupid, irrational thought, but my senses have been in overdrive since we arrived. Guo Mama’s words are on repeat in my head. We’re too close to San Francisco.

The hazy sun’s doing its best to break through the clouds while I hug a paper bag of groceries and wish Marcus was with me instead of at practice; I’ve been avoiding leaving the apartment by myself since we moved in three days ago, too afraid of what could be lurking on the other side of the door. But we needed something in our tiny kitchen; Marcus eats more in one day than I can in a week, and crackers, cheese, and bananas won’t be enough to keep him alive another day. So, I talked myself through my irrational thoughts, grabbed $100 from our emergency envelope, and went to the store where I might have splurged on a few extras. Hopefully, having his favorite protein shakes magically appear in our pantry will keep Marcus from crashing after practice. He’s been so tired from late nights and early mornings, but my days have dragged without him. By thetime he gets home, I’ve got enough energy for both of us, eager to do all the fun stuff we’ve discovered during the last week.

I trudge up the stairs and balance the bag of groceries on my knee as I pull out my keys, fumbling them into the lock. I step inside at the same time Marcus jumps out from behind the door, yelling “Surprise!” I scream, dropping to the floor with the bag of groceries and covering my face.

He drops beside me, apologizing through his laughter, and I punch his arm as hard as I can, releasing the surge of fear.

“Ow…” He rubs his arm as he straightens. “What was that for?”

His eyes are mischievous, which only make me angrier. I punch him again and stand. “I almost had a heart attack.”

He stands up, too. “Yeah, well…” He steps closer, backing me against the wall. “I’m calling campus police because I was minding my own business behind the door in my apartment when a crazy girl with dark intentions broke in. I can see them in her eyes…” He pins me against the wall with his hips, and I laugh into his chest, releasing the anger and fear swirling inside me. I melt into him, relief washing away my anger, and when I look up, his mouth crashes into mine, his lips guiding me to my tiptoes.

“Thing is, even though she’s crazy, I’m totally in love with her and can’t wait to spend all day with her,” he says against my lips.

I pull back. “What happened to practice?”

“I told Coach I had other things I wanted to practice.”

I pinch his stomach, and he flinches, then smiles. “Or…Coach called it early today. Which means we get to celebrate the holiday.”

“What holiday?”

Marcus squints at me, his best attempt at disgust. “I can’t believe you don’t know the significance of this day.” Hisfingertips trickle down my sides to my hips, and my breath hitches, but I manage a whisper.

“Julysixth?” I wait. “Am I missing something?”

“Definitely.”

“Tell me.”

Marcus leans in, his lips on my ear, and his hands slip under my shirt. “Mei-day!”

I wind my arms around his neck, encouraging him. “You’re two months late.”

“Any day I have no practice is Mei-Day. Mei Li Miller Day, any time, any month. And it’s my favorite.”

I close my eyes as his hands and lips wander. “And how…do people celebrate…this special…made-up holiday?” My mind swims, his fingertips leaving sparking trails on my skin.

“I’ll show you, but first, the rules.”

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