Page 8 of Anytime I Want

Speaking of, can that be the ball you dance at?

Julia:

No. You have to figure that one out. They all have to be done by Christmas. That’s a week later. Sorry. No dice.

Wanna give up now?

Graham

I never quit.

Julia:

. . .

Graham

Well, not when it’s something this important. Watch out, Princess Jules. Your Boyfriend Charming is coming.

After a minute or two of waiting, I text again.

Graham

Just making sure. Any order I want?

Julia

Graham.

Graham

Deal. Any order. Stay tuned.

“Okay. Any order. And the ball can’t be the charity gala. I asked.”

“Duh. That’s after Christmas. You said it had to be completed by Christmas.” Nathan shakes his head. “Okay, so first, go to the store and buy Tootsie Pops. Those are her favorites. Hug her when she’s scared? Those ones are weirdly specific as well as being entirely vague. Take her to see the lights? Like Rapunzel? Where do we do that? And a magic carpet ride? That’s not a real thing.”

“Well, she didn’t explicitly state the lantern lights like in the movie…” I say, looking off into the distance, thinking hard.

“What? What are you thinking of?”

“Think we can kill two birds with one stone?” I ask, excited. “When’s the next meteor shower?

Chapter 6

Nine Years Earlier - Julia

“Nathan! Please! I want to watch Aladdin!” I whine, sticking out my bottom lip in a pout I know Nathan is powerless against.

“But I don’t want to! Can’t we watch something else? Anything else that’s not about love?” Nathan wrinkles his nose as if love is personally offensive to him.

“Please, please, please! We can watch a sports movie or superhero something next!”

Nathan sighs, way too old for his seven-year-old self. “Sure. Let’s watch Aladdin.”

Right as Aladdin offers Jasmine a ride on a magic carpet, Graham barges in the front door. “What are we watching?” He glances at the screen. “Ugh. Aladdin! This isn’t even the good part.”

“Is too!” I demand. “This is the best part. One day, a boy will take me on a magic carpet ride. We’ll fall in love and live happily ever after!”

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