Page 79 of A Slice of Love

The thought slams into me, and Ihaveto say it. Ineedto tell him.

I pull open the door, ready to race down the hall after him, but I stop short of running smack into Jonas for a second time.

“I love you!” I blurt.

He laughs, hauling me into his arms again. “I know you do, Frank. I know.”

I bury my face in his neck, inhaling the scent that’s purely him, committing it to memory.

“Meet me at the 50-yard line?” he whispers.

“I’m already there waiting for you.”

A Slice of the Future

Frankie

JONAS:Missing you bad tonight. I’m sorry I can’t be there for our one-year anniversary. Should have planned this shit better.

ME:Yeah you should have.

JONAS:Hey! You’re supposed say you miss me too.

ME:You know I do.

JONAS:How much? Like read our notebook kind of much? You’ve been saving it for tonight, haven’t you?

ME:How’d you know?

JONAS:Because you never commented on any of my witty anecdotes. And because you always save them for nights you’ll need them.

ME:Whatever. I’m starting it now, so hush.

JONAS:How are you so sassy from so far away?

ME:It’s a gift. Now zip it.

JONAS:Yes ma’am!

Ismile down at my phone.

I haven’t seen Jonas in three weeks now, and somehow, it feels like a lifetime.

Stupid when you consider the fact that we once went four years without each other.

Since he left for Colorado last year to start his career, we’ve made a point to see each other at least every other month. It’s a little hectic to schedule—and a little heavy on my budget—but we do it anyway because we can’t seem to get enough of each other.

Each time Jonas shows up on a Friday and leaves on a Sunday, he drops our notebook onto my hallway table just before he leaves, and each time, I save it for a day when I’ll really need it.

Like tonight. Our one-year anniversary.

I still can’t believe we’ve been together for a whole year now, let alone the fact that we’ve spent all of it doing the long-distance thing.

But that’s coming to an end soon. I hope.

My dad is doing a lot better than he was. He even got to ring the bell three months ago.

I would have jumped on a plane to be with Jonas that day, but I was offered a promotion at work that I couldn’t pass up.

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