Page 62 of Only the Small Bones
Even the position of our hands was accurate. I remembered he’d brought my palms to his cheeks. I reached into my pocket for my phone.
Me:It’s beautiful. No one’s ever done anything like this for me. Thank you.
Xavier’s past overtures were on a grander scale. A night out at the opera. Dinners at Masa and nightcaps at The Pierre. None of it ever hit the mark. He’d been trying to win a prize that wasn’t his to attain.
I’d stared at the spot Ryan and I kissed in before driving off, trying to record everything to memory. I no longer had to. It was all right here.
I traced his bare, lean arms, pausing when a thought occurred to me. I picked up my phone again.
Me:Maybe next time draw yourself in a coat.
He sent three laughing emojis before a message came through.
Ryan:At least I remembered to pour water over your coat when you went to the bathroom.
I howled with laughter, falling back onto the couch pillows.
Me:I wondered why it hadn’t dried even a little bit in all that time. If anything it seemed more wet. You could’ve gotten us both sick.
I got a frowning face emoji after that.
Ryan:I know. I wasn’t thinking. When will I see you again?
Me:I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s such a good idea to make a habit of hanging out at Safe Haven.
My finger hovered over the screen as I considered whether or not to go through with my suggestion.Screw it.
Me:Maybe next time you can come to my place.
I’d been about to add “no pressure,” but his reply came through at lightning speed.
Ryan:Tomorrow.
I grinned hard before checking my calendar to see if tomorrow was open. Other than my morning run, I was free.
Me:Tomorrow works. Just let me know what time to pick you up.
Ryan:Can I let you know in the morning? I need to finish my vision board for next week. Dr. Shwartz thinks creating a visual of my short term goals helps me to reach them. I keep the boards mounted on the wall next to my bed.
I loved this idea, and considered doing the same myself moving forward. I also couldn’t help wondering if I was ever on his board.
Me:What was on your board for this week?
Ryan:Touch.
I reclined on the couch sporting a goofy smile.
Me:Touching me?
Ryan:Yes.
Five eye-roll emojis accompanied his reply, and I doubled over, chuckling until I couldn’t breathe. We texted our goodbyes, then I headed for the library to get started on my tasks for the evening.
I carried his sketch with me, adding it to the pile I’d already collected in my desk drawer. There was the one he’d made when we took our first run together, the one of the autumn leaves, and the ones I’d snuck out of the trash bin when he wasn’t looking.
Closing the drawer, I got down to my first order of business. I called my agent.
“William,” Mihaela said upon answering. “I was just about to call you.”
