Page 90 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
His withdrawal didn’t hurt any less for its familiarity. My chest sank but I smiled and pretended nothing was wrong. “So did you. All that driving.”
“We both need to rest.”
If I were brave enough to risk rejection, I would have suggested he just rest here on the sofa.
The sofa, Luna? You’d offer up your bed and find a way to keep him there forever.
Glad to know my brain believed I was some obsessive psychopath. I got up in a rush, hoping it would stop me from saying too much. “Thanks again for . . .”For picking me up. For the flowers. For helping me cook. For the necklace. For the words. For being here. “For everything.”
He stood with the mangoes and chimes in hand. “Thank you too.” He gave me that half smile I loved. “For everything. Rain check on pusoy?”
I nodded.
Then I figured to hell with it. I stepped close to him for a hug, and he hesitated for the slightest second before wrapping his arms around me. The boxes nudged my back where he still heldthem, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was Gabe was here, and he was holding me. Not only that, he was letting me hold him too. The world could have crashed and burned around us and I wouldn’t have noticed.
Forget about reaching the moon—he’d launched me clear over it. And I never wanted to come back down.
chapter twenty-eight
gabe
Luna
I’m drying the flowers you gave me so I can keep them longer.
Gabe
What’s your favorite?
Luna
Among the ones you gave? I don’t know all their names
Gabe
In general.
Luna
Kalachuchi. I just looked it up—apparently it’s called plumeria here!
Gabe
Why that?
Luna
We used to have a kalachuchi tree near our house. We kept climbing it as kids while Lola laughed at us
It’s supposed to signify death but it reminds me of happy memories. Plus I love how it’s simple but pretty. I know that sounds weird
Gabe
Not at all.
She was spendingtimewith that boy again. Kai.
Sitting on a bench outside the university store, Luna laughed at something he said, and he looked so damn proud of himself. As though humor could earn him a medal.
