Page 7 of The Now in Forever
I laugh. “And I missed it trying to make good time.”
Our gazes meet, and the hairs on my arms stand at attention.
“I’m Ed.”
“We’ve met.” That’s not what I meant to say. I blame the long drive, the lack of coffee, the shock of seeing Ed after all these years. If he didn’t remember me at the book signing three years ago, what makes me think he would remember me now?
Ed smiles, that quirky, irresistible lopsided smile that makes him look up to no good. “We have, haven’t we?”
The tingles are back, like the pins and needles from my drive, but this is full body. We have.We have?
A cute little wrinkle appears on Robin’s forehead as she asks, “Really?”
I toggle back and forth. What time should I bring up? The book event? Or should I bring upthat day?Gulping wine, I make a quick decision. “Yeah, at one of your signings.”
Ed’s brow furrows as he runs a hand through his hair. “Oh?”
“In Helena. You were a great speaker. I loved the book, too.”
He mutters, “Thanks,” and turns to his phone.
It’s like watching a garage door close, the light within slowly blocked out. I want to take it back, rewind the last part of this interaction, and do it over. Should I have brought up the day we shared together? Is that what he was thinking?
There’s a beat of silence.
“I’m starving,” Nathan says, rubbing his completely flat belly.
“Alright.” Robin nuzzles closer into Nathan’s side than looks to me. “Are you hungry, Hattie?”
Am I hungry? I can’t tell. My body has gone into some kind of shock. I’m going to spend the summer with Ed.
“You guys go ahead. I need to wash that drive off. I’ll meet you there in a bit.”
“Rad.” Nathan smiles. “Let me help you with your bags.”
I throw Nathan the keys to my car. Robin shows me up the rich walnut stairs. The third one from the top creaks in a way that reminds me of Grandma’s farmhouse. Her whole floor creaks at this point, not just the stairs.
“So,” Robin purrs, “you went to Ed’s signing?”
“I did.” And it was a disaster, I think but don’t say.
But him not recognizing me wouldn't mean anything to Robin. She doesn’t know he’s the man fromthat day. She and Anh know almost everything else about it.Almost.I didn’t want to share his name, though. At the time, I didn’t want to know if they already knew himfrom school or something. I didn’t want to tell them his name and hear “oh yeah, he asked me to a dance in middle school” or “he’s a dick that hits on all the girls.” As we got older, I didn’t tell them because I didn’t want them Googling him or sending a DM on my behalf. I kept his name close to my chest, like a precious locket. I kept it just for myself.
“Yeah…” I answer, still deciding what to share.
Robin stops for a moment. “This is the bathroom. Straight across the hall is the linen closet. The large striped ones are beach towels, and the blue ones are for the bath. There’s another bathroom downstairs, too.”
I’m only half listening. Part of me is dying to tell Robin about Ed now. I clear my throat as she leads me down the hall. “You know that bookstore I worked at in New Haven?”
“Of course. Neighborhood Books. I went there the last time I visited my folks.”
“Do you remember me telling you about my first day?—”
“You mean the day you spent with your mystery man?” She opens the door at the end of the hall. “I thought this room would be perfect for you.”
I step inside. The evening sun is shimmering through the bay window, catching the glass butterfly hanging in the center pane and throwing rainbows on the opposite wall. There’s a window seat with lush velvet jewel-tone pillows. The walls are painted light blue, and in the corner by another window is a small white writing desk with a roll top cover. A lush white comforter covers the bed along with more velvet throw pillows. It’s beautiful. Calm and luxurious. “I love it.”
“What were you saying about the bookstore?”
