Page 181 of Falling Backwards
Emma is nodding big again and again, looking like she’s in food heaven.
Oh, my friends.I love them so damn much.
And I love that they really do support me and Luke.When we left my bedroom this morning, Joy was puttering around the kitchen and Emma was shuffling out of the bathroom, but they both perked up at the sight of us and then grinned and clapped when we told them our news.
Here and now, I shift a smile between the girls, then tell them, “I’m thankful for both of you no matter what day of the year it is.”
Each of them goes soft in expression.Joy presses a hand to her chest and instantly looks watery-eyed.
It makes me feel more emotional, too, as I add to them, “I love you both.”
Just like that, they’re setting down what they’re holding and scraping up out of their chairs.I copy them and we all meet in a tight hug.
“I love you both, too, so much,” Emma tells us.
“So do I,” Joy says.“And I’m thankful for you no matter what day it is too.”
“Same, times infinity.”
I squeeze them as hard as I can.They do the same to me.
Blessings, each of them.
—
Before I know it, it’s early on Tuesday afternoon.My friends have left town and I’m waiting for Luke to come pick me up from my apartment.It’s time to kick off me staying with him for the next few days.
Since I have to work in a little while, I’ve gotten dressed for that, then triple-checked that I’ve packed everything I’ll need.While we were texting this morning, I said I’d like to make sure we won’t have to come back over here for anything and he told me not to worry about something so silly, but he had to know that wouldn’t talk me out of it.
I also received a short visit from Huck and Harleigh Merritt, which was a pleasant surprise; even though they live across the hall, it’s been a while since I’ve talked to either of them.The place to find them is usually at the bar, but obviously I’ve stayed away from there lately, and even when the girls and I cross paths with them there in normal times, they’re always too busy to talk for long.Today it was great to spend a few minutes hearing about their holiday plans, catching them up on Kyle and thanking them for having my back about him, letting them know how my friends are, and getting a sneak peek of information about fun end-of-year events they’re planning for the bar.
Now that I’m officially the only one in the apartment and there isn’t much of anything for me to focus on, everything feels eerily empty, still, quiet.Seems like the cold outside is seeping its way indoors despite that the thermostat is set on a comfortable temperature.
I know it would feel different if the plan were for Luke to stay here; he would liven things up the moment he arrived.Still, I’m looking forward to us staying at his place.Since making our plan, I’ve found myself comforted by the memory of being there and the prospect of going back.It’ll be nice to be in his space again.
Talk about him livening things up around here—the mere thought of him seems to brighten the cloudy daylight filling the apartment, seems to ward away that creeping cold just a bit.
Then a happy tune of a knock comes at the front door, and my stomach flips with excitement and relief that he’s here.I check the peephole out of habit and see him on the other side and can’t help grinning as I open the door.
He grins back at me without a moment’s pause, happiness and warmth radiating from him.
He livensmeup.
—
“All right,” Luke says as he shuts us out of his apartment.“Got your sleepover stuff brought in, got my list of what to buy at the grocery store, you’re all set to go to work….”
The first two points are exciting.The third…not so much.I wish I were getting ready to spend more time with him rather than getting ready to be taken to Lucent—God, am I in no mood to be away from him.But after this midday shift, I’ll getlotsof time with him.I mean, I work tomorrow, too, but so does he, so we’ll be in the same place even if that place isn’t here.
He turns away from the door and starts going down the stairs.“I’m forgetting something I need to do.”
While I follow him, I think.While I think, I say pointedly, “Guess what’s good for not forgetting things you need to do.”
He considers that only for a second, and then his chuckles and their white puffs of warmth hit the cold air.“The Reminders function on my phone?”
I chuckle, too, in confirmation.
He says, “How strange that you mentioned it one time in passing and looking into it still slipped my mind.Ordinarily, I hang on every word you say.”
