Page 12 of All Your Tomorrows

“It was crazy,” I said to Izzy on speakerphone. The fire in the fireplace crackled as I pulled the throw blanket around me, trying to get warm as I filled Izzy in on Kyler.

“Are you gonna go there on Monday?” Izzy asked.

“I have to. He needs to try to get inside.”

“What’s he look like?”

A vision of him played in my mind’s eye. His green eyes mirrored tropical waters. His lips looked like he was grinning about something only he knew. His strong arms still felt as if they’d branded my skin.

“Your silence speaks volumes,” Izzy said, interrupting my thoughts. “What’s his name? I’m looking him up.”

“Kyler Fletcher.”

She was quiet for a minute and then she said, “Holy shit.”

“Yeah.”

She laughed. “Yeah.”

There was a knock on my door.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Someone’s here,” I whispered.

“It’s almost midnight,” she said loudly. “Who is it?”

“Shhhh,” I whispered as I pulled off my blanket.

“Well? Who is it?” she repeated.

“Shhhh,” I whispered as I crept over to the window and peeked out. Kyler stood on my front steps. “It’s him.”

“Well, go let him in.Wait. Can’t he walk through walls?”

Realizing what he was doing, I smiled. He was being respectful by not barging in on me. “I’ll call you later.” I didn’t give her time to respond before I disconnected the call and opened the door.

“How long were you gonna make me wait out here?” he asked.

“Don’t pretend you can feel the cold.”

A soft chuckle slipped past his lips.

“Thanks for respecting my privacy,” I said, moving to the side to let him in.

He moved by me into my living room.

I closed the door and locked it. “You okay?” I asked as I turned to face him.

“You mean after finding out I’ve been in a coma for a year?”

I winced. “I’m so sorry. That was a stupid question.”

“I’m joking, Nora,” he said as he sat down on my sofa where he’d slept the night before. “You can relax.”

I released a silent breath. “Did you see your dad? Or Melanie?”

“I saw my dad for just a minute. I could tell he didn’t like being in that room with what’s left of me. And Melanie came for a couple of hours. But most of the time she was on her phone. I guess she just likes being there with me.”

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