Page 69 of Forever Yours

Dad left a folded stack of his button-up shirts for me to wear, and I grabbed the top one, exchanging it for the one I was currently wearing. The watch Julien gave me for our first Valentine’s together mocked me from the leather storage valet I had put it in.

“I never knew what true love was until I found you. – JJ”

The annoying voice of my conscience kept niggling until I gave in and retrieved my phone.

Okay. I could do this.

I’d begin with Ash’s messages first. Once I was done reading his and replying accordingly, I noticed David had texted.

David: We’re going to have a serious convo about you not telling me shit. I had to find out from Ash once again that you skipped town. WTF, blondie? Your ass better be okay. Call me.

I texted instead.

Me: I took Dad up on his offer to come home to recoup. My best friend flew down from NYC to visit. Staying thru the weekend. Sorry to worry you. I just needed a break. I’ll see you Sunday evening if you’re around.

Since I wasn’t sure what else to say to him, I opened a text from Jayson and saw the “I’m sorry.”

Nope. Couldn’t deal with that. Next.

Mr. Winters had left a voice message telling me my job would be there when I got back. Since I hadn’t gone into detail, only saying I had a family emergency, it was nice of him to be so chill about things. It also helped lift my spirits. I hadn’t lost the swim instructor job.

My thumb hovered over the screen as I debated whether or not to open the messages Julien had sent me.

Fuck it.

I tapped onSexyBoyfriend.

The last message was from three hours ago, and there was a video attached.

SexyBoyfriend: Thinking of you. Missing you. Loving you always. Forever Yours.

When I opened the attachment, I recognized the location immediately. His special place on top of the hill. He had his camera pointed toward the sunrise. Birds chirped in the distance, welcoming the new day, and then I heard Julien.

“Wait for it.”

My lips wobbled with a smile, then parted in amazement as the sun crested, big and beautiful. Its light refracted off the thin clouds stretching across the blue sky, turning them pink and yellow.

“I want to experience every sunrise with you,” he said.

The phone turned, and his face came into view. He looked awful, like he’d been crying and hadn’t slept. Seeing him like that sliced me open—a million stinging paper cuts that dripped out my heartache.

“I love you, Elijah Michael Barnes.”

The video cut out.

I touched the screen, still seeing him.

“I love you, too.”

“Breakfast is ready.” Jessi’s soft voice carried over to me. She was standing in the doorway, her brown eyes glassy.

I didn’t need to ask if she’d heard.

“Coming.”

I left my phone on the bed and followed her. Dad was at the counter island, pouring spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee. He pinned me with a parental once-over.

“How are you feeling?”

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