Age 19:
From: [email protected]
Do you think there are people out there we’re tied to for life? Like you meet someone and…that’s it. They’re it, you know? That would be a cool feeling to have one day. Idk.
It’s late, and I barely ate today. Maybe I’m hallucinating.
Godspeed,
Shiny
***
“So, we’re doing this?” I asked, parked in the lot at Romfuzzled.
Calla nodded. Her brows were scrunched. She had her war face on. I wouldn’t be surprised if she pulled out red bandannas to tie across our foreheads. “We’re doing this.”
There was a tiny scar on her chin from her accident a couple days ago. She fussed when I forced her to not leave the house for at least twenty-four hours, even though the doctor confirmed she didn’t have a concussion. I had been treating her like my own patient the last two days. Bringing her soup, watching her favorite movies over and over, brushing my fingers in her hair, and, of course, taking care of her plants.
Today was the first day I’d allowed her to leave, with me driving obviously. We had a new rental car while Bessie was in the shop and it was kind of nice. Something new. A shift. The beginning of a new era with Calla by my side.
After the revelation of our email exchanges, we decided to wait until everything had settled down to tell Luke. Which, unfortunately, meant today.
I took the keys out of the ignition and turned to her. “Let’s go over the plan one more time.”
She mimicked my position so we were facing one another. “We go in, and we stand in front of Luke holding hands.”
I nodded. “Yes, yes. And then when he freaks out?”
“We stand firm. A solid wall. We keep our arms locked and tell him he’d have to physically break us apart for our love to falter.” She crossed her arms, looking like all she was missing was war paint.
“And when he says he doesn’t want to speak to us ever again?” I cringed.
“You know what? I love my brother, but if he can’t see how right we are for each other, then he can get over it. I love you, Nathan. And that’s all that matters.”
She was so sure. So certain. Who was I to question it? If I had Calla by my side, then I didn’t need anyone else. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I refused to lose her just so I could maintain a long-term friendship, no matter how much Luke meant to me.
She was a dream come true, every piece of her. “You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that. It’s like my every fantasy is coming to life in front of me.” I cocked my head toward the front door of the bar. “Let’s do this.”
I rushed around the car and put my arm around Calla, then guided her up to the steps. We paused at the door, simultaneously taking in a deep breath.
“Let’s stick it to the man.”
“I have never been the protestor type, but you are really hyping me up right now. Do we need pitchforks?”
I pressed my lips together and considered it. “Hmm. Maybe another time?”
When we walked into Romfuzzled, Luke and Layla were seated across from each other in a booth, their hands gripped tightly in a thumb wrestling competition. Judging by the frustration on Luke’s face, Layla was winning. She smiled wolfishly as she leaned back, while Luke looked like he was about to hop over the table.
Instinctively, I reached for Calla’s hand and squeezed. She copied the action, reassuring me. We walked up to the booth and hovered over Luke and Layla, but neither of them looked up at us. If anything, they were even more zeroed in on their thumb war.
I obnoxiously cleared my throat, and finally, Layla looked up at me. Then she glanced down at our joined hands and smiled. Across from her, Luke took advantage of her moment of distraction and pulled her thumb down.
He stood and shouted, “Ha! Told you I’d win eventually.” He cracked his neck and stretched a hand back out to her as he sat once more. “All right. Best out of fifteen.”
Just as I was about to say screw it and walk away, Calla blurted out, “Nathan and I are together!”
Layla gave Luke a sly smile, and looked at our joined hands again and then at where his hand was resting on the table.
I waited for the bomb. Waited for the other shoe to drop. For the emotions to set in. For Luke to chase me around the parking lot with a baseball bat.
Calla sucked in a breath next to me, probably regretting the way she’d blurted out our business to her brother, who must have been seething, because he didn’t even flinch.
Luke stretched his fingers toward Layla, but she didn’t reach for him. She, too, was probably waiting for his reaction. Finally, he cocked his head our way. Pulling back, I winced, preparing to hear the words I knew were true. You don’t deserve her. She could have anyone she wants.
Instead, he shrugged and mumbled, “All right.” Then he turned his attention to Layla.
Calla and I blinked at each other in shock.
Calla spoke up first. “Uh, did you hear us?”
Luke groaned. “Yes, I heard you. Now, can I get back to what I was doing? I’ve got to kick my fiancée’s tail in thumb war.”
Layla smiled at us with an I told you so grin plastered to her face.
“You mean you aren’t upset?” I asked, my heart in my throat.
Luke looked up at me, a small, genuine smile on his face. “No. I trust you, man. If I didn’t, you wouldn’t be my best friend. I know you’re a good guy. Plus, she doesn’t need my permission.”
I’m sorry…what?
Had I known what his reaction would be, I could’ve saved so much time. So many struggles. So much mental anguish at the thought of what he might say. Not once did I imagine his words being anything remotely close to this.
I sniffed, holding back the tears threatening to escape. Because I was absolutely about to cry over this stupid friendship that I should have known wouldn’t be shaken so easily.
Flinging myself into the booth, I wrapped my arms around Luke’s neck. He was taller than me, and the booth wasn’t huge, so it was a little awkward, but he couldn’t just blurt out stuff like that and not expect a bro-hug.
Luke patted my back. “All right, buddy. It’s okay.”
I sniffled a little more.
In my periphery, Layla slid out of the booth and put an arm around Calla. “Come on. Let’s give them a moment.”
Calla snorted. “Men. So emotional.”
I was going to get her for that remark. But for now, I just wanted to hug my best friend a little longer.
Once I settled down (read: once Calla pulled me off Luke’s neck), the four of us settled into the booth, and Calla and I answered all the questions they had.
Luke closed his eyes and shook his head. “Let me get this straight. You two”—he pointed to us both—“have been emailing each other this whole time? For ten years? And you had no idea?”
Calla nodded. “Pretty much.”
Luke squinted. “Oh my gosh. So the girl you were interested in like two years ago was Calla?”
A warmth spread through my chest and up to my cheeks.
Calla pulled on my arm, her eyes those of a puppy begging for treats. “Aw, really?”
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Sounds about right.”
“Perfect,” Layla said, resting her head on Luke’s shoulder and pointing at Calla. “It’s the romance you’ve been waiting for.” Then she pointed at me. “And the loyalty you deserve.”
It was perfect. The kind of perfect that could urge a person to look over their shoulder in fear that things were too good to be true. Only, I had this strange feeling that when I looked over mine, all I’d see was the good. A future full of love and hope. I didn’t know what it held. There would no doubt be trials and tribulations. But as long as I had her beside me, I’d gladly take on every one of them.
“Are you going to keep living together?” Luke asked.
I glanced at Calla for direction, and she looked up at me with a mixture of fear and hope in her eyes. “If that’s okay?”
I snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me and placing a small kiss on her forehead. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Luke groaned across from us. “Aw, man. I’m going to regret being cool about this whole thing, aren’t I?”
I pulled back from Calla just enough to point at him. “I was forced to watch you two flirt for three years straight. It’s about time I get my payback.”
Layla snorted and Luke shrugged. “Fair.”
Calla’s phone buzzed on the table in front of us, and she practically launched off the seat to grab it. She unlocked it with such frantic motions that she nearly dropped it. She quickly swiped down, refreshing her email, only to slump and set the device on the table again.
It was a sore subject, but Calla hadn’t heard back from her interview yet.They were supposed to give her an answer by today, and although I warned her that things like this could be delayed, she’d been stuck in her head since she woke up today. We’d lounged in bed for a long time this morning, but she’d refreshed her email every five minutes or so, then she’d checked her spam folder just in case.
She frowned, and the most pathetic little pout spread across those beautiful lips.
“They may not have an answer just yet, but don’t give up.” I let my thumb trail across her skin in hopes of reassuring her.
She nodded. “Let’s talk about something else.” Straightening, she dropped her elbows to the table. “A week till the wedding. Are you getting nervous?” Calla cupped a hand to her mouth and leaned close to Layla, whispering, “If you’re getting cold feet, it’s not too late.”
Luke dug a pen out of his pocket and threw it at his sister as Layla and I chuckled.
“Nah, she’s stuck with me. She’s already my wife in my mind. We’re just signing papers and having a party to confirm.”
Those words gave me hope that, one day, I’d get to say something similar about Calla. I pictured her in a white dress, veil trailing behind her, insane flowers in her hand, and her hair all done up. She’d probably want to eat cake the second the ceremony was over, and she’d definitely break out the inappropriate dance moves in front of our families. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Layla hummed in contentment. “Not nervous. I can’t wait. I figured you two could walk down the aisle together, and Liam and Marigold could go together.”
“Oof” was Calla’s response.
“I know,” Layla continued with a sigh. “And then Adam and Rachel, if they’re okay with it.”
“What about Crew?” I asked.
Luke scoffed. “He didn’t tell you?”
I looked at Calla and back at him. “Uh, no?”
“Crew is”—Layla blew out a breath—“officiating the wedding.”
Calla burst into laughter, snorting and hitting my leg under the table.
“Oh, this ought to be good.”
Crew Wells presiding over a wedding? It was bound to be…something.
The conversation continued, and the girls talked ceremony logistics, but I couldn’t help but let my mind trail to the time the four of us were here more than a month ago, and how everything had changed since then.
And how I’d never want to turn back.
