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Back The Companion Project Save as PDF
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I run my hand through my hair, edgy to ask the next question. “Would it, ah, be okay if we texted this week? I look forward to hearing from you. It’s kind of become the thing that gets me through the day. I would never want you to feel obligated to communicate with me bu—”

“Henry,” she interrupts, voice gentle like a calm, serene ocean. “You can text me. I’d like that. Do you have my real number?”

I exhale in relief, shoulders drooping with her agreement. “No, I don’t. Here, add it to my phone.” I extract the device from my pocket and watch her type away on the keyboard before handing it back to me.

Glancing at the contact she created, I snort. “Bold of you to put yourself in my phone as VRG. How would I explain that to anyone that asks, besides the obvious fake girlfriend answer?”

“You’re a smart man. I’m sure you can think of something.” She gathers her cup and plate, a small smile ghosting over her lips as she stands from the table. “It was good to see you.”

“You, too. I hope the interview goes well.”

“Thanks.” She gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking away.

“Hey, Emma,” I call after her. She turns her head, eyes meeting mine. The blue almost sparkles, and I break out into a grin. “What does RB stand for?”

“What do you think it stands for?”

“Hm. Refreshingly beautiful? Radiantly beaming? Really bored?”

She giggles, shaking her head. “It’s my middle name. Emma Reagan Burns. It’s not very creative, I know.”

“At least you didn’t stick to your lawyer letters like some other dummy I know.”

“God, how did I not pick up on that?! It’s so obvious!”

“I’m glad you didn’t. It gave me an opportunity to finally outsmart you for once.”

“Don’t get used to it, Henry Dawson. See you later.”

With a wave, she departs, disappearing through the door. I reach over and let my hand rest where hers laid, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach and the way I miss her already.

TWENTY

October 10th

HD: Test, test.

HD: Is this thing on?

HD: We’re going on a road trip. What two snacks are you bringing?

VRG: This sounds strangely familiar.

VRG: I hate to burst your bubble, but I’ve heard that one before. Totally unoriginal.

HD: Do I get an A for effort?

VRG: Too generous. B-minus is more realistic.

HD: You wound me, Zebra Cakes.

VRG: What does it say about me as a person that through all the conversations we’ve had, you calling me Zebra Cakes are Sunflower are some of my favorite things?

HD: I’m glad it makes you smile.

HD: Kind of weird we’re like, 20 feet away from each other, isn’t it? I miss seeing JD and RB on my screen.