Chapters (89)
- Dedication
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ONE
- HENRY
- TWO
- EMMA
- THREE
- HENRY
- FOUR
- EMMA
- FIVE
- EMMA
- SIX
- SEVEN
- HENRY
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- HENRY
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- EMMA
- THIRTEEN
- HENRY
- FOURTEEN
- HENRY
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- EMMA
- SEVENTEEN
- HENRY
- EIGHTEEN
- HENRY
- NINETEEN
- HENRY
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- EMMA
- TWENTY-TWO
- EMMA
- TWENTY-THREE
- HENRY
- TWENTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- TWENTY-FIVE
- EMMA
- TWENTY-SIX
- EMMA
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- HENRY
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- EMMA
- TWENTY-NINE
- HENRY
- THIRTY
- HENRY
- THIRTY-ONE
- HENRY
- THIRTY-TWO
- EMMA
- THIRTY-THREE
- HENRY
- THIRTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- THIRTY-FIVE
- EMMA
- THIRTY-SIX
- HENRY
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- EMMA
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- HENRY
- THIRTY-NINE
- HENRY
- FORTY
- EMMA
- FORTY-ONE
- HENRY
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- EMMA
- FORTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- FORTY-FIVE
- HENRY
- EPILOGUE
- ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
There’s so much I’ve already learned, but I know there’s still mountains left to discover. For the first time in my life, I find myself wanting to lace up my hiking boots, grab a backpack and traverse all the trails and hills and expansive terrain of her.
I want to know every diminutive detail and prod her for stories and tales and experiences until she’s sick of me. I want to hear about all of her favorite things in life in excruciating, elaborate ways. Things like holidays and movies. Seasons and songs.
I’m certain I could listen to her talk for hours. I want to learn what makes her smile. What makes her laugh. What she hates and an exhaustive list of her pet peeves.
She’s gotten under my skin. An itch I can’t scratch. A delightful anomaly and blip in my life I’m in no rush to get rid of.
My phone buzzes again.
RB: I know I said I was going to bed, but I lied.
RB: This BuzzFeed ranking of road trip foods seemed like a time-sensitive article to share.
RB: One of us has good taste (and it isn’t you).
RB: *Attachment: 1 Image*
Something hits me square in the chest, almost knocking me to the ground. It’s powerful and painful and extremely difficult to ignore. I grin victoriously, like I won a race in the last few meters, sprinting toward the finish line.
She’s thinking about me.
I’m thinking about you too, RB.
“Ready to get out of here?”
I look up to find Lexi standing above me, batting her eyes and popping her hip.
“Shit,” I mumble, tucking my phone away. “Hey, sorry, Lexi, but I’m going to head home. Alone.”
“Oh.” Her face falls. “You have a girlfriend, don’t you?”
“No. Not a girlfriend. Just a maybe. A somebody. Nothing will probably ever happen from it, but I—”
“You don’t want to mess anything up with a quick blow job.”
“Yeah.” My hand runs through my hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
“Can I give you a piece of advice?”
“Is it about how much of an asshole I am? Because I agree wholeheartedly.”
“No way,” she laughs. “It’s a little cheesy, but life’s too short to let things build inside you. It doesn’t do anyone any good to not share them. They need to be out in the world, delivered to people’s ears. If you like someone, you should tell them.”
I nod, digesting her words. “Thanks for the tips. I know I offered to give you a ride home. Do you still need one? Platonically, of course.”
“That’s okay! My friend can take me. Good luck with everything.” With a wave, she turns and heads back to the kitchen.