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
RB: Why would I get mad at you?
JD: It goes against your rules.
RB: Let’s hear it.
RB: Full disclosure, I’m probably going to share it with my best friend.
RB: She’ll help me dissect every word. Proceed with caution.
JD: Okay. Here goes nothing.
JD: Over the last few weeks, I’ve slowly had this vision coming together in my mind. Of you. Of us. Being together for real. As partners. Equals. Companions and counterparts.
JD: I know that violates everything you’ve spoken about up to this point.
JD: I know I signed an agreement stating to not engage in anything physical with you, but I wanted to be honest.
JD: I would NEVER act on these feelings, or coerce you into anything. I can keep my hands to myself. I know no means no. And I respect that thoroughly.
JD: I thought you should know all of this before tomorrow because I’m terrible at hiding stuff, Sunflower, and I don’t want to keep anything from you.
JD: I know this connection has been formed on not whole truths. But YOU deserve the truth. I know we could meet and have NO sparks or chemistry, and if that’s the case, it’s totally fine.
JD: Now that I’m reading this back, you have every right to not show up in the morning. I crossed a line here. Shit, I’m sorry, RB.
RB: In the spirit of transparency…
RB: I’ve been thinking about that a lot, too.
JD: Really?
RB: Yeah. I think after we finish the weekend, I’d be open to exploring something more real with you, JD. I can’t say what that looks like exactly, but I know I’ve enjoyed the last month immensely, and I don’t want to walk away from whatever this might be after only a few days together.
JD: I’m grinning like an idiot. I’m watching football with my friends and missed the game-winning touchdown because I can’t stop smiling.
JD: Totally worth it. We’ll get through the weekend, then we can see what happens. Deal?
RB: Deal.
JD: And Zebra Cakes?
RB: Yeah?
JD: I can’t wait to see you tomorrow morning and finally learn your name.
JD: I’m going to hug the shit out of you.
SIXTEEN
EMMA
Nerves.
So many freaking nerves.
My heart is beating erratically in my chest, the thump, thump, thumps nearly loud enough for the other patrons of Beans and Brews to hear, ricocheting off my lungs like pinballs. I’ve never been this stressed out about a meetup before. Trepidation and excitement rattle my bones, shake my insides and drown me with a maelstrom of thoughts and what ifs?
JD and I have quickly migrated from casual to the dangerous precipice of something more serious. Permanent. Lasting.
Forever, almost.