He grunted, opening his door and getting out before I’d even undone my seat belt. By the time I closed my door, he’d already pulled my suitcase and bag out, stacking one on top of the other. I took him in, every single inch I’d seen the night before. With his hands fisted at his sides, I could tell Aaron was breathing hard from the way his shirt hugged his chest. I took my time trailing my gaze higher up until it landed on those features I’d think of all the time. He was watching me, the saddest smile I’d ever seen on his face, because it was filled with so much affection and love. It cracked my heart in half.
“Come here,” he said, holding one hand toward me.
I went. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and I hugged him like I’d never see him again. His mouth was at my ear as he squeezed me to him, like he was trying to conjoin us.
“I’d take you with me I could, Ru, but have fun with your dad,” he said, nuzzling me as his hand made a trail up and down my spine. “We’ll make this work. I promise.”
I didn’t cry on the plane ride, and I didn’t cry when my mom drove up to the arrivals section of the airport and then talked my ear off the entire ride back home, telling me all about Jasmine going to train with her coach again finally.
I didn’t cry when I got into my room that night either.
But when I lay down in bed, this feeling of missing Aaron like crazy hit me right in the solar plexus.
And then, I did cry. Just a little. Two little tears. But they were enough.
Ruby: I feel like I have the flu. Tell me something funny.
I texted Aaron, using some of the same words he’d used on me before.
Thirty seconds later, a response from him came in.
Aaron: Why didn’t the toilet paper cross the road?
I didn’t get a chance to reply before another message from him came in.
Aaron: Bc it got stuck in a crack
Ten seconds after, my phone chimed again.
Aaron: Have I told you today how happy I am you got stuck with me?
And how could I be sad after that?
Epilogue
May 17, 2012
10:03 a.m.
Aaron: Morning
Ruby: Morning
Aaron: Feeling any better?
Ruby: No. I just took my temperature and it’s back up to 101 again.
Aaron: Take some aspirin
Ruby: Already did. I found the bottle on the nightstand next to the thermometer.
Ruby: Thank you for that.
Aaron: :]
Aaron: I touched your face before I left and thought you were feeling warm. Go to the doctor.
Ruby: I know. I should. I don’t want you getting sick too.
Ruby: I told Jasmine I was sick and she immediately asked if I was pregnant. Why is that her first assumption every time?
Aaron: Because she’s Jasmine.
Ruby: Lol. You’re so right.
Ruby: Speaking of her, we got into a fight at the end about her wanting to switch to pairs skating.
Aaron: How’d that go?
Ruby: Fine. I think I still catch her off guard when I talk back to her, so it makes me feel like I win when she doesn’t have a comeback immediately. We’ll see what she decides. You know how she is.
Ruby: Going to shower and see if that makes me feel any better. I’ll call the doctor after and see if I can go.
Aaron: OK.
Aaron: Call if you need anything.
1:15 p.m.
Ruby: Guess what?
Aaron: What?
Ruby: It’s not the flu, just an upper respiratory infection.
Aaron: They gave you meds?
Ruby: Yes.
Aaron: Sorry, honey
Aaron: Want me to pick up your script on the way home?
Ruby: It’s okay. I’m already at the pharmacy waiting.
Ruby: The doctor made sure to tell me three times that my birth control won’t be as effective while I’m on antibiotics.
Aaron: Did you tell him we’d planned on you not taking them anymore after your next period?
Ruby: Yes. It was so awkward. It was like he was pretending he didn’t hear me.
Aaron: Lol. It’s that cute, innocent face.
Ruby: :)
Ruby: How’s your day going anyway?
Aaron: Fine.
Aaron: My CO is in a shit mood
Ruby: Sorry. One more year and then you can rethink what you want to do again.
Aaron: :] only a year
Ruby: It’ll go by fast.
Aaron: :]
2:55 p.m.
Ruby: [picture attachment]
Aaron: [picture attachment]
Ruby: What is that???
Aaron: Tacos from a new food truck in town
Ruby: Bring me some, those make my sandwich look like crap.
Aaron: Snooze you lose
Aaron: Come have lunch with me tomorrow
Aaron: If you’re feeling better
Ruby: “if you’re feeling better”
Ruby: ……
Aaron: :] love you
Ruby: Yeah, sure.
Ruby: Love you too, but I’d love you more if you brought me tacos
4:50 p.m.
Aaron: What are we having for dinner?
Ruby: Whatever you decide to bring home.
Aaron: That’s what I thought
Aaron: Vietnamese?
Ruby: Yes please.
Aaron: OK
Aaron: Are you lying down?
Ruby: Yes. I tried cutting some bandanas for that big order to Canada I got but I cut myself because I wasn’t paying attention, then I started worrying about contaminating the cloth and getting other people sick so I stopped.
Aaron: Jesus, RC
Aaron: Chill
Aaron: You’ll catch up on everything. Worry about feeling better. That’s all that matters
Ruby: You’re the best, have I told you that today?
Aaron: I know
Aaron: Not today.
Ruby: Cocky
Aaron: You’ve never complained.
Ruby: I knew you were going to go there.
Aaron: :]
Ruby: Why don’t skeletons watch scary movies?
Aaron: Because they don’t have the guts
Ruby: You knew that one???
Aaron: I GUESSED
Ruby: Bye
Aaron: I got a tear in my eye
Ruby: ….
Aaron: ….
Aaron: Leaving here in a sec, Ruron.
Ruby: Okay, Ruron.
Aaron: Think of a better joke before I get home.
Aaron: Meant to tell you that you might as well throw away your pills now that I think about it.
Ruby: You’re a real bossy pain in the you know what.
Aaron: I know.
Ruby: And I’m sick.
Aaron: So? I’m not scared of a little infection.
Ruby: Oh brother.
Ruby: I’m feeling bad but not that bad.
Ruby: But if you get sick don’t blame me.
Aaron: Never
Ruby: :)
Aaron: :]
Acknowledgments
I think it’s a well-known fact I have the best readers on the face of the planet. Thank you all for knocking my socks off with all your love and support with every release. Whether you’ve been with me from the beginning, or are taking a chance with me for the first time, my gratitude knows no bounds. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
A big shout out to my Slow Burners! You’re all my spirit animals. Thank you for being so understanding when I disappear on you guys for long periods of time, haha. You’re the most awesome reading group on the Internet.
A big thank you to Nissa for all of her advice and knowledge on Filipino foods, and for being so cool in general.
A big thank you to my friend Eva. You know how much you do for me. I know how much you do for me. The group does too. Thank you for everything.
Thank you to Letitia Hasser at RB
A Design for the amazing cover and putting up with my dumb ideas and anal crap. Jeff at Indie Formatting Services, thank you for always being so professional and great. Virginia and Becky at Hot Tree Editing for never reducing me to tears with edits. Lauren Abramo and Kemi Faderin at Dystel & Goderich for being the best team.
To my pre-readers/friends who can’t get rid of me, I can never thank you enough for what you do and never wanting any credit for it. My books wouldn’t be the same without your gentle “Mariana, why?” comments.
A great big thank you to the greatest family on the planet. Mom and Dad, Ale, Eddie, Raul, Isaac, Kaitlyn, my Letchford family, and the rest of my Zapata/Navarro family.
To Chris and my boys, Dor and Kai. Every book is for you guys.
About the Author
Mariana Zapata lives in a small town in Colorado with her husband and two oversized children—her beloved Great Danes, Dorian and Kaiser. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, spending time outside, forcing kisses on her boys, harassing her family, or pretending to write.
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Also by Mariana Zapata
Lingus
Under Locke
Kulti
Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Wait for It
Dear Aaron Page 41