by Anna Todd
Hearing a squeak from your bedroom’s door, your attention was drawn behind you. Thankfully, it was Justin and not your flirtatious friend.
“Hi,” you acknowledged over your spaghetti-strapped shoulder. Coming out to the balcony, Justin was just as barefoot as you and leaned over the balcony rails as well. After first looking out to the ocean, his eyes scanned to the left and over the beach.
“Hey,” he finally said, looking at you. “What’s up?” He bumped his hip into yours.
You returned the plunk. “Just chilling. I’ve been around everyone all day. I just wanted some alone time.” Your fingers traced over his bare, inked arm. More specifically, his BELiEVE tattoo.
“Can I chill with you?” he asked.
“What are we doing now?”
He shrugged. “You’re right.”
You look at him, eyes wide. “I’m sorry about how my friend was acting. I don’t understand why she was acting like that.”
He dismisses this with a shake of his head. “I know you weren’t feeling it. I know that’s why you came up here. Her actions don’t reflect on you.”
“Thanks.”
“At least my friends like your friends.”
“They’re getting along well.” You looked over his shoulder. “They’re loud though.”
“I may have to sleep in here tonight.” He smirked at you.
You laughed. “You can sleep on the floor. There’s plenty of room for you.”
“You can sleep on the floor,” he teased. “I’ll get blankets and everything for you. Maybe even a night-light, if you need it.”
You laughed. “No way. This is my room. I’m not sleeping on the floor.”
“I heard it’s comfortable. . . .”
“Be quiet or else I’ll lock you in a closet,” you teased, knowing about his claustrophobia.
“That would be evil of you.”
“Don’t test me.” Your hand went up to his damp hair. He went to pinch you, but you knocked his hand away. Lifting yourself from the rails, you went into your room and crawled into bed. Justin, on the other hand, threw himself onto the bed, landing on his stomach.
On the soft sheets, he lay there, soon closing his eyes. You rested your head on his back. Shutting your eyes and becoming as comfortable as your friend, you wondered about his near departure.
“You’re going on tour soon, right?”
“Yeah. You know I’ve been doing appearances, rehearsing, and promoting. I’m looking forward to touring. I miss the stage.”
It made you sad to think of his going far away, but you said, “That’s dope. I can’t wait to go to a show.”
“You’re going to quite a few of them.”
“I was hoping you would say that because you’re going to be gone forever. I need to see you every once in a while.”
“You hate being away from me?” He reached and grabbed your thigh.
You knocked his hand away. “Stop playing. You’re my homey. Of course I hate not seeing you.”
“You know you can see me whenever you want.”
“Tell college that,” you scoffed. “It was good that you didn’t have anything for this week.”
“I did. I just canceled them to hang with you and our friends.”
“Justin! You didn’t have to do that.” You sat up, glaring at him. You didn’t want him to push his responsibilities aside for you.
“I wanted to.” He sat up, supporting his upper weight on his forearms. “You’re not on spring break for long. Before you know it, you’ll be heading back to school. I wanted to spend time with you.” A grin took over your face at this, and he smiled at your pleasure.
You pinched his cheek. “You’re so sweet.”
He knocked your hand away and lay back down. You moved up the bed and rested next to him. Your friends were pretty rowdy from wherever they were. “I like your friends, they’re cool.”
“Don’t get too close to them,” he said with his eyes closed.
“Well, don’t get too close to my best friend. I don’t want to hurt her or you.”
“Why would you hurt us?”
“Because I don’t want her throwing herself at you. I’m not cool with the flirting crap.”
“I don’t want my friends flirting with you, and I told them that. I know how shy you can be. I don’t want them making you uncomfortable.” He slightly opened his tired, red eyes to meet yours. “I really think I’m going to sleep in here.”
He closed his eyes again, and reaching over his body, you tapped off the light.
“Sleep in here with me.” You rolled over and off the mattress to close the door. You were getting tired yourself and you didn’t want the party animals’ voices ringing in your ears. You weren’t going to kill their fun. What would you look like going down there and telling them to be quiet? It’s spring break; drink until you pass out. It’s your liver.
Returning to bed, you lay down. While you were getting comfortable, Justin wrapped his arm across your stomach and pulled you closer to him.
Should you thank Jesus now?
Thank you, Jesus.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
“It’s fine.” You relaxed into him and closed your eyes. You can’t deny it, you love being close to Justin.
Turning to face him, you buried your face in his warm chest and cuddled him.
YOUR NEXT STOP was the beach house you’d stayed at. After that special night, it became the getaway spot where the two of you would go to chill. You’d spend nights playing in the ocean there together. You’d pushed him in plenty of times, and he’d picked you up and thrown you in. You’d write in the sand and play volleyball. It was a fun place to come and filled with cool memories.
Dave claimed he had to leave and do something real quick and to give him a call if need be. You were hoping this was where you were finally going to meet up with your husband. Walking up to the house, you dug in your pocket and flipped through the clanging keys, until you found the right one. Unlocking the door, you simmered in the memories between these walls. You saw a heart shadowed against the glass of the beautiful long, in-wall fish tank. Closing the front door, you locked it and grabbed the tenth heart from where it was taped to the tank.
It read, No one will ever love you the way I do. No one will ever love you as much as I do. I knew he didn’t. Your eleventh clue can be found where this went down.
JUSTIN WAS DRIVING to the beach house with you curled up in the passenger seat, tired from having eaten too much at lunch. With the music from your phone playing in the car, you dozed in and out to the melodies.
You were in Malibu trying to unwind from the busy week. You’d recently transferred back home for school. Being away from your family for months and months, you weren’t feeling it anymore. Your mom and dad hadn’t been too keen on your going away for college in the first place. You wanted that freedom, but you began to miss them too much. Besides, some of your friends had already transferred back home. LA is one of a kind.
And, yes, Justin might have had something to do with your coming back home. Maybe a small amount. No regrets.
“Aye.” You felt a hand on your thigh. Justin tapped it. “Wake up.”
“What?” You pulled the hood of your hoodie over your eyes. “What do you want?” you mumbled beneath the fabric.
“Who’s texting you saying they miss you?”
Oh, hell. It was your ex-boyfriend. He’d gotten back in contact with you recently, and you wanted nothing to do with him. You didn’t understand why he was texting you. He knew you were with Justin.
Hell, the whole world knew you were with Justin.
You removed the hoodie. “It’s my ex. Don’t worry about it.”
“Why is he texting you?” Justin scolded you with a disapproving mug.
You stated the obvious: “He still has my number.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t get it changed, Justin,” you said with some attitude.
Why was he making
such a big deal out of this? You’d only texted your ex back once, to tell him to leave you alone and that his run was over. Justin knows you would never cheat on him.
“Okay.” He set your phone back in the center console, but from your laid-back position you could still see his jaw clenching.
Which was a bit annoying to you. You’d had a boyfriend for five months in college since knowing Justin. It was only five months. You knew Justin wasn’t too fond of the relationship, but that didn’t stop you from having it. You and Justin had had a fun, close friendship, but that didn’t stop him from dating around. Were you not supposed to live your life while you were away? You’d been dating Justin for a little over two months, and you’d known each other for two years now. He should know what kind of young lady you are.
“I don’t understand why you’re upset—”
“Because your ex is hitting you up. He misses you.”
You rolled your eyes as you sat up. Coming into the driveway of the beach house, you couldn’t wait to get out of the car.
“Well, I don’t miss him.” You began to feel pure attitude coursing in your veins. Once the car parked, you hopped out. “Chill out. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Heading to the front door, you heard Justin’s door close behind you, and you knew the conversation wasn’t going to disappear just because you’d entered a different environment.
“I never liked that dude,” he said.
“You didn’t want me in a relationship, I’m guessing.” Checking behind you, Justin was coming up the pathway, just as annoyed as you were. You unlocked the door, suddenly wishing you were here alone.
“I never said that,” he insisted. “I just didn’t like the dude you were with.”
You turned to him, ready for an argument. “Why? He didn’t do anything to you.”
“He played you. He hurt you, which means he hurt me, because I hate seeing you like that. He single-handedly destroyed you. You’re damn right I don’t like him.” Justin held your phone up, tight in his grasp. “You should have his number blocked or something. He shouldn’t have any way of getting in contact with you. He doesn’t deserve it.”
“I’ll get my number changed. It’s not a big deal. You can see I didn’t text him back to start a conversation—I was telling him to leave me alone.” You eyed your phone. “Can I have that back?” you said, more a demand than a request.
Sighing, Justin handed it over.
“Thank you.” You scrolled through your contacts and blocked and deleted your ex’s number. “He’s gone.”
“Why didn’t you do that a long time ago?”
“Because I haven’t heard from him in months. He texted me last night for the first time. I thought he deleted my number.” You shrugged. “I don’t know.” You pulled your lips into your mouth as you watched your boyfriend.
“I’m not trying to pick a fight with you—”
“Then just drop it. Because it doesn’t matter. I’m with you now. I only want to be with you. He’s old news. I don’t care about him.” You went into the kitchen for a water. Opening the refrigerator, you heard Justin go to the sink and wash his hands.
“Babe.”
Without answering, you started to open your water.
“I just hated seeing you like that. It’s not that I’m threatened by him.”
“You shouldn’t be. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I just don’t want any of those hurt feelings resurfacing. From the look you’re giving me, I know you’re still a bit hurt. I’m concerned about you, not him.”
You did love Justin’s protective ways, even when they were sometimes frustrating. “Thanks.”
Feeling Justin come over to you, you lifted your head, meeting his eyes. Seeing him lick his lips, you closed your eyes anticipating the capture. When it came, you began to relax, feeling the soft, gentle caress of his lips. After a few seconds he pulled away, kissing both of your cheeks, earning a smile from you. It’s so cute when he does that.
He stared you in the eye, making your breath hitch and heart race. “I love you.”
You mentally asked What? in over one hundred languages. Breaking the stare with a blink, he looked down, a bit nervous. Every ounce of you wanted to repeat it to him, but you forgot how to talk. Looking back at you, Justin cupped your face with his left hand, his thumb lightly stroking over your hot cheek.
“I’m in love with you and . . .” His eyes switched back and forth between your stunned ones. “I only want what’s best for you.” He came closer to you again. “Okay?” His forehead nearly rested against yours.
You nodded, still trying to find your words. He placed another soft kiss on your silent lips.
Your voice nearly cracked in its whisper: “I love you too.”
“You don’t have to say it just because I did. Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
You both had spoken your truths.
WITHOUT SHEDDING YOUR SHOES, you went into the kitchen, remembering that’s where your first I love yous were exchanged. On the marble counter in front of the fridge, you found a paper heart, and a banquet of salmon and red roses.
Desire and romance. He nailed it on that one. Your heart was faltering.
Do you see where I’m going with this? Your twelfth clue: Flowers bloom when you water them. ;) Where did I first water yours?
“YOU BROUGHT ME OUT HERE to flirt with other females?”
You unlocked the door to the house you and Justin had gone to, to get away from everyone and everything for the weekend. You loved the mini-getaways the two of you would spontaneously go on. You love that about your boyfriend. What you didn’t love is when you went to the bathroom at a restaurant only to come back and find waitresses throwing themselves at him.
What you hated even more was the smile on his face when she slid him her number.
“I wasn’t flirting,” Justin insisted.
“Well, you sure seemed delighted to get her number. I was gone for five minutes. Damn, are you looking for opportunities like these chicks? You’re not responsible for who you attract, Justin, but you are responsible for who you entertain. Get it together.”
“No. Chill out. It wasn’t even like that. Relax.”
You rolled your eyes. “Then, what was it, Justin?”
He walked past you into the house. “Nothing! Who would have known you were the jealous type?”
You were taken aback by the obvious claim. Yes, it’s kind of obvious, but you weren’t expecting him to say it out loud. He’s the same way—you’ll admit you’re offended, because it’s true.
Sighing as you slid out of your shoes, you set them to the side of the front door. Justin left you in your own company to follow his annoyance up the stairs. You followed yours into the kitchen. You know what a girl needs at a time like this: chocolate and ice cream. Thank God you had a mixture of both: chocolate ice cream.
Maybe you did overreact. You don’t know! Would you want anyone flirting with your boyfriend? You left to go to the bathroom, then came back and they’re all hee-hee-ing and ha-ha-ing. Something went through you. You didn’t even bother to ask what they were talking about.
The waitress had looked over her shoulder and seen you coming back to the table. She took those ten seconds to jot down her number and slide it to your man. How these chicks test you! Your boyfriend looked at the number, but once he spotted you, he knocked the sheet to the floor.
Oh, you didn’t overreact. Everyone was lucky you didn’t fly across the table at him.
Wanting to get comfortable, but being stubborn, you spread out on the couch, flicking through the channels. You must have watched three hours of reality TV. You were into it, until you heard, “Baby,” from upstairs.
You snuggled into the couch, not planning to move. In a second you heard him coming down the steps. You were going to pretend to be asleep, but you knew he would pick you up and take you to bed; so you resumed with television.
“Bab
e . . .”
“What?” Your eyes darted over to him. He came behind the couch. You wanted to ignore him, but he wasn’t going to let that happen. Putting his hand on your waist, he wanted your attention.
“Come upstairs.” He leaned over to kiss your cheek.
“I’m watching TV.” You folded your hands and snuck them under your head as you lay sideways, your back to him.
“There’s a TV upstairs.”
“You’re upstairs too, that’s why I’m down here.”
“I’m right beside you.” He continued to state the obvious. This man can completely drive you insane if you allow it.
“Go back upstairs.”
“I know that didn’t make you this upset. It’s not that serious. This isn’t the first time a girl flirted with me.”
“You were going back and forth with her.”
“I was being friendly.”
“Hmmm,” you hummed dismissively.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know just talking to a girl would offend you.”
Oh, that just made you sound petty. In retaliation, you flipped over to face him. “Okay, whatever.” You sat up, having a pillow fall behind you. Justin is a natural flirt, so maybe he didn’t see the harm in his alluring actions. “What did she say to you?” You pulled your legs closer to you, creating a ball of yourself.
“Um . . . well . . .” He peered down, hesitating and contemplating his answer.
“Yes?”
“She was flirting,” he quickly admitted.
“And you were . . . ?”
“Listening?” he guessed, seeking the correct justification. He rolled his eyes at your narrowed ones. “Come upstairs and stop acting like this.” He leaned over the couch, balancing his weight over the pillows. “You know I’m yours.” His voice was low and raspy. “You’re mine. Girls are always going to flirt with me. It’s something you have to get used to. I won’t flirt back, but I’m not going to be rude. I didn’t know this bothered you so much—you know no one can replace you. They don’t compare to you. You know I love you, right?”
Why does he have this effect on you? You can’t stay mad at him for anything.