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“I’m not most people,” he says earnestly, and my stomach flips at his words. “I care about you so much.” My heart flutters.
“But I know after a while it may become?—”
He cuts me off by reaching over slowly and grips my chin between his fingers to make me look at him. “I promise you, Ana. You can talk to me about him whenever. It doesn’t bother me. You talking about important and meaningful moments and people in your life will never annoy me. I promise.”
I hold his gaze for several long moments before I scoot over to move closer to him. I lean into him and he instantly wraps his arm around me and holds me close. It’s not the most comfortable position, but the reassurance and peace he fills me with makes me feel a little more whole and a little less broken.
FORTY-EIGHT
THEN, SPRING, TWO YEARS AGO
“Ana!” Hayden calls from the kitchen. His voice sounds frantic so I rush out of the bathroom in just a shirt and my underwear.
“What? What’s wrong?” I ask, matching his franticness.
“West Grand Records is calling me,” he says, eyes wide, looking at me. “They’re calling me right now.” He holds his phone up to show me.
“Then answer the phone, amor,” I say slowly. Then wave my hands towards him to hurry him along.
He nods and then takes a deep breath. “Hello?” he says. He listens to whatever the person on the phone is saying. He says a couple of ‘mhm’ and ‘alrights’. Then his face splits into a wide grin and he looks at me, pure light and joy filling his eyes. “Okay yes, thank you. Thank you so much for this opportunity.” My mouth opens and I silently scream and jump up and down. “Yes, I look forward to speaking with you again soon. Thank you again so much.” He hangs up.
“I got the internship,” he yells. I scream out loud for real and I run and jump into his arms. He laughs gleefully as he spins me around. He stops spinning but still has me lifted in his arms with my legs around his waist, and he sighs then kisses me deeply. My hands hold his face tight to me.
“I knew you would, amor. I knew it,” I whisper against his lips. He kisses me for a few more moments before pulling away slightly.
“Look at us, baby,” he says with a smile. “The real world isn’t ready for you and me, we’re going to freakin’ kill it.” I laugh, throwing my head back before leaning forward again to kiss him. “I’m so excited for our future. I can’t believe I get to celebrate every accomplishment and victory with you by my side.”
I sigh, smiling. “You’ve ruined me, Hayden Albrecht.” He chuckles as I say, “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The door opens and we turn towards it. Maddie and Elliot walk in and stop when they see us; me pantless with my arms and legs around Hayden. Their eyes are wide. “Good God, you two. Your room is literally right there,” Maddie scolds. Elliot laughs, looking up at the ceiling. I drop down and stand behind Hayden, wrapping my arms around his middle and poking my head around the side of him.
“Hayden just got an offer for an internship at his dream recording studio,” I yell.
Maddie yells and starts jumping up and down. “Congratulations, Hayden! Oh my God, let’s celebrate!” She runs to the kitchen.
“She’s going to turn us into alcoholics,” Hayden whispers to me. I laugh and pinch his side.
FORTY-NINE
NOW, SPRING
“This place actually looks like a house,” I say in disbelief. Maddie rolls her eyes, completely done with my comments about her home.
The walls are all painted and the floor is done. The new appliances—that Maddie somehow got all on sale—are installed along with the beautiful white marble countertops.
Now we’re moving boxes inside from the small moving truck they rented, and it’s my least favorite part of this whole experience. At least Maddie is the most organized person I know and each box is labeled first with the room it belongs in, and then all the contents inside of it. Each box is also numbered and she has a spreadsheet just in case something goes missing. I love her.
David picks up a smaller box and grunts, “Good God, Madeline. What the hell is in here?”
I laugh and Maddie looks at me with a smile, her face soft and happy, slightly out of place for this current moment.
She then turns to glares at David, “Books, David. You can clearly see the description on the outside of the box. It says ‘books’.”
“Yeah, David. Geesh. Can you even read?” I joke and he laughs, then balances the box in one hand and tries to pinch at my arm with the other.
I laugh and pull away. He chuckles, taking the box in both hands again. I grab a much lighter one and we walk towards the porch stairs and into the house. I pass Maddie and Elliot who are watching us, trying not to make it obvious that they’re watching us and exchanging wide eyes and sly smiles. I roll my eyes. They’re the most obvious people in the world.
“Where do you want the books, Madeline?” David calls.
