“With locking doors and private baths,” Emma offered gently.
I stared at the Intrepid Trio and nodded numbly. “Uh, yeah. Let me just get my things.”
“We’ll go with you,” Emma said, and Charlie nodded.
I squeaked a sound of assent as we made our way back to the hotel. Just me and my three childhood idols.
Okay, yeah. This was all totally normal. Wait until RC heard about this.
27
DRAFT UNSENT
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: what the hell
Kate,
You are here. You are a door away, and there are beds everywhere. Not that I’m even … I didn’t mean …
I cannot believe this is happening. I cannot believe how little self-control I have around you. I keep telling myself I will leave you alone, and then I do shite like this.
Christ, how am I supposed to sleep tonight knowing you are so close?
Sharing all these emails back and forth over the years, I feel like I’ve known you forever. When I’m around you, it’s hard to pretend that I don’t know everything about you. But I am a stranger to you. You’ve just met me, basically.
Fuck. I am so glad you left Pete. He was an absolute idiot to have you and lose you. But he never deserved to even speak your name. But Christ, you are single. You are one room over. I have to go say good night to you now.
Fuck.
Did you know you signed your last email “Love you”? What does that mean? How come you never mention me, Charlie, in the emails? Why am I feeling jealous of myself? What the bloody hell, Kate? I’m losing my mind. I don’t know what the right thing to do is anymore. I want to be a person worthy of you, but every moment that passes, I’m more muddled up. And now we’ll be together for the next two days. AND YOU ARE NEXT DOOR.
I’m not even making sense.
I can’t send this—
* * *
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: Good night
Kate,
Get some sleep. You will have plenty of time to tell me about all your adventures tomorrow.
I’m sorry about Pete.
Drink some water.
Love,
RC
