Page 46 of Here We Go Again

Mia reaches over and grips my arm. “We’re just gonna keep walking,” she says. “Also, you should look at me and laugh as we pass by because I’m funny and amazing and the best best friend you’ve ever had in your whole entire life.”

“You are the best,” I say, smiling wide. “But you’re going to have to say something funny if you actually want me to laugh.”

“Umm, my nephew just started calling cucumbers cute numbers.”

It works. I absolutely laugh. “Okay, that’s adorable.”

“Isn’t it?” She glances to the side as we pass by the tent. “Okay, don’t look, but he’s definitely looking at you.”

“Becca!” Theo calls.

“See? Told you,” Mia says.

I turn and pause as Theo jogs up behind us. “Hey,” he says, and I smile.

“Hi.” I look over at Mia. “You remember my friend, Mia.”

Theo shakes her hand. “I don’t think we were introduced. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Mia says. “Becca told me what you did for the kid at the hospital. That was cool of you.”

We start walking again, and Theo falls in step beside us. “He’s a great kid,” he says. He looks over at me. “How’s he doing? Have you heard?”

“He’s home from the hospital,” I say. “And doing much better.”

“That’s awesome. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Were you not just talking to Lexie?” I ask. “I’m surprised she didn’t tell you. She has a picture that his mom just emailed over and everything.”

“Um,” Theo says, his pitch rising awkwardly. “She seemed like she had other things on her mind.”

Mia snorts, and Theo lifts his eyebrows.

“What was that for?” he asks.

“She’s only in it for the playoff jacket,” Mia says.

“Mia,” I scold, but she only shrugs.

“What? I would want someone to tell me if I were him.”

Theo chuckles. “I appreciate the heads up.” He nudges me with his elbow. “So how have you been? Everything okay post-breakup?”

“Better than okay,” I say. “Thanks for asking.”

“Of course. I was going to say I could fly out to California and punch the guy if it would make you feel better, but I’m happy to save the frequent flyer miles if you’re truly feeling good.”

“I appreciate the offer,” I say, letting out a chuckle. “But I’m good. No punching necessary.”

“Good. Great,” Theo says, a nervous energy to his voice that wasn’t there before. He clears his throat and glances over at me. “So, I actually brought you something.”

“You did?”

He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out an envelope. “So, I don’t want this to feel weird. But right before we graduated, I had a bunch of pictures printed. The plan was to make an album for you that, I guess, sort of highlighted our relationship? But then my dad…” He pauses and clears his throat. “Anyway, it obviously didn’t happen like I planned. But I hung on to the photos, and I went through them the other day and thought you might like to have a few. They aren’t of us,” he quickly says. “I pulled out the ones of you and your family. Mostly from the 5k we all did together, and then a few from a football game and the corn maze we took your sisters to for Halloween.”

He hands over the envelope, yellowed and worn around the edges, and my steps slow to a stop.

He kept the pictures … for eight years? Didn’t just keep them. Moved them. From Texas to North Carolina to Georgia.