AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yep, he’s in Scotland. University of Stirling.”
“Good for him.”
“High school was fine. We were at this international school, so all the kids spoke English. Our town looked like a little storybook, and in the winter, we would snowshoe and take sleds into town to shop or go to a restaurant.”
“Wow, that sounds…kinda cool.”
“Yeah, if not for the timing, I probably would’ve loved it.” He took another sip of his Coke. “But the timing…”
“Yeah, the timing…”
“I wasn’t prom king, but I’m sure you figured that out already.”
I shook my head, rolling my eyes. Then I asked the question I was dying to know the answer to. “Did you date anyone?
“A few girls, yeah. But nothing serious. I was more focused on making friends over there.”
“I’m sure you had no problem in that department.”
“The first semester was odd. Everyone already knew each other.”
“I get that. I feel that now—coming here as a transfer student and choosing not to live in the dorms. It feels like everyone already has their circles of friends.”
“Yeah, I bet.” He pinched his eyebrows together, then asked, “Why don’t you live in the dorms?”
“My roommate in Champaign was a nightmare. So, when I had the option to rent an apartment here, I jumped at it. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t, but luckily, I’ve met some great people at the video store.”
“It seems like a cool place to work.”
I nodded. “Lots of interesting personalities over there. I’m not as obsessed with movies as most of them are, but I’ve seen enough to keep up with their constant quotes and references. I should probably bone up on my John Hughes, though.”
“Oh, man, I love John Hughes.” Wyatt leaned forward in his seat, his eyes brightening in nostalgia. “Remember when we went to TheBreakfast Club steps?”
“Oh, my God, I forgot about that.”
When we were dating, Wyatt found out that they filmed The Breakfast Club at two nearby high schools. We had gone to the school where they’d filmed the actors arriving and leaving the school. Wyatt even posed on the football field with his fist up in the air, just like Judd Nelson.
“Oh, yeah, it’s still one of my favorite movies.” He paused. “And one of my favorite days.”
My cheeks reddened as I remembered how he’d kissed me at the base of the stairs, just like Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald. I remembered how he made my stomach clench and my heart explode that day.
I remembered everything that I was trying so hard to forget.
“That was a long time ago,” I said before draining the rest of my drink.
“Right,” Wyatt said. He tapped his fingers against the table, and his jaw ticked as he glanced out the window. “Look, I know I can’t go back to the day that I found out about Europe. Because if I could, I would have already done it, and things would be completely different now.”
“Wyatt, you don’t have to do this—”
“Yes, I do. You agreed to see me this once, but I have no guarantee that I’ll be this lucky again, so…I’m gonna put my cards on the table. I screwed up, and I’ve regretted it every day since. You have to know that, Till.”
I closed my eyes tight, fighting tears with every bit of strength that I had. “Wyatt.”
“I’m not giving up on us. I know it may take time—time for you to forgive me. Time for you to welcome me into your life, but the thing is…I’m willing to wait. I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes.”
“And what if it takes forever?” I asked, shuddering inwardly at the thought. I didn’t mean the words that I was saying, and yet they flew out of my mouth without hesitation.
But Wyatt didn’t hesitate either. “Then I guess I’ll wait forever.”
