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I spot the current graduating class photo on the wall and see Genevieve in the bottom right as valedictorian.
Of course.I read her quote and her future plans.
Law school?
It must be a misprint, but I can’t care enough to look into it. When the dean returns, he hands me a booklet.
“I hope that asking you to oversee the admissions for the Writing Journal isn’t much.”
“No, it’s not. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Here’s the head start.” He hands me a stack of papers before the secretary calls him away.
I read the first line and sigh.
I’d know Genevieve’s writing anywhere.
* * *
I drive around the outskirts of the city until the sun falls down the sky, trying to clear my mind before returning home.
There’s a trail of rose petals greeting me when I open the door, and the scent of vanilla smacks me in the face.
Confused, I walk down the hall and see Lauren sitting on the edge of my bed, holding a heart shaped candle.
“Hey there, Sexy,” she says.
“Hey.” I don’t remember giving her a key. “If this is you giving me an early reminder about Valentine’s Day, I didn’t erase the four alerts you made in my phone.”
“It’s not that.” She stands. “I had an epiphany today when one of my brides told me that her groom-to-be fell off a cruise ship.”
“Did he die?”
“Of course he died.” She snorts. “The ship was sailing the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean, but that’s not the lesson I took from this tragedy.”
I cross my arms.
“After being a good person and refunding eighty percent of her deposit, which she wastotallyungrateful for, I realized that life is too short.”
“I’m still processing the fact that the guy died.”
“Let’s focus on the living, Liam.” She stands to her feet. “After the New Year’s party, I was a bit pushy in the car.”
At least she’s becoming somewhat self aware.
“But then again, with time being of the essence, maybe I wasn’t pushy enough.”
I take that back.
I’ve been burned, too, and it kept me from getting close to someone so.” She hands me the candle. “I promise I won’t do that to you, and I know that you’re the one.”
“Lauren…” I hold back a sigh.
“I’ll wait for as long as it takes, and I just want you to see all the fun we’ve had for the rest of the night.” She hits the lights and I notice what she’s done to my walls.
Rows of photographs are tacked amidst pink and yellow hearts. Mixed with real ones we’ve taken, there are photoshopped ones of us vacationing on an island, hanging out in Aspen, and dancing in a ballroom.
She starts talking again, highlighting how much she likes me, but I can’t focus on her words.
