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I know.
Fi
Then we can land now. I wait until we are just the right distance from the ground. We’re coming in hard, so I tell you to start moving your legs like you’re ru
Well, now he’d done it: Julie was riled up. This was getting too heated to deny, and she wasn’t going to pretend that what he was writing was not totally turning her on.
Fi
Landing feels different than you thought it would. You’d pictured what it would be like and how you might react. As many times as you’d gone over this in your head, it’s completely different. All the signs were there telling you how it would be, but it’s not what you thought. It’s just as good—maybe even better—just not what you expected. You can look back now and see how you should have known, but you were focusing on the facts instead of the feeling.
Fi
I reach between us and release the buckles that are holding us together. This is when I really panic. The ride up in the plane didn’t scare me. Or the height, or the jump, or the noise. None of that scared me. Right now, only one thing does.
Julie Seagle
Tell me.
Fi
I’m terrified that when I undo that buckle and release you, that you’ll get up and walk away from me. I can’t think of anything more excruciating.
Julie Seagle
I told you I wouldn’t do that. I won’t leave.
Fi
I’m still worried. If I roll you over so that you’re facing me, you won’t stop me?
Julie Seagle
I definitely won’t stop you.
Fi
Then that’s what I do. I tell you to close your eyes. You listen while I tell you how I feel about you. That I think about you all the time, and I can’t get you out of my head. I ask you to ignore everything you think you know and to listen only to your heart, without doubting anything. Can you do that?
Julie Seagle
Of course I can.
Fi
Then I kiss you, and I make you feel everything that I feel.
Holy….
Julie was pretty sure that she stopped breathing. What she wouldn’t do to have him here with her right now, telling her these things and kissing her…
Julie Seagle
You have to come home.
Fi
I know. Let me think for a minute.
The wait was interminable. Then finally he wrote.
Fi
This summer. I can’t make it happen before then.
Julie Seagle
I’ll take it.
Fi
Don’t tell anyone, though. Just in case. I’d feel bad enough letting you down, and it would be worse with Celeste.
Julie Seagle
Got it. But you’ll try? I mean really try this time? Not like at Christmas.
Fi
Yes. Tonight, I’d do just about anything for you. Unless, of course, it involves getting out of my seat right now. I don’t want to creep out my host family.
Julie laughed, and it took her a minute to type without hitting the wrong keys.
Julie Seagle
OK, well… ahem… take your time. I should get some sleep. Or try. It’s late here. (I can’t remember where you are!)
Fi
I don’t even know where I am anymore. Get some rest. I’ll talk to you soon.
Before she shut down the computer, she copied and pasted their chat into a text file. Yes, it was embarrassing and sort of silly, but she liked having all of their chats so that she could reread them later. This one she would be rereading for sure. Many times.
Chapter 25
“It’s midnight. What do you think the girls are doing?” Julie asked Matt. “I bet they’re giggling and doing each others’ hair.” She spun around in his swivel chair while he lounged on his bed, adding music to his iTunes library.
“Oh, my God, probably!” Matt said in a stupidly high-pitched voice. “Or, like, maybe they’re talking about Robert Pattinson! Or Justin Bieber! Oh, my God!”
“I can’t believe it. Matthew! You made a reference to pop culture.” Julie clapped her hands to her cheeks, feigning utter delight. “Actually two references. I’m stu
“I’m incredibly well-rounded. And it’s almost one, not midnight.”
“Really?” Julie couldn’t believe how late it was. She’d been hanging out in Matt’s room for hours, listening to music. It turned out that there was, shockingly, some overlap in their musical taste.
“Seriously, I think things went well. You can’t deny that your sister was completely excited for this party. She looked awesome, and she got the best gift for Rachel. Plus, Flat Fi
“She did look happy,” Matt admitted. “Maybe you were right. I met Rachel for a minute when I dropped Celeste off. She actually seems like a nice girl.”
“Will wonders never cease? I would’ve assumed Rachel was a complete hellion.” Julie smirked. “Why aren’t you out tonight? Celeste is gone for the first time, so you should be taking advantage, don’t you think?”
“Not with my parents gone for the weekend. I wouldn’t feel right.”
“I’d be here! Where’d they go again?”
“I don’t remember. A Harvard retreat in Maine.”
“Oh.” Julie stopped spi
“Well, once in a while they get tired of the local takeout and need to venture elsewhere to assess the culinary situation in other cities. I understand that.”
“I accept your deflection and raise you another question. How was your date with Dana last night? I haven’t heard from her all day. Where did you take her? You should be out with her again tonight.”
Matt put on a new song. “We had di
“And?”
“And what?”
“Details!”
“We ate at a Portuguese restaurant in Central Square. I had codfish cakes for an appetizer and then stewed octopus with potatoes and red wine sauce.”
Julie sat patiently, waiting for him to say more. “That’s it?”
“I don’t think that I’d order the octopus again. I’m still tasting the tentacles.”
“Come on, Matt. Did you like her? What did you wear? Are you going out again?”
“I’m not sure.”