Page 71 of From Me to You

“Sorry about that,” Jay said while we hung out on a bench in Park Square later that evening. The park was so quiet since it was winter. It felt peaceful.

“Jay, you don’t have to worry about it.” I rolled my eyes at him, trying to lighten the situation. I knew it bothered him that he couldn’t pay for me.

Jay sighed as we watched the snowfall.

I took both his hands in mine. “Jay, I love you no matter what. I will love you when you don’t have anything, and I will love you when you have everything,” I promised to him.

His beautiful blue eyes glazed. “I love you,” he said.

And then he took me in for the sweetest kiss as the snow fell around us like something out of a fairytale.

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“I have an announcement to make.” Katy stood up and clinked her glass with a spoon.

We were all huddled up in my living room after an incredible meal. I ate so much that I felt like Jell-o, but it felt so good. I was sprawled on Jay’s lap as I watched Katy speak.

It turned out that Katy was the only one who came dressed up wearing a white lacy dress while all of us turned up in our hoodies and sweats, which pissed her off mighty. But what shocked us the most was when Lily arrived wearing a powder blue top with little daises on it.

Mikey’s jaw almost fell to the floor while he secretly tried to gawk at her. I didn’t know if all of them were in denial—it seemed pretty obvious to me. There was something going on there.

“As we are almost at the end of our senior year, it’s important for us to go heads first into our dreams,” Katy continued while the guys hollered. “Which is why I am happy to announce our first milestone as a band.” She grinned.

My heartbeat started to pick up, and all the guys were on the edge of their seats, waiting for her to just say it.

“We are singing and opening up for the ‘Crash Riders’ spring of 2017. Plus, Indigo Label has agreed for us to let them use their studios to record a couple of songs.” Katy clapped.

Oh wow, ‘Crash Riders’ was an up-and-coming band that had just signed a record deal with a major label in Los Angeles. There was already so much anticipation for their debut studio album, set to release next year.

And soon the room erupted in cheers. Lan crashed into Katy and kissed the hell out of her. Mikey actually hugged Lily because she was the one next to him, but he immediately dropped his arms as soon as he realized who he was hugging. Matt rolled his eyes while he sat with a full-blown smile on his face.

I buried myself in Jay’s arms as he lifted me up. My heart soared for him. This opportunity could be it—this could be that one more step he took before achieving his dreams.

“Congratulations, Jay,” I whispered in his ear. “I am so happy for you. I love you so much.”

I cradled his face and pressed my forehead to his. His eyes twinkled with joy. I kissed his lips softly.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Jay whispered against my lips.

It was almost close to midnight when everyone left. Mikey somehow sneaked in a bottle of champagne from somewhere and popped it open in the living room, almost knocking off Matt’s head. We had so much fun tonight. Katy and I even drank a bit while we all danced in the living room. Poor Lily was prohibited from drinking by her overprotective brother.

Things calmed down as soon as everyone left. Jay and I decided we would clean up tomorrow because we were exhausted. Thank God Aunty M wasn’t here because our living room was a mess. I was glad she was spending more time with Liam—I believe things had gotten a bit more serious between them. I sighed as I thought about my argument with Aunty M about that phone call, she never confessed who it was. I recalled that she profusely apologized the very next morning for speaking to me that way and buttered me up with cupcakes. I could never stay mad at her for long, so I let it slide. But I was determined to figure out what was worrying her so much.

I glanced at the digital clock on my bedside table—the time read 11:58—two more minutes to go. I nuzzled my face into Jay’s delicious warmth and kissed along his jawline. Which was so perfect. Why was everything about him perfect?

“Are you ready for round two?” He smirked as he ran his hands along my hips.

“No.” I blushed when I thought about round one. It literally knocked me off my feet. I was more than Jell-o now—I wastrying so hard not to fall asleep while I waited for the clock to strike at midnight.

I glanced at the clock again and shot off from the bed. Yes, finally! It was twelve a.m.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” Jay frowned in confusion. But I didn’t care as I rushed to my closet.

“Evelyn, did you daydream about something again? And why are you going in—”

He stopped when he saw me dragging a huge brown package that I had hidden in the depths of my closet so he wouldn’t notice.

I brought it to him and placed it beside the bed.