Page 28 of Lonely Hearts Day
“Name an iconic couple. You haven’t all year. It’s only been me. In fact, you get this disgusted look on your face every time I say an iconic couple.”
“I do not.”
“You do.”
“Romeo and Juliet,” I spit out.
He shook his head. “They both die in the end. They were on yourbetter off singlelist the first year.”
“Were they?” I stared into his warm hazel eyes. They were so familiar and so comforting and I really could stare at them all day. I took a deep breath. “You and me.”
“What?” he asked, going still.
“We’re a pretty epic couple.”
He lowered his brow in curiosity. “What do you mean...?”
“Couples don’t always have to be in love to be epic, right?”
“Right,” he said and continued walking. “Are we done here? Do we need anything else?”
“I don’t think so,” I said. “Let’s maketonightepic.”
“It looks like a vampire threw up in here,” Jack said. “Is that the look you were going for?”
“It wasn’t, but I’m not mad about it.” He was right, the basement looked... bloody. Red everywhere. But not just red, dripping red. From the bloody heart decorations to drippy red frosting and bright red drinks, it was a vampire’s lair for sure. We’d also extended the party into the backyard. Strung lights, arranged patio furniture, piled wood. People would take pictures.
“I like it,” Jack said.
“Me too.” I unwrapped a package of red solo cups. “What did Sage say? About waiting until tomorrow for an actual date.”
“She said she figured that’s what you’d say.”
“Then why did she even ask?” I muttered, stacking the newly freed cups on the counter.
“What?” Jack teased. “Did you say something?”
“I said nothing.”
He stepped behind me and tickled my sides then pulled me up against him and spun around once. “That’s what I thought.”
I let out a squealing laugh and kicked my feet. Then I went quiet because he still held me and all the tension in my shoulders was seeping down my spine and to the floor. His breath in my ear had me relaxing back against him.
“It’s been a year,” I said.
He didn’t need me to explain what I meant. He nodded, his cheek moving against mine.
“I’m trying,” I said. “But today is hard.”
“I know,” he said, squeezing me tighter.
“I still believe in love,” I said, testing those words in my mouth.
“Good,” he said. “Because you’re very lovable.” I knew he meant that in the most innocent way. Like how you say a dog is lovable or a... best friend. And yet my body warmed with his words, from the top of my head all the way down to my toes.
That had been happening more and more with him over this past year and I was having a harder and harder time ignoring it.
It was scary. I couldn’t do something that would jeopardize my friendship with Jack. He was my everything. If I lost him after two months because—what was the reason that he and Sage had given?—the buildup was more fun than the actual relationship, I would lose everything.