Chapter Nine
I drop the journal on my chest. I’m surprised to feel tears running
down my cheeks. Every time I pick up this journal I think I’ll be fine
—that it all happened so long ago and I won’t still feel what I felt back
then.
I’m such a sap. It gives me this longing to hug so many people
from my past. Especially my mother because for the past year, I
haven’t really thought about everything she had to go through before
my father died. I know it probably still hurts her.
I grab my phone to call her and look at the screen. There are four
missed texts from Ryle. My heart immediately skips. I can’t believe I had
it on silent! Then I roll my eyes, annoyed with myself, because I should
not be this excited.
Ryle: Are you asleep?
Ryle: I guess so.
Ryle: Lily . . .
Ryle. : (
The sad face was sent ten minutes ago. I hit Reply and type, “Nope.
Not asleep.” About ten seconds later, I get another text.
Ryle: Good. I’m walking up your stairs right now. Be there in twenty
seconds.
I grin and jump out of bed. I go to the bathroom and check my
face. Good enough. I run to the front door and open it as soon as Ryle
makes it up the stairwell. He practically drags himself up the top step,
and then stops to rest when he finally reaches my door. He looks so
tired. His eyes are red and there are dark circles under them. His
arms slip around my waist and he pulls me to him, burying his face in
my neck.
“You smell so good,” he says.
I pull him inside the apartment. “Are you hungry? I can make you
something to eat.”