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I nodded "I know, Dad"

He returned the nod, as though I was an equal, and I sat up straighter

"Talk to Zoe Keep us inforrin to my mother, who sat stoically across from him "It’s not like all three of you were planned, after all" Mo

Zoe was convinced she was going to be "just like Juno" We told her parents our decision, and since they’d given Zoe everything she wanted since the day she was born, it was easy enough to convince the the next fewher into having the baby Like the weeks she spent part of second period in the bathrooot a new stretch ained forty pounds and the baby wouldn’t weigh ether, but Ross Steas no longer hanging around (which somehow confused Zoe), and I was convinced that part of everything working out would include Zoe and ether That didn’t happen, of course

Once Cara was born, Zoe handed her over, signed the legal papers terhts, and went to spend a month in the south of France with her parents When she returned to New York, she spent several weeks in the Hae She never called or came by It was like Cara never happened Like I never happened

Emma

Once I’ve pulled my suitcase across the threshold of my roo for hith of the suite, door to indow to door, my stomach in knots and my face as flushed as if I had a fever

As he predicted, we’ve texted and talked and Skyped for the past ten days I know so o I didn’t know him at all last fall I only knew the coh he’d always been a part of my life, a part of me Maybe this is how it feels to lose your memory--only impressions and shadowed inclinations renals to back them up

A knock sounds atback up violently as I walk to the door and pull it open For the baresteach other in, before I take a step backwards into the rooh there’s a cord attached to his chest The door snaps closed behind him

Every detail about hi played my mental pictures of him over and over His dark hair is messy and falls over his forehead His eyes are deep caramel in this late afternoon rooht stubble on his chin, and across his jaw His ry, but I know he’s not His nostrils flare just the slightest bit and I back up another step

"Is it… okay… if I lock the door?" His voice is so low, and I recognize it as the voice he uses e’re talking late at night

I nod, and he turns to twist the bolt and slam the interior lock ho back to expose the taut, definedso strong it makes my breath catch When he steps towardstowards hi another step back

His arms slip around me as he bends and buries his face inmy collar bone, soaks into my shoulder

"I’ve missed you, too," I say, my voice a whisper, like smoke

He pulls back, his arrins "I’ve missed you more" I remember this promise from him as he walked away frooodbyes and I told hiive him a mock-stern look and flash my eyes to his "I don’t believe you I think you should have to prove a statement like that"

His mouth turns up on one side as he stares down at me, that expression so familiar and beautiful it i up

My hands have been inching up his arht around me still He’s not loosened his hold since he slid them around me I take fistfuls of his sleeves on both sides and revel in the feel of his shoulders, broad and solid and so different fro me closer, Graham lifts me onto my toes as his mouth crashes down onno quarter, stunshisin lide into his hair, the dark strands like ink spilling overone ar over the skin atthrough the hair atto slow- like a subtle current, unhurried

Without realizing I’ve eveninto h to liftover me in the center of the bed "I just want to kiss you," hea path from under my chin to my ear before he rolls onto his back and pullshim to the bed as his hands run overhis wrists, Ioverthe side of his jaw "That’s all you want? Are you sure?" I ask, brazen in a way I’ve never been Because this is Graha me--not a face on a screen, thousands ofas he turns his head and nuzzlesoose buht up my arm His eyes open and he stares atfrom you, with you" He turns his hands until they iain "But right now, I’ you until youfor an objection, he isn’t going to get one I lick nal for kiss me please And he does

Chapter 9

Brooke

I scroll to Reid and hit talk Just when I think he’s letting it go to voicemail, he says, "Yeah"

"Tiht landed a couple of hours ago, but he’s not answering his phone"