Page 77 of This Changes Everything

My phone vibrated. Instead of answering Orson, I said, “Just one second,” and popped my phone out of my pocket to see if it was anything urgent from my boss.

DAN BURKE: Where are you? I heard you’re not coming in today. You’re aware that we sponsor your visa.

My throat calcified before I texted back.

ELLIE: Hi Dan. I’m at a funeral. We talked about this yesterday, and you approved it. I’m on a 6 am flight tomorrow and will be back in the office by no later than 10:30.

Hannah looked over my shoulder. “Everything okay?”

“Yup, all good,” I replied curtly, locking my phone and putting it back into my pocket.

“Where are you these days, Hannah?” Orson turned to my sister.

“I’m in Kits.” Hannah was in an apartment close to the beach, and she had vowed never to move again.

“Me, too!” Orson’s face brightened.

“We should get together.” Hannah smiled.

“I’d love that.” As Orson poured himself a glass of water from one of the buffet tables, Blair approached us and warmly put his arm around Orson for a side hug.

“Blair.” Hannah’s eyes started watering.

Hannah and Blair’s history was kept very private, but I knew enough to know that there was a lot of love between them.

Blair opened his arms for a hug, and Hannah fell into them. “I’m sorry,” she said as he smoothed her hair and kissed the side of her head.

“Thanks for coming,” he said quietly. He then looked at me while still sealed in his hug with Hannah. “Good to see you, Cains.”

“I’m sorry, Blair.”

Orson and I decided to give my sister and Blair some privacy.

“Do you know if anyone else is coming?” I didn’t want to ask Orson outright if Caleb Davis or his dad planned on coming, but I hoped he could somehow read my mind.

“I don’t know,” he answered, then immediately changed the subject back to his favorite topic. “So, I see that Ben is sort of famous now. How’s that going? How are you doing?”

When will it end?

My phone dinged again.

“Excuse me.” I pulled out my phone.

“Ellie!” Kara called out and waved me over to her and Jacob. They were in the corner, next to the wall of windows, with our parents and a few other club members that I hardly recognized.

“Just a sec,” I called back, unlocking my phone.

DAN BURKE: We’re in the middle of cutbacks. You know this. I’d like to have a meeting with you tomorrow to discuss your future at this company.

I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. I opened them again, and standing in front of me was Rory. I gasped, and stumbled to the point where he had to reach for my arm to steady me.

“Hi,” he said quietly.

Instead of saying it back, I hugged him. I wrapped my arms around his head to try to hold him harder, to try to somehow melt into him. He brought his hands up my back, and his thumb trailed down my shoulder blade.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Rory hadn’t cried in the church, but he was crying now. He placed his forehead on my shoulder and let out a sob. I closed my eyes, breathing him in, and held him tighter. I brought my hands around his neck, and my fingers stroked his hair. His wet face buried into my neck.