He let out another little laugh under his breath and my stomach twists into knots because the sound of his smile makes my heart race faster.
Breathe, Ellie.In and then out.
“I can’t wait to see you, Ellie.”
“Me too.”I twirled the phone cord around my hand.
“I’m probably going to dream about you tonight.”
Oh God.Why did he have to go and say that?Is it June yet?
I take a quick breath and try to make my voice stable, so he doesn’t know just how much that last sentence affected me.
“Well, I should probably go, it’s late and I have school tomorrow.But I guess I’ll see you soon?”It came out as a question.
“Yeah, soon.Can I call you tomorrow?”
“Of course!”
“Ok, sweet dreams, Ellie Belly.”
I laughed.“Bye Leebie.”I hung up and squeezed my pillow to my face, shouting silently into it with happiness.I can’t believe I’m actually going to get to see him again!A million things were running through my head right now and I tried really hard to fall asleep, but I just kept opening my eyes and smiling.
This is going to be the best summer ever.
I’m probably going to remember this summer forever.
Chapter Seventeen
LEE
18 years earlier
Ellie is coming out here to visit.She’ll be staying with Steff in her new apartment, and she’s going to be here all summer.When she told me she was coming, my mind immediately cut off everything else and became consumed by her.She occupied my thoughts during the day, and my nights were spent dreaming of her.
We had talked about it almost every night on the phone for weeks leading up to her arrival.We had gone from not talking at all for months to me waiting by the phone, craving the adrenaline rush of hearing her voice during our nightly call.But of all the ways I played this out in my head, nothing prepared me for the moment I saw her step out of the car, and every bit of my being tingled with excitement and love just as intensely as the day I met her, three years ago.
I was frozen when I saw her.My feet wouldn’t move and all I could do was smile as she ran over to me.When she got within arm’s reach, I grabbed her and swung her around in circles.Taking her in, I felt her arms wrap around my neck and I set her down, looking into her eyes.
Damn!Those eyes.
There they are.
Her big brown eyes.
“Hi Ellie!”I said with a smile so big that I could feel my cheeks tighten.
“Hi Lee!”She returned, her arms still around my neck, my hands at her waist.Her breaths were sharp and fast, and I heard them echo in my ears as I slid my hands up and down her back, making her rise onto her tiptoes.And then our lips met, and I swallowed the gasp that fell from her mouth.
When she opened her eyes again, I had to make sure thatIwas breathing now.What did I miss over the last few years, Ellie?She was a beautiful girl last time I saw her, but she was stunning now.Sixteen-year-old Ellie had this exotic beauty that no words could justly describe, and she had – well –maturedquite a bit.
In one of our letters, we talked about who would be more excited to see the other this summer and I think I won that one.I could certainly feel the excitement growing beneath my belt, and I took a step back so she wouldn’t feel it too.Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lee.
“God, you’re even more beautiful than I remember.”I tell her.
“Thank you.”She smiles and bites her bottom lip.Her hands slide down from my neck to my arms; fingers tapping my biceps.“And damn!You’ve been in the gym, I see.”
“Hah, just a bit.”I laugh.
