Moving Neutral (32 page)

You . . . go here?

Surprise.

I felt like the world was spinning around me, and I squeezed Blake’s hand as making sure he was real.

Listen, he said. I know you’re probably in the middle of stuff -- just give me a call when you’re done and we can talk more, okay?

I didn’t know what to say, already anxious that the moment he left my sight, I’d realize this whole conversation had been a dream, and I was back to being alone in New York and Blake was back to ignoring me in Los Angeles.

He stood up and looked at me, his expression full of regret. I’m sorry you saw those pictures, Case. There was never any girl but you.

And in that instant, I realized the one thing I wanted to say, that I’d thought hundreds of times but never said out loud.

I stood up, covering the distance between us with a few steps, and kissed him, hard. I love you, I whispered into his ear, dropping my registration packet as he lifted me off the ground, burying my face in his neck and realizing that this time, I didn’t have to let go. The end of the summer didn’t matter anymore. We were together for as long as we wanted to be.

I love you too, he said, finally setting me back down on the sidewalk. I think I have since the first night we met. I don’t want to be anywhere that you’re not, Casey.

I felt tears slip down my cheeks, but all I could feel was relief. After thinking for weeks like there couldn’t a single tear left in me to cry, it turned out they’d been there all along.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, picking up my registration packet from the sidewalk.

Come on, I said. You can help me unpack.

Blake put his arm around me, and I led us down the street in the direction of my dorm. After so long living in stolen moments, it suddenly felt like we had all the time in the world.

I tore my eyes away from his, looking down the street at two figures waving at us from the next block. Biting my lip, I thought about how my parents were going to react to being introduced to my boyfriend, Blake Parker.