.shetookaquiltfromthesofaandsatontheruginfrontofthefire.crossingherlegs,sheadjustedthequiltuntilshewascomfortableandwatchedthedancingflames.noahcameback,sawwhatshehaddone,andwenttositbesideher.heputdowntwoglassesandpouredsomebourbonintoeachofthem.outside,theskygrewdarker.thunderagain.loud.thestorminfullfury,windswhippingtherainincircles.
“it’squiteastorm,”noahsaidashewatchedthedropsflowinverticalstreamsonthewindows.heandalliewereclosenow,thoughnottouching,andnoahwatchedherchestriseslightlywitheverybreath,imaginingthefeelofherbodyonceagainbeforefightingbackthethought
“ilikeit,”shesaid,takingasip.“i’vealwayslikedthunderstorms.evenasayounggirl.”
“why?”sayinganything,keepinghisbalance.
“idon’tknow.theyjustalwaysseemedromantictome.”
shewasquietforamoment,andnoahwatchedthefireflickerinheremeraldeyes.thenshesaid,“doyouremembersittingtogetherandwatchingthestormafewnightsbeforeileft?”
“ofcourse.”
“iusedtothinkaboutitallthetimeafteriwenthome.ialwaysthoughtabouthowyoulookedthatnight.itwasthewayirememberedyou.”
“haveichangedmuch?”
shetookanothersipofbourbon,feelingitwarmher.shetouchedhishandassheanswered.
“notreally.notinthethingsthatiremember.you’reolder,ofcourse,withmorelifebehindyou,butyou’vestillgotthesamegleaminyoureye.youstillreadpoetryandfloatonrivers.andyou’vestillgotagentlenessthatnoteventhewarcouldtakeaway.”
hethoughtaboutwhatshe’dsaidandfeltherhandlingeringonhis,herthumbtracingslowcircles.
“allie,youaskedmeearlierwhatirememberedmostaboutthesummer.whatdoyouremember?”
itwasawhilebeforesheanswered."iremembermakinglove.that'swhatiremembermost.youweremyfirst,anditwasmorewonderfulthanieverthoughtitwouldbe."
noahtookadrinkofbourbon,remembering,bringingbacktheoldfeelings.
shewenton."irememberbeingsoafraidbeforehandthatiwastrembling,butatthesametimebeingsoexcited.i'mgladyouwerethefirst.i'mgladwewereabletosharethat."
"metoo."
"wereyouasafraidasiwas?"
noahnoddedwithoutspeaking,andshesmiledathishonesty.
shesqueezedhishand,letgo,andmovedcloser.sheputherhandthroughhisarm,cradlingit,andrestedherheadonhisshoulder.hecouldsmellher,softliketherain,warm.shespokequietly."doyourememberwalkinghomeafterthefestival?iaskedyouifyouwantedtoseemeagain.youjustnoddedyourheadanddidn'tsayaword.itwasn’ttooconvincing."
"i'dnevermetanyonelikeyou.ididn'tknowwhattosay."
"iknow.youcouldneverhideanything.youreyesalwaysgaveyouaway.youhadthemostwonderfuleyesi'deverseen."sheliftedherheadfromhisshoulderandlookeddirectlyathim.whenshespoke,hervoicewasbarelyaboveawhisper."ithinkilovedyoumorethatsummerthanieverlovedanyone."
lightningflashedagain.inthequietmomentsbeforethethunder,theireyesmetastheytriedtoundofourteenyears.whenthethunderfinallysounded,noahsighedandturnedfromher,towardsthewindows.
"iwishyoucouldhavereadthelettersiwroteyou,"hesaid.
shedidn'tspeakforawhile.
"itwasn'tjustuptoyou,noah.ididn’ttellyou,butiwroteyouadozenlettersafterigothome.ijustneversentthem."
"why?"noahwassurprised.
"iguessiwastooafraid."
"ofwhat?"
"thatmaybeitwasn’tasrealasithoughtitwas.thatmaybeyouforgotme."
"iwouldneverdothat.icouldn'teventhinkit."
"iknowthatnow.icanseeitwhenitookatyou.butbackthenitwasdifferent.therewassomuchididn'tunderstand,thingsthatayounggirl'smindcouldn'tsortout."
"whatdoyoumean?”
"whenyourlettersnevercame,ididn'tknowwhattothink.iremembertalkingtomybestfriendaboutthatsummer,andshesaidthatyouhadgotwhatyouwanted,andthatshewasn'tsurprisedthatyouwouldn'twrite.ididn'tbelievethatyouwerethatway,ineverdid,buthearingitandthinkingaboutallourdifferencesmademewonderifmaybethesummermeantmoretomethanithadmeanttoyou...”
noahlookedawayandshecontinued."intime,thehurtbegantofadeanditwaseasiertojustletitgo.atleastithoughtitwas.butineveryboyimetinthenextfewyearsifoundmyselflookingforyou,andwhenthefeelingsgottoostrongi'dwriteyouanotherletter.butineversentthemforfearofwhatimightfind.bythenyou'dgoneonwithyourlifeandididn'twanttothinkaboutyouloving-someoneelse.iwantedtorememberuslikewewerethatsummer."
"you'rebetterthaniremembered,allie."
"you'resweet,noah."
healmoststoppedthere,knowingthatifhekeptthewordsinsidehimhecouldkeepcontrol,thesamecontrolhehadkeptthepastfourteenyears.butthensomethingovertookhimandhegaveintoit,hopingitwouldtakethembacktowhatthey'dhadsolongago.
"i'mnotsayingitbecausei'msweet.i'msayingitbecauseiloveyounowandialwayshave.morethanyoucanimagine."
alogsnapped,sendingsparksupthechimney,andbothofthemnoticedthesmoulderingremains,almostburnedthrough.
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